Wednesday 1st August 2018 (8am - 2.30pm) Another lovely walk around this fantastic scenic/birding/wildlife area and a day which saw several species:
4 Dippers 1 Grey Wagtail Linnets H.Martins Moorhen with 2 chicks, lots of Mallard juveniles, 2 Mandarin ducks Peregrine/s heard but not seen 3 x Kestrel including juvenile 4 x Common Buzzard Usual Wrens, Robin, Tit members including many juveniles and a Hare on the pasture at Hartington
The main highlight of the day was encountering a recently fledged Spotted Flycatcher on the Biggin Dale side which was so confiding it landed at my feet ! I will include photos and a link to a video clip of this spectacular juvenile.
This area never disappoints and can recommend it for birding - and gentle exercise as most of the walk is on the flat !
Video clip/photos of the juvenile Spotted Flycatcher: https://youtu.be/fPCG1i0kcK8
-- Edited by Hazel Rothwell on Thursday 2nd of August 2018 07:43:52 PM
Was long overdue for a visit to this beautiful area and although late in the season for many sightings the main highlights for yesterday (Monday 28th August 2017) as follows:
Hartington: juvenile Bullfinch and Goldfinches, Chiffchaff, Buzzard
(Biggin Dale) Common Redstart, Kestrel, Buzzard and Peregrine (heard only)
River Dove: Kingfisher seen three times (probably same one as it kept heading up the River Dove) Grey Wagtail, Kestrel, Grey Heron (surprisingly no Dippers were seen)
Highfield Lane; Northern Wheatear
-- Edited by Hazel Rothwell on Tuesday 29th of August 2017 12:57:39 PM
8.00am - 3.00pm Despite the gloomy weather and heavy drizzle for the first hour or so, the walk turned out to be very productive:
Beresford Dale: heavy drizzle to start so pretty quiet along this short stretch except for the sound of Wrens, Robins, and glimpse of a Blackbird
Wolfscote Dale (River Dove): 5 Dippers, 4 Grey Wagtail, 1 Tree Creeper, 2 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, Common Buzzards (at least ten circling close to the Biggin Dale turn point). Kestrels and Peregrines were seen both in flight (calling) and also perched on the limestone cliffs in separate areas along the Wolfscote Dale section. Several adult and juvenile Mallards, 2 Moorhen, Wrens, robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinch, Blackbird,....
Biggin Dale: 1 Marsh Tit (amended from Willow), Owl heard only (likely a Tawny), 2 Green Woodpeckers (perched for 20 mins. distant tree and twice in flight) yaffling on occasion. Again the usual suspects of Tit members, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, plus Jackdaw seen on pasture just before Biggin, was hoping to see the Redstarts and Linnets but no luck this time but heard several bird sounds I couldn't identify. (forgive me as I am relatively new to bird watching !)
plus ...
(Liffs Road - large flock of Gulls in flight above farmland and 1 Common Buzzard amongst them) Not a gull expert but they looked like Lesser Black Backed Gulls) (Highfield Lane - 3 Meadow Pipits in flight, plus corvids: 2 Jackdaws and a good number of Crows )
I can highly recommend Wolfscote Dale/Biggin Dale area - I've visited this area three times and seen some very nice species - even on wet grey days ! It never disappoints.
-- Edited by Hazel Rothwell on Thursday 6th of August 2015 08:26:25 PM
-- Edited by Hazel Rothwell on Friday 7th of August 2015 12:04:10 PM
