Sunday 4 April 2010

Bolton Abbey Dippers

This weekend we visited Bolton Abbey and enjoyed some fine sightings of Dippers on the River Wharfe. Andrea spotted one on her previous visit so we arrived at our destination hopeful but certainly didn't anticipate four separate sightings.


Dippers are fascinating to watch, when feeding for aquatic invertebrates they dive underwater staying submerged for 10 to 30 seconds at a time due to the fact that their blood has high levels of haemoglobin which increases their ability to store oxygen. We didn't manage to get any pics of the bird diving into the water but were pleased to come away with a few of the Dippers perched in the midst of the riverbed.








Also on the river this pair of Goosander male (front) and female (rear).

An unexpected pleasure to see this pair of Mandarin Duck travelling downstream.
A more familiar sight, Nuthatch are abundant throughout the woodland walk and are particularly easy to see at the stone shelters along the riverside walk where visitors leave seed for the birds. Other visitors included Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin.


6 comments:

  1. Nice to see Dippers again, great shots of the Nuthatch.

    Despite us going to Wyming Brook and the River Rivelin this weekend we didn't see a single Dipper.

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  2. You're right Linda, Dippers are fascinating to watch - like giant submersible wrens. Nicely captured Nuthatch.

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  3. Another cracking set of images

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  4. Cracking photo's, I have only seen Dippers once and that was at Cragside House. Rothbury, Northumberland. Really nice place to visit
    Michelle

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  5. Thanks for the comment about the Snipe. Great to see your pictures of Dippers. Hoping to spot some again when we go to Keswick this month.

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  6. Thank you all so much for dropping by and taking the time to leave a comment.

    Phil and Paul: Thanks for your comments on the Nuthatch pics.

    Paul: I was surprised with the number of sightings at Bolton Abbey, good luck with the Rivelin Valley, don't give up.

    Phil: What a great description 'giant submersible wrens'.

    Michelle: Thanks, how funny my dad spotted a Dipper up at Rothbury just this week.

    Citybirding: Ta indeed

    Phil: Thank you very much, enjoy your visit to Keswick, look forward to reading about it on your blog

    Best wishes, Linda

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.

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