digi-birder
Well-known member
Well, it wasn't really a birding trip, so not much to report. We went to do a 'proper' walk to try and get fit, but ended up cutting it short, nipping in a pub for a wonderful meat and potato pie and mushy peas (and a pint) and then heading straight back to the car. We did take the binoculars, though.
We walked along the River Wharfe from the campsite in Appletreewick, then over the hill and back round through some very muddy fields. On the riverbank we saw a female Goosander and there were plenty of Mallards around.
Just before we turned away from the river, I stopped under some trees and watched the fast-moving water. Suddenly, a Dipper flew into the middle of the water and slowly worked its way downstream. It was a bit too dark for photos, though, so I just enjoyed watching my first Dipper of the year.
It was getting very warm and, having not been hiking for some time, I was getting rather hot and bothered. As we neared the top of a ridge, I heard a screeching call and flying around our heads were several Sand Martins. They appeared a bit agitated, so we moved along a bit and they calmed down. We looked back and noticed that there had been a landslide and in the soil bank, there were several holes. As I was scanning the bank, one of the flying birds went towards it and I saw it pass some food to one of two chicks sat in the entrance to the hole.
I quickly got the camera ready and waited for it to happen again. Not too long after, the adult came back and the chick grabbed the food again. See pics below.
We walked along the River Wharfe from the campsite in Appletreewick, then over the hill and back round through some very muddy fields. On the riverbank we saw a female Goosander and there were plenty of Mallards around.
Just before we turned away from the river, I stopped under some trees and watched the fast-moving water. Suddenly, a Dipper flew into the middle of the water and slowly worked its way downstream. It was a bit too dark for photos, though, so I just enjoyed watching my first Dipper of the year.
It was getting very warm and, having not been hiking for some time, I was getting rather hot and bothered. As we neared the top of a ridge, I heard a screeching call and flying around our heads were several Sand Martins. They appeared a bit agitated, so we moved along a bit and they calmed down. We looked back and noticed that there had been a landslide and in the soil bank, there were several holes. As I was scanning the bank, one of the flying birds went towards it and I saw it pass some food to one of two chicks sat in the entrance to the hole.
I quickly got the camera ready and waited for it to happen again. Not too long after, the adult came back and the chick grabbed the food again. See pics below.