It seems that Wild Haweswater has been locked in Narnia for most of this winter, yesterday was no different. Ice held the ground solid, a constant slab, the countless streams frozen making my way up to our Woodland Wildlife Hide hide a zig zag affair, following the Fox, Badger, Red Deer and Roe Deer tracks from the night before.
The snow was also littered with the delicate prints of Red Squirrels, set routes trampled the powdered snow flat on the ground, in between their arboreal life in the trees. It’s amazing how much activity tis revealed when it snows, endless stories of individual characters in the mossy woodlands of Naddle Forest. A Carrion Crow takes a few steps in the snow, before taking flight, leaving dashed lines from it’s wings, Foxes follow regimental straight routes, and Badgers bumble along behind finding the easiest paths, squeezing under a gate, and over a drystone wall.
It has been a welcome relief visiting this winter wonderland to keep the feeders topped up at our Woodland Wildlife Hide, but I wish you could have experienced this winter with us, there’s always next winter though!
Yesterday it was noticeable that the low winter sun was gaining height, Spring is approaching, Great Tits sang ‘teacher teacher’ and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming nearby. Our winter migrants we’re still kicking about though, Fieldfare and Redwing chattering from the tree tops.
The light was perfect, kissing our perches and creating beautiful pockets of snow reflected light. All the regulars made an appearance, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Siskin, Jackdaw and of course the Red Squirrels. The cold weather had also attracted a small tribe of Long-Tailed Tits, and a Raven kronked overhead.
Our Woodland Wildlife Hide is currently closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, though we are still accepting bookings for later in the year.
Find out more here.
– Cain