The Beautiful Lake District.....Monday 5th August - Wednesday 7th August 2014.

A few free days saw Trace and myself heading over to this stunning part of the country,the journey over being broken by 2 Red Kite on the outskirts of Harrogate,which was a nice bonus.After we arrived in the Lake District National Park on Monday afternoon,we visited Coniston Water and Hawkshead,both relatively close to were we where staying at Far Sawrey.Next morning i was up bright and early at dawn,to explore the local area to the B&B and walked down to the shore of Windermere.The scenery and sunrise was breathtaking to say the least and i managed some nice images of the lake and its inhabitants.Nuthatches seemed to be calling from every group of trees and i managed some nice views of Marsh Tit and juvvie Blackcap.After a very nice brekkie we had pre-planned to visit Wast Water,so off we headed.The drive was interesting to say the least passing through first,Wrynose and then Hardknott passes,the latter is not for the faint hearted.The lake itself is an amazing,wild place and certainly is the most stunning of the lakes i have visited,the atmosphere was set off nicely by a duo of Ravens 'cronking' overhead as we explored the area.Instead of driving back through the passes we decided to drive up around by Cockermouth back to Keswick and visit Derwent Water,a great decision as we saw an incredibly close,roadside Common Buzzard,3 more Raven,one of which was a roadside bird observed in the air with two Common Buzzard and a Stonechat.Before we visited Keswick we dropped in at the Forestry Commission/RSPB car park and viewing point at Dodd Wood on the banks of Bassenthwaite lake.After a bit of a steep walk up to the viewpoint we were treated to views of one of the juvenile Osprey's that had just fledged the night before,brilliant stuff.This is the first English bred Osprey i have seen,apart from the introduced birds at Rutland and it was also great to learn from the very helpful staff at the viewpoint that there are now a further 5 pairs nesting in Cumbria.Next stop was Derwent Water,but sadly the weather had broken down and was becoming cloudier,but a Pink-footed Goose was a bit of a surprise with the local Greylag flock.By Wednesday morning the weather had properly set in and it was torrential rain as we left beautiful Cumbria,but as we headed home through Wensleydale the sun came out after another lovely trip away.

Coniston Water.

Mallard at Coniston Water.

Juv. Black-headed Gull at Coniston Water.

Mute Swan,Lake Windermere.

Mute Swan,Lake Windermere.

Sunrise on Lake Windermere.

Wast Water.

Wast Water.

Pink-footed Goose,Derwent Water.