Print pageStar species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
When the barn owls have young to feed, you could see them at any time of day as they scour the land for small voles and shrews to take back to their nest. They are mostly seen on summer evenings and spring late afternoons. |  |
At Geltsdale, black grouse can be seen in autumn, winter and early spring. As their name suggests, the males are black but the females are a mottled brown to enable them to hide from predators while incubating eggs. |  |
Curlews are large, brown wading birds with very long, curved bills. In spring, you can hear their gorgeous, 'bubbling' song. | ) |
Watch the nesting lapwings here chasing predators that may come too close to their nests. The protective parents regularly give chase to crows and do not stop their 'mobbing' attacks until the danger has passed. |  |
Keep an eye out for the redshanks' towering display flights in spring. They are sometimes known as 'the sentinel of the marshes' for their noisy habit of drawing attention to predators. |  |