Poor Worms

Cuckoo

Curlew

Pied Flycatcher

Female Redstart

Spotted Flycatcher

Male Redstart

Long Tailed Tit

The poor weather is certainly good for the Thrushes and Blackbirds but had to feel sorry for the poor worms! Went back to see if the Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers were still there and they were along with Spotted Flycatchers this time, at least two seen along with numerous Redstarts and a male Pied Flycatcher. It really is a good place to go as you can see them all virtually from your car. The young Long Tailed Tits were out in force and very vocal.

Better then Worse.

Cuckoo - Sheepwash, Cod Beck Reservoir.
Smardale Gill Viaduct.

Ravens nesting on the viaduct.

Dingy Skipper - Smardale.

Woodcock, Swainby.

Bluebells, Swainby.

Sylvia was looking forward to her week off school especially as she is starting to feel a bit better and then guess what - I got up this morning feeling ill!! Typical. Will try to get out and about though and hopefully see something of interest. Thought we would post a few photos we have taken when we have managed to get out over the past week.

A Green Hairstreak Day.

Green Hairstreak
Oystercatcher Chick

We managed to get out for a while this afternoon although Sylvia is still not feeling too well. We went over the moors once again but this time in search of Green Hairstreak and actually managed to find them on the moors above the watersplash at Westerdale. Our first ever sighting. We also saw Grouse and Oystercatcher chicks around Kildale.

Late post

Orange tip

Orange tip (female)

Hare

This House Martin was struggling to get out of its nest .....then I noticed it was being pulled by its tail by another bird in the nest......strange behaviour!!

Chiffchaff

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Bit late with this post as Sylvia not feeling too well and pushed for time lately. Went out and about on Sunday over the moors again, fairly similar to last week. At least the Orange tip butterflies have managed to show in this cold run of weather. Had some issues getting the pictures on the blog but this is now OK, looking forward to Sylvia feeling better so we can get out and about again.

Monday Club comes up trumps.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatchers

Common Redstart

Common Redstart

Nuthatch

Cuckoo

Blackcap

Met up with Col and Mark - part of the "Monday Crew" and what a brilliant day we had, even though the weather went from cold and miserable to cold and sunny, the sun brought out the birds. We met on the North Yorks Moors on the road to Helmsley and had sightings of at least two male Pied Flycatchers and a female and at least two male Redstarts and a female. We also had good views of a Cuckoo, Nuthatch and Treecreeper, Dipper on the stream, Mistle Thrush and later in the day two female and a male Siskin. Col and Mark had also had sightings of Ring Ouzle up the track before we got there but we could not locate them.

Watch out young ones about.

Lapwing Chicks

Common Sandpiper

Steaming along

Barrow at Kildale Station

Dipper taking it eay

Grey Wagtail collecting food

The moors are begining to come alive with young lapwings around Westerdale, some had been ringed. Also high up on the moor were two Greylag geese with goslings - rather unusual sight for that neck of the woods. Common Sandpiper giving excellent views in front of the hide at Scaling Dam and Dipper and Grey Wagtail by the bridge near the church in Hutton Rudby - the Grey Wagtail bringing food to the nest viewed from the bridge.

The birds are back in town.

Yellow Wagtail

Golden Plover
Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler

Wheatear

Wheatear

Cuckoo

Swallow

Wren

It was so nice to walk along the track at Dormans Pool and hear the Swifts screech again, there were quite a lot flying high in the sky. Lots of Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat too but no butterflies, must be too cold again. Managed to see a cuckoo fly across although the photos not too good as the light was dreadful at the time. It was good also to see a summer plumage Golden Plover and a Yellow Wagtail along the North Gare road along with lots of Wheatear.