So today I was visiting a couple of local sites, ones I hadn’t to for a while, in the vain hope of some summer migrants, Broadstones I was hoping for Wheatear with Langsett hopefully delivering Red Grouse. I started by travelling along the Brown Royd Edge Road and stopped at the airfield and found, Fieldfare, Lapwing, Mistle Thrush, with three Wheatear, easily picked up, due to their distinctive jizz, of the upright pose and distinctive run, great to see these birds again. Moving on passed the sheep fields, picking out Lapwings, with a couple of Pied Wagtails amongst them. I moved off from here I went down the Lower Maythorn Lane, where I knew Wheatear stop off, sure enough, there was only one, a female, but it didn’t matter.
So Langsett Res was the next stop, the Barns car park, and at the moment it was quiet. so I had a good choice of where I could park the car. Whilst getting the gear together, I heard and saw Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff (which seemed to be everywhere now), Wren, Mistle Thrush and a hooting Tawny Owl. I started my route along the top path, where I saw and took photos of a Wren, there were also a few Chiffchaff down here also, and a Mistle Thrush, but little else of note. It wasn’t until I’d done my loop and was back near the car park again that I picked up on Siskin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, heard Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Moving passed the car park and on towards the dam wall, this place is good for Common Sandpiper, today being a bit early but did see a pair of Oystercatcher, and a pair of Grey Wagtail in the overflown channel. I put a few things back in the car and went on then to the Bank View cafe for a bite to eat.
After dinner I decided on getting away from the crowds and going up on to Midhope Moors, to a place I knew would be quiet, and it was, a bit windy however, and a good place for Red Grouse , it took a while today for them to show, but they did eventually show, lovely calls to boot. There was also Meadow Pipits and Linnets around, I decided on taking in the view and sat down on one of the walls, along came a Common Buzzard flying steadily up the valley, a Kestrel hovering nearby, Curlews displaying and calling, then the experience of the day as a female Merlin came within in, maybe a foot, as it flew by hugging the wall, probably hunting the Pipits and Linnets, wow!
Homeward bound, via the Broadstones area again, stopping at the sheep field first where there were a few Pied Wagtail about, but I did manage to seek out alone White Wagtail too, there were a few Skylark in and amongst too, looking over the airfield again, the Wheatear etc had moved off, due to the model airplanes about now. Pulling into the layby/pull in area at Broadstones, I noticed a few Black headed Gulls flying over the road, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed something different, turned out to be a Barn Owl hunting the road verges, camera was in the boot, not in its usual place of the passenger seat, doh!, mad dash it was for the camera, then a run around to try and capture the Owl, well one day I’ll be in the right place at the right time. On to the heath then, which was quiet, but I managed to find a pair of Stonechat, lovely birds, one I was hoping to see.
39 bird species for the day, not a great tally, but a great day
Bird List ; Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Curlew, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Grey Heron, Grey wagtail, Herring Gull, Kestrel, lapwing, Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Merlin, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse, Robin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Tawny owl, Wheatear, White Wagtail, Woodpigeon (39)
Stonechat
Barn Owl
Huddsbirder 