KIRKBY THORE
Wetland and farmland birds on a scenic floodplain
Kirkby Thore is locally famous for its underground factory of gypsum, with trainloads leaving the area every day. But the flood plain of the River Eden has a wintering flock of Whooper Swans and geese, and there is good birding interest to be enjoyed all year round. WHERE TO WATCH
1
To enjoy this area, you need to get off the A66. This can be done via an old road by the lay-by, just east of Kirby Thore. The benefit here is to view the floodplain of the River Eden and look out for all the species that may drop in here, especially in winter. Geese and swans can be the main species to look for, along with birds of prey.
2
Turn off the A66 for the village of Bolton. You can park down by the bridge and scan the area for Whooper Swans. Check the river in spring for Sand Martin and Common Sandpiper. The trees along the river can have Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and redpolls, and Siskin in winter. Check the Pied Wagtails in spring for the passage of White Wagtail and the now rare Yellow Wagtail, with few breeding sites now in Cumbria.
3
Try the lanes around the village to see more birds on the floodplain. Greylag Geese can gather here and draw in scarcer geese such as Pinkfooted, Barnacle and European White-fronted. Shelduck is a new breeding bird to the area and can be seen here from March onwards. Mute Swans often join the Whoopers here. Check the gulls out for any local rarity, with big numbers of Common Gull in winter, along with Black-headed all year round.
4
Drive along, checking the fields for waders like Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank. Golden Plovers are likely in winter. Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit are likely, along with hedgerow birds like Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow. Check the winter finch flocks for Brambling. Scan for birds of prey like Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, with Merlin likely in winter, with the odd Peregrine.
5
Another bridge and the chance of Dipper and Grey Wagtail. Look out for Goosander, now breeding in Cumbria since the 1950s. Grey Heron can be found along the river, with increasing numbers of Green Sandpipers wintering. Great White Egret has made it this far up the river, with Little Egret now regular only a few miles away. You can rejoin the A66 and complete your circle.