Derwentwater Birdlife

If you want rare birds, I suggest you go to Bassenthwaite as they never seem to stop here at Derwentwater - or if they do, I don't get to see them! Derwentwater does however have a few advantages. You can pretend to treat the family to a day out and get in some sly birdwatching while they splash around noisily having the kind of fun and enjoyment that certainly would be frowned upon on a bird reserve. I'm sure the birds around here are more confiding, as to survive they have to put up with a good deal of human disturbance all year round.

 I would highly recommend the full circuit on foot. The path does deviate away from the lake at times but is never lacking in interest. You can always cut corners if you wish by using the launch service.

At the north end I love to visit the unpronounceable Isthmus (1 -  see map ), which is a bit out on a limb and therefore generally relatively quieter. Access is best by heading across Crow Park from the theatre, though there is also a track from beyond the town caravan parks. At the end of the path there is a perfectly-shaped reedy bay with breeding Sedge and Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting, Water Rail, Coot. Moorhen, Mute Swan and Great Crested Grebe. There is a variety of wet and dry woodland holding a good selection of species including Sparrowhawk, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch, with the elusive Willow Tit an occasional highlight. A few Brambling also visit the beech wood most winters. Goosanders and Red-breasted Mergansers can often be seen close to the shore. Goosanders are common on the lake all year with Red-breasted Mergansers numerous in the breeding season only. In winter this is also a good vantage point to view the small flotillas of Coots, ducks and gulls which may attract the odd rarer species. Little Grebes also frequent the bay in winter and spring, possibly staying on to breed.

 Walking past the theatre, down past the Keswick jetties and beyond the famous Friar’s Crag viewpoint you come to the Stable Hills area (2)  with Lord’s Island its centrepiece. Lord's Island has a small heronry and usually holds breeding Common Sandpipers. It is also a corvid roost in winter with the large flocks swirling overhead only finally settling well after dusk. There is a small reedy bay and fine wet woodland again with Water Rails, Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting and various waterfowl and woodland birds.

Walk on through the woodland away from the lake stopping off to admire the tadpoles in the ditches then back towards the lake. On to Broomhill Point (3) with a luxury fancy seat from which to admire the view. Rampsholme Island is a Cormorant roost throughout the year with the greater numbers in winter. They can often be seen coming in from Bassenthwaite and perhaps further afield by late afternoon. The shingle spits on the island often hold roosting Mergansers and Goosanders. There are nesting Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the rocks and islands as well as a plethora of feral Greylag, Canada and Barnacle Geese nesting communally. Follow the lake shore from here and scan across Great Wood and Falcon Crag for Peregrine, Buzzard and Raven with perhaps all three together in aerial combat.
 

Kettlewell Bay (4) is usually the best place for wintering waterfowl, mainly Coot, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye with occasional rarer species. Disturbance from boats can force them to move out and round to Great Bay at times. The reedbeds again hold Reed Bunting and Sedge  and Reed Warblers with Willow Tits and breeding Teal sometimes near the Lodore landing stage. Both Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper are  sometimes found wintering as well as breeding here. At the  Southern end is Lodore Marsh (5) where once many pairs of Yellow Wagtail bred. Sadly they are now a rarity here as elsewhere. This is a wonderful place to wander across the boardwalks at dusk as Snipe drum away above your head, there is often a Woodcock roding, Grasshopper  Warbler  reeling and Tawny Owl calling. Kingfisher and Dipper are regulars on the river and there are usually a few Sand Martins nesting by the footbridge. At the end of the boardwalk in spring there is invariably a Redstart on the willow in the fenceline or singing from the oak trees. Further on among the scattered  birch and hawthorn is a regular spot for Tree Pipit, Jays, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers with Fieldfare and Redwing in winter. At the point (6) there is another seat with views over the southern half of the lake and across to the marsh edge. This is a good point to scan for any passage migrants on the marsh such as Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew and Hen Harrier. This area also holds a winter gull roost and can be a good vantage point to view wintering duck. Great Northern and Red-throated Divers and Slavonian Grebe are also fairly regular in winter with the divers tending to keep to the central deeper areas of the lake. With luck you may see Otter fishing.

The western side of the lake is not quite so good for breeding or winter waterfowl, with only a few minor reedy bays attracting small numbers. There are still plenty of birds to be seen in the oak woodland with Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart, Nuthatch and Sparrowhawk to name but a few. Hawfinches have also been seen occasionally. Common Sandpipers can be found all along these shores and will nest surprisingly close to the footpath.

At the north-east end of the lake lie the grounds of the Derwentwater Hotel (7) which have been recently opened up to the public in the hope of attracting custom. There is a lovely walk set out with reedbeds, willow scrub and riverside hawthorns giving a fine selection of warblers with Reed, Sedge, Willow, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden and possibly Grasshopper Warbler all singing away on a fine spring day. Here is also another opportunity to try and spot, or more likely hear, the enigmatic Water Rail and the hotel pond hosts one of the few Moorhen nesting sites.

The walk back to Keswick from the hotel takes you over the swing-bridge across the River Greta. There are Sand Martin colonies on both sides of the bridge, a Rookery nearby and Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher on the river. Continuing along the path across the fields brings you out near the pencil factory with Dippers nesting near the road bridge at which you turn back into Keswick town centre.

Dave Piercy