17 May 2018
On getting out of our cars on the moor top we were immediately treated to excellent views of a Short-eared Owl. It obliged by circling around so that its beautiful wing patterns were highly visible. Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kites, and Cuckoo also showed themselves within the next few minutes; the Cuckoo surveying us from several vantage points, whilst Red Kites made appearances throughout the morning. The sounds of Curlews, Lapwings and Willow Warblers accompanied us as we enjoyed watching Red Grouse, Pheasant, Greylag Goose and Mallard, all with chicks. At the weir we had sightings of Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Dipper, but our delight knew no bounds when we came upon a Ring Ouzel collecting food from the grass a few metres from us, and then more views of it and its mate while we had lunch basking in pleasantly warm sunshine. Several Mistle Thrushes, too, were about. In all we saw 30 species.
Clare Dunn
