Sat 24th May. It was the RSPB group visit to upper Teesdale today and as I stood shivering with cold in Newcastle I looked forward to another visit to one of my favourite areas, guessing that there was more coldness to come before the day had ended. Never mind we were all soon onto the warm and almost filled 35 seat coach and were off. We were soon crossing the Durham Moors and watching large numbers of Lapwing and catching a good sighting of Snipe atop a post, our only sighting of that species on the day. Red Legged Partridge was also seen.
It wasn’t long before we made a short stop in the hope of viewing Black Grouse. We were not disappointed as 18 Blackcock were counted. Curlews flew overhead as Skylark were seen and heard along with Meadow Pipits, Swallows and Swifts Then we were off to begin our walk past Widdybank Farm, along the upper Tees to Cauldron Snout where there is a not too easy climb to Cow Green reservoir and still a longish walk to where we rejoin the coach. Eighteen members joined this longer walk of the day whilst others chose shorter walks. Happily, eighteen finished the walk!;-)
It was very cold in this open area and we all seem to be dressed for a bracing winter walk. Members were soon watching a pair of Redshank seemingly protecting a nest sight as more Lapwing and Curlew flew. I got my eye on a very distant raptor chasing a small bird in the air and think it may have been a Peregrine Falcon, but I can’t be sure so it joined our list of Kestrels seen today! This is a great area for plant life and the wildflowers were soon taking up the interest of many members. There were carpets of Birdseye Primrose Primula farinosa and Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana, the former looking quite spectacular. A little further on we came upon Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris and Globe Flowers Trollius europaeus which have that very distinctive pale yellow colouring. Amongst other flowers found were Water Avens Geum rivale, Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica and Pale Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora. These three being new species for my list.
Two more distant Black Grouse were found and Red Grouse were heard then seen. As we passed the farm we kept an eye open for Wheatear, but only the lucky member saw one and it was further on into the walk that the majority had very good views of these wonderful birds. I caught a brief sighting of a Ring Ouzel fly across river into the rocks on the fell side. As we struggled to find it again, just a few yards further along the path others had been found I was able to get good views of a pair of Ring Ouzels feeding amongst the grass. More had been seen. The Lapwings were diving at the Ring Ouzels which helped locate them. I saw at least six Ring Ouzels today. As we walked along by the river, a rather tricky walk at times, in an area that you would not want to loose a member in the river, we found Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers, Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Willow Warblers and Wrens could be heard singing. We were always hopeful that the sun would emerge, but the cloud seemed to follow us. Thankfully we did reach an area which was protected from the cold wind. We found a moderately sheltered spot for lunch and as we ate we watched Ring Ouzel, Dipper and Wheatears. The river seemed to be alive with fish as two anglers appeared to be pulling fish out at an alarming rate.
As we moved off after lunch we found more Birdseye Primroses, this time growing on the crags and we saw another Ring Ouzel fly from a nesting sight and make that distinctive alarm call exactly the same as two of us had heard the previous week in another area. It wasn’t long until we were at the waterfall at Cauldron Snout which is quite a sight. This may well be the longest water fall in England. We now had a tricky, but not to difficult climb to do. I have to say that either the rocks we climb over are getting bigger over the years or my legs are getting shorter! Anyway we were all soon at the top and all in one piece as far as I could tell, although a few knees were creaking. We had a French lady visitor with us today and she had especially wanted to see Red Grouse and Golden Plover. She had missed the Red Grouse earlier and I said that we may well seem some on the last stretch of the walk. In fact we found two at the top of the falls which we had excellent sightings of.
Now we were hoping for Golden Plover! The wind as usual in this area did not help in locating any calls. We did have Violets, Mountain Pansies Viola lutea and Spring Gentian Gentiana verna (native only to Teesdale and The Burren) to keep us occupied and dead rabbits to avoid standing on, of which there seemed to be many about. We didn’t find Teesdale Violets Viola rupestris amongst the 100s of violets that were about, not as far as I’m aware anyway. The blue of the Spring gentian made up for that. There were even groupings of Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa about, miles from any wood.
Then as the walk was nearing its end we came across Golden Plover. This species is always magnificent in full breeding plumage and although this one was a little way off this it still made for a fine sighting as it moved slowly over the ground watching us watching it and showing those wonderful facial markings. I think the French lady will have been pleased.
We soon met up with those who had occupied themselves with the shorter walks and they tell me that they had had an excellent day. They added Ringed Plover and Red Breasted Merganser to the group list. Two or three of us had seen ducks in flight during the walk and had thought they may be Goosanders, but I suspect that they may have been the Red Breasted Mergansers. One member had seen Whinchat which is reported in the area.
