Cowpen Bewley

[liam tumilty]

Went for a long walk at cowpen bewley yesterday in search for the sparrowhawks and little owls also the kingfisher had no succes with the little owls and kingfisher, only a glimpse off sparrowhawk. Are the little owls up at cloff bridge as that is where I went upto then right past the farm and upto greatham if so how far past the bridge are they? Also where abouts are the sparrowhawks and the best place to the see the kingfishers to get good views but not to close to scare them away   
while there seen chaffinch goldfinch yellowhammer and greenfinch along with whitethroat.
Any help always appreciated thanks 

[IanF]

Went for a long walk at cowpen bewley yesterday in search for the sparrowhawks and little owls also the kingfisher had no succes with the little owls and kingfisher, only a glimpse off sparrowhawk. Are the little owls up at cloff bridge as that is where I went upto then right past the farm and upto greatham if so how far past the bridge are they? Also where abouts are the sparrowhawks and the best place to the see the kingfishers to get good views but not to close to scare them away   
while there seen chaffinch goldfinch yellowhammer and greenfinch along with whitethroat.
Any help always appreciated thanks 

Hi Liam,

Both the Kingfishers and Little Owl still have nestlings and they can be hard to spot. The Little Owl can be in the trees anywhere north of Cloff Bridge and the farm but if you reach the farm without seeing any then there's a good chance you've gone past them. Last year from the mid-July they were much easier to see so it maybe worth waiting a few weeks. Early morning and evenings are better times to visit though they can sometimes be seen throughout the day - it's pot luck really.

Likewise with the Kingfishers. They can be aseen on the main lake and on the becks, but the most reliable place to see them at present is from beside the old hide or from the bench 30m east of the hide. Sometimes you see them straight away but other times you have to wait 20-30 minutes before one comes by.