The Lakes and Fells – Wildlife of England's North West
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The Lakes and Fells – Wildlife of England’s North West Naturetrek Tour Report 6 – 9 June 2019 Large Heath Butterfly Red Squirrel Lady’s-slipper Orchid Pied Flycatchers Report and images compiled by David Morris Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf’s Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK Naturetrek T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report The Lakes and Fells – Wildlife of England’s North West Tour participants: David Morris (Leader) with eight Naturetrek clients Day 1 Thursday 6th June After meeting at midday at our hotel, within the bustling Lakeland town of Kendal, we headed off to the northern edge of Morecambe Bay and to Township Allotment on Whitbarrow. We parked up on the edge of the diverse Ash, Yew and Hazel woodlands overlaying the limestone pavement and headed out to explore the rides and glades within, in search of butterflies in the warm afternoon sun. The woods were alive with birdsong from Blackcap, Marsh Tit, Song Thrush and Willow Warblers. We entered the clearings on the open limestone grassland exposures in search of plants and butterflies. Dingy Skippers and Small Heaths were well represented with small numbers of Brimstone and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries seen, along with the nationally scarce day-flying White-spotted Sable moth. From here we moved a short distance down onto Meathop Moss, a small lowland mire bordering Morecambe Bay, to explore the acidic bog habitats. The bog had a good range of ericaceous dwarf shrubs including Cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos, in full flower, Bog Rosemary, Andromeda polifolia, along with Round-leaved Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, and Bog Asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum. Out on the bog we found good numbers of Large Heath butterflies, along with Tree Pipit, and Osprey on its huge nest. Continuing to take advantage of the fine afternoon weather we headed over to Latterbarrow to explore the woodland and floriferous limestone grasslands on site. Entering the site, we were met with a riot of colour from Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris, Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, and other limestone flora along with a good range of orchids including Greater Butterfly-orchid Plananthera chlorantha, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Twayblade Neottia ovata, and a few Fly Orchids Ophrys insectifera. Butterflies included freshly emerged Large Skippers, Northern Brown Argus and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. On the way back to the hotel we briefly dropped in at Foulshaw Moss, another lowland raised mire, where we had good views of displaying Lesser Redpolls, Large Heath, another pair of Osprey and more bog-edge flora, including some attractive displays of Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre. After an evening meal, we headed to bed ready for a day in the Lakeland fells. Day 2 Friday 7th June We woke to a lovely sunny morning in Kendal, with Swifts screaming around the hotel, but rain was forecast later in the afternoon, so we had breakfast then headed out to make the most of the day. We headed north of Kendal to spend a day exploring the lesser-known parts of the Eastern Lakeland Fells and Orton Fells within the new Westmorland Dales National Park extension. Our first stop of the day was Shap Fell, where we had a wander across an area of moorland adjacent to a tumbling beck. Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were all picked up, along with Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Mistle Thrush in a nearby woodland block. The Heather- Calluna vulgaris- dominated dry heath held some interesting finds including Moonwort Botrychium lunaria, Stagshorn Clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum, and Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum. Next stop was Shap Wells where we had close views of a number of Red Squirrels that posed for photos, coming to take the nuts we came armed with, as well as feeding on the seed of a fruiting Wych Elm Ulmus glabra. By mid-morning we made our way into the Naddle Valley at the RSPB Haweswater reserve, enjoying a welcome coffee in the sunshine whilst listening to Green Woodpecker, Redstart and Cuckoo. We walked into the ancient © Naturetrek June 18 1 The Lakes and Fells – Wildlife of England’s North West Tour Report wood pasture of veteran Oak, Ash and Alder, first noting Tree Lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria, along with a range of charismatic bird species including Redstart, Tree Pipit, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and a pair of Pied Flycatchers busy feeding their chicks in the hole of a trackside tree. A quick venture into Mirkside Wood saw a diverse flora beneath the Hazel Corylus avellana, including Wood Cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum, Sanicle Sanicula europaea, Pignut Conopodium majus, and a spike of Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis. For lunch we headed around the corner to the Haweswater