Seasonal guide · October – March
Winter Wildfowl on the Lake District Lakes
From October the big lakes fill up with ducks from Scandinavia and Russia. Goldeneye are the star — the males are striking black-and-white diving ducks with a yellow eye that gives the species its name. Ullswater is the most reliable lake. Windermere and Coniston are worth checking. Binoculars and a scan of the open water from the shore is all it takes.
When the wildfowl arrive
The first goldeneye typically arrive in October. Numbers build through November and peak in December and January. By March the birds are moving north again, back to the breeding grounds in Scandinavia and northern Russia. Some linger into April. A few non-breeding birds occasionally stay through the summer.
The coldest winters bring the most birds. A cold snap on the Continent drives wildfowl west and north, pushing birds onto the mild, ice-free lakes of Cumbria. Exceptional winters can produce unusual species — smew, scaup, long-tailed duck — on the larger lakes. Check local birding reports in January and February during cold spells.
Goosander are resident year-round. They are large, streamlined fish-eating ducks that you can expect to see on any visit, any time of year. Tufted duck are present year-round but numbers increase significantly in winter as birds from elsewhere join the resident population.
Goldeneye
The goldeneye is one of the most striking winter ducks in Britain. The male is bold black and white with a rounded dark green head (which can appear black in poor light) and a round white cheek patch. The eye is the bright yellow that gives the species its English name. The female is grey-brown with a chocolate-brown head and the same yellow eye. Both sexes are compact and buoyant on the water.
Goldeneye feed by diving — they go under frequently and spend 10 to 20 seconds below the surface on each dive. Watch a group and count the seconds underwater. They feed on invertebrates, molluscs, and small fish taken from the lake bed. The diving rhythm is regular once you get your eye in — anticipate the resurface point and you will see the birds closer.
The courtship display of the male goldeneye is spectacular and can be seen from late winter onwards, sometimes as early as February. The male throws his head back in an extreme backward neck-stretch, showing the white cheek patches. This is repeated several times in quick succession. Groups of males competing for a single female perform the display simultaneously, which is worth watching for at close range from the steamer jetties.
Ullswater
Ullswater is the most productive lake for winter wildfowl in the eastern Lakes. The northern end near Pooley Bridge regularly holds goldeneye, goosander, and tufted duck through winter. The lake's clear water and depth give excellent feeding conditions for diving ducks.
The Pooley Bridge shore gives the best view without boat transport. Walk south from the village along the west shore for a kilometre and scan the water carefully. Goldeneye tend to congregate in small groups, often in the 50 to 200-metre band from the shore. Goosander are usually seen in pairs or small groups, often on exposed rocks along the water's edge.
The Ullswater Steamers run through winter on a reduced timetable. The boat gives close views of birds on the water and a different perspective on the lake's wildlife. The 35-minute journey from Glenridding to Howtown passes through the main wintering wildfowl areas. In winter the steamers are quiet and you may have the deck largely to yourself.
Windermere and Coniston
Windermere — England's largest lake — holds a reliable winter wildfowl population despite the heavy tourist and boating activity. The southern end near Fell Foot Park (LA12 8NN, National Trust) gives good views without the congestion of Bowness. Tufted duck are common here, and goldeneye are regularly present through winter. Great crested grebes are resident and visible throughout the year.
Coniston Water is the least-visited of the three large lakes for wildfowl and can give more rewarding birding as a result. The northern end near Coniston village and the southern end at Water Yeat both give open water views. Goldeneye, goosander, and tufted duck are reliable. The John Ruskin Museum car park at Coniston (LA21 8DT) is a convenient starting point.
Other lakes worth checking include Bassenthwaite (north of Keswick), Esthwaite Water (between Grizedale and Hawkshead), and the tarns on the higher fells — Tarn Hows is accessible year-round and holds goosander regularly in winter.
Other winter species
Goosander are the year-round fish-eating ducks of the Lake District rivers and lakes. The male in winter plumage is white with a pink flush and a dark green head; the female is grey with a rusty-brown head and a distinctive ragged crest. They fly fast and low over the water. Pairs and small groups are typical throughout winter.
Tufted duck are the small black and white diving ducks with a drooping tuft of feathers at the back of the head. The male is clean black and white; the female is brown. They are common on all the larger lakes through winter and often mix with goldeneye in the same feeding areas. Pochard — red-headed ducks with a grey body — are regular but less numerous.
Great crested grebes are resident on most of the larger lakes. In winter they are in their winter plumage, lacking the dramatic facial ornaments of the breeding season, but still elegant birds. Cormorants roost in trees along the lake shores and are easily seen throughout winter. Keep an eye on the open water for anything that does not fit the usual diving duck pattern — unusual species turn up during cold weather movements.
Quick reference
Practical tips
- ▸Peak timing: December to February for maximum wildfowl numbers
- ▸Ullswater northern end (Pooley Bridge, CA10 2NQ) is the most reliable site
- ▸Windermere: Fell Foot Park (LA12 8NN) gives good views of the southern lake
- ▸Coniston: park at LA21 8DT near Coniston village for the northern lake
- ▸Binoculars essential — a telescope on a tripod gives the best views
- ▸Goldeneye dive frequently — count the seconds to anticipate where they resurface
- ▸Watch for male goldeneye courtship display from February onwards
- ▸Cold weather on the Continent drives unusual species westward — check in January
About the author
Damian Roche
Damian walks the Lake District fells, watches the wildlife, and writes about what he finds. Ex-army, hiker, fisherman. Regular Lakes visitor for decades.