Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria

Foulshaw Moss nature reserve is a rare lowland raised peatbog which was acquired by Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1998, with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.In partnership with Natural England, the Trust has been carrying out significant restoration works to raise water levels and restore the natural habitat. 
Conifers, which have contributed to the drying of the peat, have been removed from around the edges and drains have been blocked in order to create areas which will help to retain water levels. Thanks to this work, the characteristic bog vegetation of Sphagnum moss, cotton grass, cranberry and bog rosemary are slowly reclaiming the site. 

I've been meaning to pay a visit to Foulshaw for some time, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pair of Osprey that have chosen the area for their nesting site. This year they have successfully managed to rear three chicks which is very good news as these birds are on the RSPB Amber Status List because of their decline (due to illegal killing), and low breeding numbers. Having read recently that the female had already left the site and had begun her long migration to Africa, I determined to pay a visit before the rest of the family followed suit. With my sister for company I made the forty minute journey feeling very excited at the prospect of finally seeing these magnificent birds!
We did leave it rather late in the day however, only managing an hour or so before the sun began to dip toward the horizon. This turned out to be something of a bonus though as there were only a few other visitors on the viewing platform, so plenty of elbow room. 
It also seemed to be a golden hour for swallows, swifts and martins swooping low across the reedbeds.
Short video clip... 

 The Osprey nest is,out of necessity, quite some distance from the viewing platform. This is vital for the safety of the birds of course. A good pair of binoculars is therefore necessary to see them in any detail and a high powered zoom lens on your camera would come in handy too! Here are a few shots anyway; take my word for it, there are definitely Osprey chicks in these photos!

 To view the Ospreys in all their glory you might want to check out the live webcam...
Further details are also available on the Osprey viewpoint blog....
The setting sun gave a beautiful golden glow to the reedbeds, where Red Deer could be seen grazing.

Young Common Brown Lizards basked in the sunshine on the wooden walkways.

 Numerous bird species thrive at Foulshaw, including the pretty yellow Siskin.







Juvenile Starlings gathered together, their transitional plumage of brown head and black body giving them a somewat comical look.

 
 Every now and then, Swallows and Martins alighted to take a quick breather from their aerial acrobatics.

Dragonflies were in abundance.

 

 

The sun set; the moon rose. It was time to leave.

I'll definitely be paying another visit to Foulshaw, during daylight hours next time in order to see the host of other wildlife that can be found there. Meanwhile, thanks for visiting and I hope you've enjoyed the photos.