We set off for southern Cumbria with a plan to see dragonflies and birds of oak woodlands, knowing that there was every chance of being stymied by the weather. Fortunately, all went well, although our fallback plan of going to Leighton Moss for spoonbills in the rain would have been OK too.

Leaving Southport in bright sunshine, we arrived at Foulshaw Moss just as the weather was turning more towards cloudy with sunny spells. Still, there were loads Four-spotted chasers and the commoner damselflies buzzing around the place. From the viewing point we were able to see the male and female Ospreys perched and in flight, and could just about make out the heads of the two chicks popping up. More spectacular was a glorious male Marsh Harrier that cruised across between us and the Osprey area. Buzzards and a Kestrel completed completed the day’s raptor quota (they’ve had Hobby and Honey Buzzard there, but not today). The soundtrack was provided by willow warblers, cuckoo and the today’s life tick: a tree pipit, which was some distance off but provided clear scope views even if my photo was a bit dodgy.

The boardwalk provided excellent basking not just for damselflies, but also numerous Common Lizards and best of all, a small Adder! I’d never seen one before, but what a beautiful creature.

I would have left disappointed had I not seen another first, the White-faced Darters for which the site is well-known. I had expected the place to be swarming with them, but it turns out that’s not how it is. We had one pointed put to us near the viewing point, but as we sat eating our lunch and watching Emperors over the pool near the car-park, we spotted another one close up, which stuck around long enough for one photo before I excitedly scared it off. A lovely little dragonfly, and if we get proper hot weather soon I may head back for more.

Our next stop was Barkbooth Lot, which my research indicated would be a good place to look for a number of Odonata we don’t see locally - Beautiful Demoiselle, Golden-ringed and Downy Emerald dragonflies, that sort of thing - as well as Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Green Woodpeckers and the like.

No such luck today, as morning sunshine turned to drizzle. As we explored the site, divided between rough fell with bracken and tarns on one side, and oak-dominated woodland on the other, we did however see a wonderful display of the common damselfly species (more than I’ve ever seen in one place before) and our first Common Darter(s) of the year; possibly one but I think two females. Northern Marsh orchids dotted the boggier parts of the site, and Raven and Treecreeper are two birds that can turn any day into a good one for me.

We skipped Leighton Moss on the way home as the rain was getting really nasty, but couldn’t resist the usual Banks detour, where two Little Owls awaited.