Butter Tubs to Barbondale

Photos:

Male Marsh Harrier at Leighton Moss

Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Red-legged Partridge at Barbondale

Ring Ouzel, Grey Wagtail and Wheatear at Butter Tubs Pass, Swaledale with a couple of photos of the pass and also one from the road near Keld

Wednesday 27th April

Had a drive out to the butter tubs today. We had a picnic in the pass at the Muker Memorial and then I went and spent a couple of hours watching at least two Ring Ouzels busy flitting around the hill sides collecting food. Four Wheatears and a Grey Wagtail also provided entertainment.

At one point a female Ring Ouzel flew into one of the butter tubs while I was stood at the side of it. I noticed quite a few birds did this – maybe to drink or it’s a good place to find food. Later I headed off to look for a nearby site which is good for Black Grouse. I didn’t find any and later learned I was looking in the wrong place. I did find the world’s supply of Red Grouse and I did find my first House Martin of the year in Swaledale.

Thursday 28th April

Very enjoyable day today. I started off with a walk around Barbondale. This is an idyllic place for me – I love this little walk around the hill side. Lots of good birds with 5 male Redstarts (all heard and then seen), 5 Pied Flycatchers (3 males, 2 females), 2 Tree Pipits and a plethora of Willow Warblers. A Tawny Owl was very vocal – also had a pair of Reed Buntings plus 7 Lesser Redpolls. High on the hill side were a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a Blackbird which may go some way to explaining the absence of Ring Ouzels here.

Mid afternoon I wandered over to Leighton Moss. An Osprey had been reported nr the road above the reserve a short time earlier – there was no sign when I arrived and there followed a procession of birders rolling up, asking where the Osprey was and then leaving immediately they got a negative answer. I decided to stay there and watch events – two other birders did join me. Several Marsh Harriers were seen including one very tatty male which had a tiff with a Buzzard and followed that by catching a Blackbird! Eventually I spotted an Osprey flying in the distance and we watched the bird flying around the reserve before drifting away.

At the van earlier there had been 2 Ravens generally messing around in the field behind and annoying the local Rooks and Jackdaws. I think corvids spend their lives annoyed at something! At Halton this evening were 3 Common Sandpipers, a Kingfisher, a Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.