Canada and Greylag Geese can be seen now at RSPB Geltsdale, so we have prepared an identification guide to the nine goose species found in the UK

This distinctive, glossy-feathered duck is usually seen flying or bobbing far out to sea

The first Swallows of the year have arrived at RSPB Geltsdale, so we are profiling them and three other, similar species

Read our handy guide to Willow Warblers to learn more about them and how to tell them apart from the similar-looking species, Chiffchaffs

If you were fascinated by these elegant water birds on BBC1's Wild Isles, find out more about them and how they form a bond with their mate

Check out the species that have been seen on the tarn, the reserve and the birdfeeders in March and early April

This small, mainly ground-dwelling bird is a summer visitor to the UK and a passage migrant

The 'grasslands' episode featured Brown Hares, Black Grouse, Hen Harriers and Adders, so we are profiling these four species

By sticking to footpaths, keeping your dogs on leads and under control, and keeping an eye out for ground nesting birds, you can make a huge difference to endangered species such as Curlew

Sisters Caroline and Frances Marr have created a special exhibition for the gallery at RSPB Geltsdale

Use our handy guide to learn some key ways to tell the difference between the three types of swans found on UK waterways

The joint exhibition between artist Mark Gibbs and youngsters from Carlisle Youth Zone is on display at RSPB Geltsdale until 5pm on Tuesday, March 22nd.

Here are some facts about these vocal, red-legged wading birds

The weasel - the UK's smallest carnivore - has been spotted at RSPB Geltsdale

Species spotted have included Redshank, Stonechat, Red Kite, Smew, Green-Winged Teal and Cormorant

Black grouse have been spotted at RSPB Geltsdale so we are sharing some facts about these elusive and beautiful birds and how to observe them without disturbing them.

Check out the species that have been spotted on the reserve

The curlew beings joy to many people's hearts as it heralds the arrival of spring

What’s about at RSPB Geltsdale

9^th August 2021  

Tindale Tarn	Trails		Visitor centre garden
Mute Swan***	Pheasant***	Sedge warbler*	Great Spot. Woodp.*
Canada Goose***	Black Grouse*	Garden Warbler*	Blackbird***
Wigeon*	Red Grouse*	Blackcap**	Wren**
Mallard***	Buzzard***	Chiffchaff**	Dunnock**
Tufted Duck*	Kestrel*	Willow warbler***	Robin***
Lapwing…

Female adder (Green)

Following a fantastic online talk by Suzie Collinson of Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group on Slow Worms and Adders, I was really interested to learn that Adders could be individually identified by their head scale pattern: like our fingerprints no two are the same. Unfortunately, it means that you need to take a photo at 90 degrees of their heads, luckily my local Adder hibernation site has lots…

The recent cold weather has meant a slow start to the breeding season with meadow pipits arriving back in lower numbers than usual along with low numbers of summer migrants. Cuckoos are now present in the Bruthwaite woodland (at least 2 males have been heard). Grasshopper warbler can be heard singing in the morning by the main cark park and sedge warbler occasionally by the tarn. We have curlews sitting on eggs and lapwings…

Geltsdale reserve has large open areas of moorland and woodland pasture which are grazed primarily with cattle. Standard post and wire livestock fencing can be extremely difficult to erect due to the topography and inaccessibility of the some of the grazing compartments. Conventional fencing can also be problematic for bird species such as black grouse which can get caught up in the wire and perish.

Nofence is an invisible…

In the warm spell last week we had several early records of spring migrants. The first Wheatear was on the 26^th March, a fairly usual date, as was the first Sand Martin four days later. However at least three House Martins and a Swallow on the same day as the Sand Martin were the earliest return dates for these species on the nature reserve. A Willow Warbler on the 2^nd April and male Redstart on the 6^th were early dates…

What’s about at RSPB Geltsdale

10^th September 2020  

Tindale Tarn	Trails	Song Thrush*	Visitor centre garden
Mute Swan***	Pheasant***	Mistle Thrush*	Great Spot. Woodp.*
Greylag Goose*	Black Grouse*	Blackcap**	Blackbird*
Canada Goose*	Red Grouse*	Chiffchaff*	Wren*
Wigeon**	Buzzard***	Coal Tit*	Dunnock*
Mallard***	Sparrowhawk*	Blue Tit**	Robin**
Tufted…

As with the rest of the country ..indeed the world, it has been a very strange Spring and Summer here at Geltsdale Reserve this year.

With lockdown coming in just as the breeding season was kicking off, it has meant that we have been unable to do anywhere near as much monitoring as usual and as a result do not have a very complete picture of how various species have fared. For much of the Spring there has been a much…