Kettlewell to Grassington

We had a drive out to Grassington this morning, caught the dales bus to Kettlewell and walked back on the Dalesway footpath.

This section of the Dalesway does not follow the river Wharf, instead it climbs onto the lower fells and stays fairly high up all the way to Grassington.

The path remained below the snow line which made the walk very pleasant , on a wonderful crisp and sunny winter’s day.

I was hoping for an early Wheatear and a few Meadow Pipit, but it remains very cold yet on the fells, and neither made an appearance.

Oystercatcher and Curlew are normally plentiful but I had to wait until the drive home before I saw 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Curlew near Skipton.

I did hear a couple of calling Oycs at Grassington, waiting for the bus however.

(I was waiting for the bus - the Oycs don't need the bus, they can fly).

The birding was a tad disappointing but the walk was great, even allowing for the slight unplanned 1 mile ‘detour’ as we took the wrong path approaching Grassington.

A Brow Hare was seen in the ‘bog land’ near the old Tilcon quarry (Tarmac)  just after Cracoe, at the Burnsall turn off, on the drive home.

Birds:

Curlew, 1 Calling, 1 in flight, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Pheasant, - a few in superb plumage, c40 Lapwing, Kestrel, Robin and many a gull.

Green Woodpecker calls were heard at different times during the walk.

On the journey there, just after the Keighley Tip , there were “hundreds” of gulls in a flooded field.

Lots of gulls just after Keighley Tip.

I thought I'd take a good look through the Gull photos , later, and use my superb gull ID skills, to see if I've got something of note!

Fells above Cracoe, on the way to Grassington

Leaving Kettlewell

The climb out of Kettlewell

Nearing the top of the track

A Lapwing 'dot'

On the top

Conniston Pie in the distance

Conniston Pie - a bit nearer

Some hardy cattle out on the fells

Looking back at Conniston Pie landmark

Some hardy horses on the higher fells

A Lime Kiln

Not many birds to photgraph - but I spotted this on the 'wrong path'