Hotel, nestled in Naddle Forest with views over the reservoir, where we saw a small group of Red Deer on the opposite fell. By the time we were ready to move on, the rain had arrived. For the afternoon we moved to the nearby Orton Fells to explore the network of floristic roadside verges, limestone grasslands, moorland and fens. One verge was incredibly diverse with a wide range of charismatic, upland-meadow, tall herbs and a large number of orchids, including deep-purple Northern Marsh-orchids Dactylorhiza purpurella, Twayblades Neottia ovata, and a few good clumps of Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. We moved on towards Sunbiggin Tarn where the heath and pastures held drumming Snipe, Curlew, Lapwing, Wheatear and Brown Hare. In areas of species-rich calcareous fen, we found Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans, along with Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata, and Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata, in addition to large numbers of Bird’s-eye Primrose Primula farinosa, and Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris. By late afternoon we headed back to Kendal, calling en route to look at Spignel Meum athamanticum, before freshening up and then going out in the town to enjoy a delicious evening meal at a local restaurant. Day 3 Saturday 8th June With a front of low pressure stuck over the UK today we knew it was going to be a bit damp, so after breakfast we headed off across the Kent Estuary to explore the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We paused for a brief stop outside the village of Sandside, donned the waterproofs and explored a section of sensitively managed roadside verge, finding a good display of wildflowers including Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera, Common Twayblade Neottia ovata, and Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. From here we drove around the bay and along lanes through the rolling scenic landscape, arriving at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. We started at the bird feeding station, noting a range of common woodland bird species, before moving up to the sky tower to give us commanding views across the reedbed and wider landscape. From our vantage point overlooking Lillian’s Pool we observed Marsh Harriers quartering the reeds along with Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, and Coot on the pool. From here we moved out along the boardwalk through the reeds hearing the incredibly loud song of Cetti’s Warbler and noting a range of plants, including Great Water Dock Rumex hydrolapathum, Figwort Scrophularia nodosa, and Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca. Along the causeway we located squealing Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler and another Marsh Harrier, before moving into the hide where we found Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe in the shallow water and had close fly-by views of a male Marsh Harrier. A further walk through the reedbed took us to Lower Pool and hide close to a pair of breeding Bitterns. Unfortunately the Bitterns didn’t show, but we had good views of a pair of Lapwing sheltering their chicks from the rain, as well as Gadwall, Wigeon, Pochard and a pair of Mute Swans with their cygnets. After a filling lunch at the visitor-centre café, we made our way to the saltmarsh pools, first visiting the Allan Pool hide where the raucous noise of the Black-headed Gull colony greeted us on arrival. Dozens of young fluffy Black- headed Gull chicks were spread about on the pool edges and islands and within the colony we found Oystercatcher, Shelduck and Avocets. A further short walk along to the Eric Morecambe pool hide was highly productive with 2 © Naturetrek June 19 The Lakes and Fells – Wildlife of England’s North West Tour Report large flocks of Black-tailed Godwit, smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit, along with a mix of other waders including Greenshank, Knot and Redshank. A number of Avocet were incubating eggs on nests on the small muddy islands and at one point, a fly-over Marsh Harrier flushed most of the waders, putting them into the air, wheeling around before settling back down on the pools. Our final stop of the day was Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve where we explored an area of calcareous marl fen, noting Bird’s-eye Primrose Primula farinosa, Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans, and some veteran Junipers Juniperus communis. The botanical highlight of the day was finding flowering (introduced) Lady’s-slipper Cypripedium calceolus, on the edge of a patch of woodland. Having taken photos, we headed back to our Kendal hotel for a relax before heading out for dinner. Day 4 Sunday 9th June On our final day of the trip we checked out of the hotel and after a brief look at the adjacent River Kent, we headed back down to Foulshaw Moss for another look for butterflies and dragonflies in the sunshine. Our first stop was the bird feeding station on site where we had excellent views of Tree Sparrow, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and numerous Lesser Redpoll, including a stunning pink male in full breeding finery.