Monday, May 24, 2010

20th May,2010.

Several hours spent in Wharncliffe Chase north of Sheffield, Yorkshire. The vast majority of the area is deciduous woodland , but an area of heathland is on the very top of the valley side. A good variety of typical species was seen , including Spotted Flycatcher and Nuthatch, and several Tree Pipits were singing from their perches on the very top of Birch trees on the heath. Blackaps are plentiful this year, as are Whitethroats in more scrubby open areas.

Following this we went to Wyming Brook woodlands, a delightful woodland SSSI west of the city where, again, we had a pleasing assemblage of expected species with the only absentee being Wood Warbler (that other people we met mentioned were in short supply this year). Wrens appear to have survived the winter quite well despite my learning of what must have been horrendous conditions locally. As a bonus we also had a few singing Goldcrest here and at Redmires.

We then had a further vigil near to Redmires in the hope of connecting with the male Montagu's Harrier, which is resident at the moment but appears to be ranging over a big area. Having called in yesterday, and learned later of our having missed it , the same happened today. That's birding!

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