10:15 - 11:30 (ish)
A look for Yellow Wagtail along Ringby Lane and on towards the recycling plant this morning.
A chance meeting, later, with DJS who I bumped into up there.
I enjoyed a short and very informative chat , before we had to make tracks.
c10 Pied Wagtail were difficult to find in the tall grass on a blowy morning.
A Kestrel and later a Sparrowhawk were both being mobbed by several Corvids here.
Lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with a couple calling loudly.
A few Butterflies and Moths were here also.
A few Linnet and a Swift (spotted by DJS) was about it really.
Nevertheless an enjoyable, if short, jaunt.
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Wainstalls - Castle Carr - Slade - Circular
12:55 - 15:35
A really pleasant leg stretcher this aft along quiet lanes and over moorland with the Heather in good form.
(Although a chap mention, later, that the Heather Beetle was destroying a good bit of it).
The gusty wind helped keep me cool but did not help the bird life.
The moors are quite boggy in places with the main path , approach to Slade Barn just passable with care.
Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel seen - seems like a good Kestrel year.
A skylark flushed as I crossed the moor - the call was unusual.
The bird flew 10yds and landed and disappeared.
At Slade Barn in among the stones a large Pipit was seen - probably a Meadow Pipit.
An interesting chat with a chap on the moors who had a Snipe and 2 young through his yard earlier in the year.
He had also seen Red Grouse and Wheatear earlier today - both of which eluded me.
He also mentioned that Buzzard had, had some breeding success hereabouts.
A flock of c50 birds - looked like mixed Goldfinch and Linnet were seen from Cold Edge Road.
The walk turned out to be a tad further that I had time for, so I had to get a clog on later in the day.
A splendid moorland yomp.
'Pool- snooker' night - better get a move on.
Swalesmoor:
Calling Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Wainstalls Area:
The start of the moorland path across to Slade
Spot the Linnet
Cropped from above
Seen through the 'bath room window'!!
Lovely moorland photo's John. Heather is fantastic.
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