DERWENT WATER
Year-round interest at an iconic Lakeland site
Derwentwater is a great birding location, with a lot of species to look out for. I tend to visit in winter for the unusual species turning up, but spring is just as good, with wonderful birdsong, and you have dragonflies to look out for in summer as well as the varied bird life.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Starting at the north end, you can scan the many fed wildfowl for anything unusual. Diving ducks such as Tufted Duck and Goldeneye may be found a bit further out, and check the gulls.
2
Driving or walking along the shore road/path, you come to Falcon Crag. Scan to see if anyone is home, as a pair of Peregrines normally hang out here. Listen for the tell-tale sound of Ravens who love to buzz the falcons, but also scan the lake from here as you can look at the islands where often Cormorants and other wildfowl hang out.
3
The next car park gives you great views of the lake, where the river enters the lake. Here you can find a mix of birds including Wigeon, Teal and up to three species of sawbills. Both Goosander and Redbreasted Mergansers use this area with mergansers actually breeding inland, the Lake District being one of the few places this takes place in England. Winter has also turned up both Great Northern Diver and Smew here.
4
The River Derwent is a great place to look for both Dipper and Grey Wagtail. Check the reedbeds at its mouth for Reed and Sedge Warbler in spring, with an old record of Bearded Tit here. Scan the fells for circling raptors as this Borrowdale Valley was once the home to both eagles, but today it will be an Osprey or a Buzzard. Common Sandpiper is one of the few wader species to look for in summer while Woodcock can be found all year round.
5
To walk all the way round is exactly 10 miles, but you can take the ferry and walk less and birdwatch en route! These woods around the lake have some great birds with two species of woodpecker, Nuthatch, Redstarts, Pied Flycatcher and even Wood Warbler. When woodland overhangs the lake, look for colourful Mandarins.