BARCLYE RSPB
Woodland songsters plus some upland specialists
Barclye is an extensive reserve with a choice of three trails. Mill Hill Trail, just under one mile long, goes through woodland and woodland pasture. The Knockman Wood Trail is two miles and leads onto the upper moor of Barclye. It can be extended by four miles through Knockman Wood, returning to the car park along the road. The Woodland Pasture Trail is just under three miles long, giving great views through woodland pasture and takes in Drumwhirn Cairn.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Driving south of the Wood of Cree you will find an RSPB car park, with a wonderful walk into the hills with a mixed habitat. You start with a mature woodland which holds similar birds to Wood of Cree, including Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler. Listen out for Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the start of the year and check the tit flocks for Treecreeper and Nuthatch.
2 Follow the path through the woodland taking the left hand turn to eventually arrive with a view onto the fell beyond. Check for Tree Pipit in the scattered trees and look for the Jays carrying acorns in autumn, burying them in open ground to spread the forest. Scan the Coldstream Burn for Grey Wagtail.
3 Follow the path to another junction where you can venture high into the fells or take a longer walk checking the habitat for new birds. The lower trails will have a mixture of warblers from Willow and Garden Warbler enjoying the scrub and newly planted trees while Blackcap and Chiffchaff like high trees with scrub underneath.
4 Drumwhirn Cairn, high on the hill, has Wheatears plus plenty of Meadow Pipits and Sky Larks, and Kestrel. Winter may well add Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl and Hen Harrier.
5 This trail takes you closer to a large conifer plantation with the chance to look and listen for Crossbills, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. Check your soaring Buzzards for the large shape of a Goshawk or the smaller Sparrowhawk often mobbing the Buzzard.
6 Make your way back down towards the car park checking the woodland and open areas for birds you may have missed, like Mistle Thrush or the chance of a Woodcock feeding in the leaf litter.