Covering almost 5,500 hectares and taking in two hill farms, the site rises to 621m on the windswept blanket bog of the aptly named Cold Fell. While winter maintains its grip on this heather moorland, still bereft of colour and speckled by patches of late-lying snow, signs of spring are evident lower down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The call of the curlew<\/a> is the first evocative signal of change in the air. Having spent the winter poking around on coastal mudflats with their long, curved bills, they are among many returning waders<\/a>. Their inland nesting territory, where the hills meet farmed hay meadows, wetland and heath, is sensitively managed by the RSPB and its partners. Dynamic grazing, peatland restoration, tree planting and wetland creation are all conducted with wildlife in mind.<\/p>\n You may also like:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Over the coming weeks, other waders return to breed, filling the air with their calls. The \u2018bleating\u2019 of male snipe, the high-pitched, melodious piping of redshanks, and the haunting \u2018pee-wit\u2019 of lapwings can all be heard as you wander Geltsdale\u2019s five waymarked trails, ranging in length from 1.5 miles to five miles.<\/p>\n There are also public rights of way, including a bridleway across Tarnhouse Rigg, where male black grouse perform their dawn \u2018leks\u2019 \u2013 flamboyant displays intended to draw the attention of females.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another path skirts Tindale Tarn, where a viewing screen enables visitors to unobtrusively watch ducks<\/a>, swans<\/a> and geese<\/a> out on the water. Other breeding birds include golden plovers, barn owls<\/a>, ring ouzels, merlins, wheatears, whinchats and hen harriers<\/a>, one of the country\u2019s most persecuted birds of prey<\/a>. Listen too for the cuckoo<\/a>\u2019s call.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\""Wading\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/01\/Curlew-e7f4b08.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C405"\" "\\"\"Curlew\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Wildlife at Geltsdale Nature Reserve<\/h2>\n
![\""Barn\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/11\/CRNBPJ-541b193.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Barn\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Visiting Geltsdale<\/h2>\n