Trip reports

Fieldtrip - Blanchland

Saturday, 21 March 2009

We had wall-to-wall sunshine the day we visited Blanchland. Beautiful views of Derwent reservoir and open countryside greeted us as we neared the village. Everyone kept their eyes fixed to the sky for Red Kite, but unfortunately none were spotted. Instead in the neighbouring fields we saw a small huddle of Greylag Geese and lots of gulls and crows.
After a short amble through the village we started our 4 mile walk which would take us on a figure of 8 walk around Blanchland taking in the very best of the area. The first part of our walk took us through farmland, moorland and woods. The alarm rattle of the Mistle Thrush was soon to catch our attention. As we continued our walk we saw many Meadow Pipit in flight, we also saw and heard Chaffinch, tits, Blackbird, Robin, Bullfinch and Song Thrush. Lapwing displayed close by and we were able to observe a number of Curlew and Redshank in their midst. Fieldfare and lots of Pheasant were also spotted and there was an abundance of rabbits in the fields.
At the bridge over the river Derwent we stopped for a while and watched Dipper bobbing up and down and Grey Wagtail flashing their yellow bellies and throats. A very peaceful river walk followed. We had lunch on the riverbank and saw Dipper flash by and were very lucky to catch sight of a weasel as it crossed the river. As we set off again we heard Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woods and saw what we thought might be a Green Woodpecker fly overhead. In a not too distant tree we also admired for a while a Treecreeper as it climbed up and around a large old tree.
We finished off our walk very nicely, some of us in the village teashop and others at the Lord Crewe Arms Hotel, with a very welcome cup of tea and cake.
On our journey home we stopped by the side of the reservoir for a while and saw Wigeon, a Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and gulls in huge numbers in the distance - but still no Red Kite to be seen - not to worry, this will keep for another day. The warm wind had turned cold so it was time to head home. In all, a very pleasurable day was had by all.
Rita Curtin

Bird List

Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Greylag Geese
Mallard
Wigeon
Teal
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Pheasant
Lapwing
Redshank
Curlew
Black Headed Gull
Greater Black Backed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker (H)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Dipper
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Fieldfare
Blackbird
Goldcrest (H)
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Greenfinch 45 Species

Also seen

Weasel
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly