Smardale Gill

We travelled late morning to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Smardale Gill, our first visit. It occupies a section of an old railway line which closed in stages and finally in 1962, connecting the Stockton and Darlington line near Bishop Auckland in County Durham via Barnard Castle with Tebay and the now west coast main line passing through Cumbria.,

Arriving, we had our lunch in the car, watching the birds feeding on the feeders near an unmanned information unit. Very soon the birds all flew up in panic as a Sparrowhawk arrived. His ambush was unsuccessful and after a few desultory lunges at birds hiding in the bushes he departed. The birds returned, and then to our surprise a red squirrel bounded along the embankment and behind the unit.

We thought that would be it, but almost immediately on starting our walk we saw a red squirrel. I hadn’t attached a big lens, so the image here is heavily cropped. It’s not the best photo I’ve taken today, but it is my first of a red, so it’s my blip. The robin was a very interested observer. The extra, which I quite like, shows what happens next.

Special squirrel feeders have been put up in one small area, which the squirrels have learnt to use, it was interesting watching the little creature lift the lid to access the nuts. They certainly are dexterous.