Linskeldfield Tarn is a superb Nature Reserve tucked away amidst rolling farmland in North Cumbria – the Lake District, with the magnificent mountain of Skiddaw as its backdrop.
This tranquil setting offers six acres of peat and wetland, which is home to a wide range of wildlife including birds, otters, frogspawn, red squirrels and carp. The tarn itself provides a rare chance to observe the wildlife from the comfort of a custom-built, 12 person bird watching hide. The terrain is flat, which is ideal for those who require wheelchair access.
The site boasts an excellent range of birds including shelducks, oyster catchers, shovelers, pintails and little grebes. There is a birdwatcher's booklet on site which records all the birds visitors have seen and noted down, during their visits. The book is currently up-to-date and shows a month-by-month inventory of all the birds that can and have been sighted on the tarn. Follow this link to see the list of birds so far sited.
This wildlife sanctuary is located on farmland that is home to no fewer than 26,000 free-range laying hens (free-range eggs available for sale).
Many guests who stay in our cottages venture to the hide, after they have been once they are hooked for the duration of their visit, many have never visited a birdwatching hide before and are surprised in the experience, one guest said
" I visited your nature reserve hide during my stay. Although I did not see
anything exciting, I had great difficulty in tearing myself away just
because it was such a beautiful place. I saw 14 species and found
amusement in the antics of the moorhen and pied wagtail families and the
piebald pony chasing the greylags, Canada geese, swans and heron off
his field. I will certainly return. Thank you very much for sharing this lovely mere with everyone".
It is easily accessible from the nearby osprey watching centre at Dodd Wood.
It is only a short drive from the well-known, picturesque market towns of Keswick (12 miles) and Cockermouth (6 miles).
Osprey History
In 2001 a pair of ospreys which nested beside Bassenthwaite Lake became the first wild osprey to breed in the Lake District for over 150 years.
The birds were encouraged to stay with the help of a purpose built nest provided by the Forestry Commission and the Lake District National Park. This was the culmination of several years of hard work, Ospreys have summered in the Lake District since the mid 1990's, on their return in 2001 they immediately added sticks to the nest.
Once the eggs were laid, wardens kept a round the clock watch to prevent disturbance and deter egg thieves. Ospreys usually lay three eggs, which take about six weeks to hatch. The young stay in the nest for six or seven weeks. In late summer, the adult female will migrate south, leaving the male to teach the youngsters the art of fishing.
Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by the Lake District National Park. Most of the surrounding woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission and provides valuable habitats for wildlife.
26 March 2010
The female osprey returned on the 26th March 2010, the earliest visit
to date, and the male returned on the 1st April. The upper viewpoint
provides great views of the Ospreys flying, carrying fish and views
of the nest.
31 March 2009
Bassenthwaite ospreys returned from over-wintering in Africa,same
pair, same nest site as last year, which was the opposite side of
the lake from previous years, which they used when he had his original
partner, who failed to return in 2007. They started to lay their eggs
16 April, three eggs laid third chick hatched 28 May and last chick
fledged on 22 July. They are now practising their flying, landing
and will eventually start learning to fish for themselves in Bassenthwaite
Lake in preparation for their long flight to Africa, later in the
year.
April 10th 2008
The ospreys returned to Bassenthwaite. The same pair as 2007. They
arrived within minutes of each other - started off at their usual
nest site, which they later abandoned, in favour of a man-made platform
on the opposite side of Bassenthwaite Lake. So, the osprey watch team
had to try and quickly rig up temporary nest cameras which weren't
as close to the nest itself, as they were at the original nest site.
Three eggs were laid end April. All hatched at begining of June and
fledged at begining August. They learned to fly and feed themselves
to build up their strength in preparation for their long flight to
over-winter in Africa. The whole family set off at intervals during
the middle to the end of September.
Osprey View Point only 10 mins Drive away from Linskeldfield.
2007
H e found a new, younger female partner, as his original partner didn't
return. They produced three eggs, the third egg hatched on 13 June
and all fledged safely.
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