A drive up onto the Durham Dales at the beginning of the month in some sunny if blustery weather. My aim was to find Adders, which I did, and Ring Ouzel which unfortunately I didn’t however it was still a canny day out.
Female Adder.
Female Wheatear.
Male Wheatear.
Meadow Pipit.
Sand Martin.
Toad.
Black Grouse.
It’s nearly two weeks ago (I’m always behind) since my wife and I had a drive around the Durham Dales looking for Black Grouse. The Grouse that we saw were always at a distance but three “big birds” came very close.
Black Grouse.
Curlew.
Lapwing.
Toad.
Dunnock.
One of the “big birds” that came close.
I haven’t got one leg longer that the other, this is
the way it flew towards us.
First time I have been waved at by someone in a helicopter
(not a cropped image)
30.03.24 A drive up to the Dales with my wife for Wheatear and Ring Ouzel and whatever else was around. We found Wheatear but sadly no Ring Ouzel (I’m going back) however, there was still some canny wildlife was to be seen.
A pair of Wheatear.
Female Wheatear.
Male Wheatear. They both kept looking to the sky
The only thing flying over was a Buzzard.
Wren singing its little heart out.
Some rubbish images taken against the light of what I
at first thought was a Medow Pipit but now I’m not sure. It seems to be very Yellow
in places could it be a Tree Pipit or is that stretching it too far.
This to me is how a Meadow Pipit should look.
Pied Wagtail.
I don’t know who was startled the most me or the
Partridge.
Brown Hare enjoying the sun.
Another one enjoying the grass.
Some very distant Black Grouse.
A heavy crop of the Grouse.
Another very distant bird this time a Raven.
My wife and I had a drive up to Langdon Beck last Friday to see if we could find any Black Grouse. We did and I have never seen as many, there were dozens of them in the fields all around Langdon Beck unfortunately however they were all too far away to get any decent images but it was still nice to see so many around. A Red Kite, Buzzard, and a Kestrel (no picture) were hunting the same area of moor just above Stanhope and another Red Kite was at Edmundbyers. The Edmundbyers Little Owl was also in its usual spot.
A couple of female Black Grouse.
Two male Black Grouse.
Red Grouse strangely enough we did not see many of
these.
Another two male Black Grouse.
Red Kite on the moors above Stanhope.
A Buzzard hunting in the same place as the Red Kite.
Little Owl.
We found this Red Kite feeding on a bird carcass.
The same Red Kite circling above the field where the
carcass was. Normally when I see Red Kites hunting the sky is grey so it was
nice to see a bit of blue sky for a change.