So it was for home we made after a very good and exhilarating day with everyone in fine fettle. The group list came to 47. Then we added Red Kite on the way home bringing a total of 48. Bird of the day for me has to be the Ring Ouzel and we had wonderful sightings of them. Mind you there are some close challengers in Wheatear and Black Grouse. Wheatears definitely have a place in my top ten UK birds. No new bird species for the year list today, but no- matter. Definitely some new and interesting wild flowers for my ever growing list, some beautiful and rugged scenery and some good laughs as always.
I’ll add a few pics.
1)Birdseye Primrose 2) Globe Flower 3 Marsh Marigolds 4) Water Avens
It wasn’t long before we made a short stop in the hope of viewing Black Grouse. We were not disappointed as 18 Blackcock were counted. Curlews flew overhead as Skylark were seen and heard along with Meadow Pipits, Swallows and Swifts Then we were off to begin our walk past Widdybank Farm, along the upper Tees to Cauldron Snout where there is a not too easy climb to Cow Green reservoir and still a longish walk to where we rejoin the coach. Eighteen members joined this longer walk of the day whilst others chose shorter walks. Happily, eighteen finished the walk!;-)
It was very cold in this open area and we all seem to be dressed for a bracing winter walk. Members were soon watching a pair of Redshank seemingly protecting a nest sight as more Lapwing and Curlew flew. I got my eye on a very distant raptor chasing a small bird in the air and think it may have been a Peregrine Falcon, but I can’t be sure so it joined our list of Kestrels seen today! This is a great area for plant life and the wildflowers were soon taking up the interest of many members. There were carpets of Birdseye Primrose Primula farinosa and Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana, the former looking quite spectacular. A little further on we came upon Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris and Globe Flowers Trollius europaeus which have that very distinctive pale yellow colouring. Amongst other flowers found were Water Avens Geum rivale, Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica and Pale Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora. These three being new species for my list.
Two more distant Black Grouse were found and Red Grouse were heard then seen. As we passed the farm we kept an eye open for Wheatear, but only the lucky member saw one and it was further on into the walk that the majority had very good views of these wonderful birds. I caught a brief sighting of a Ring Ouzel fly across river into the rocks on the fell side. As we struggled to find it again, just a few yards further along the path others had been found I was able to get good views of a pair of Ring Ouzels feeding amongst the grass. More had been seen. The Lapwings were diving at the Ring Ouzels which helped locate them. I saw at least six Ring Ouzels today. As we walked along by the river, a rather tricky walk at times, in an area that you would not want to loose a member in the river, we found Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers, Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Willow Warblers and Wrens could be heard singing. We were always hopeful that the sun would emerge, but the cloud seemed to follow us. Thankfully we did reach an area which was protected from the cold wind. We found a moderately sheltered spot for lunch and as we ate we watched Ring Ouzel, Dipper and Wheatears. The river seemed to be alive with fish as two anglers appeared to be pulling fish out at an alarming rate.
As we moved off after lunch we found more Birdseye Primroses, this time growing on the crags and we saw another Ring Ouzel fly from a nesting sight and make that distinctive alarm call exactly the same as two of us had heard the previous week in another area. It wasn’t long until we were at the waterfall at Cauldron Snout which is quite a sight. This may well be the longest water fall in England. We now had a tricky, but not to difficult climb to do. I have to say that either the rocks we climb over are getting bigger over the years or my legs are getting shorter! Anyway we were all soon at the top and all in one piece as far as I could tell, although a few knees were creaking. We had a French lady visitor with us today and she had especially wanted to see Red Grouse and Golden Plover. She had missed the Red Grouse earlier and I said that we may well seem some on the last stretch of the walk. In fact we found two at the top of the falls which we had excellent sightings of.
Now we were hoping for Golden Plover! The wind as usual in this area did not help in locating any calls. We did have Violets, Mountain Pansies Viola lutea and Spring Gentian Gentiana verna (native only to Teesdale and The Burren) to keep us occupied and dead rabbits to avoid standing on, of which there seemed to be many about. We didn’t find Teesdale Violets Viola rupestris amongst the 100s of violets that were about, not as far as I’m aware anyway. The blue of the Spring gentian made up for that. There were even groupings of Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa about, miles from any wood.
Then as the walk was nearing its end we came across Golden Plover. This species is always magnificent in full breeding plumage and although this one was a little way off this it still made for a fine sighting as it moved slowly over the ground watching us watching it and showing those wonderful facial markings. I think the French lady will have been pleased.
We soon met up with those who had occupied themselves with the shorter walks and they tell me that they had had an excellent day. They added Ringed Plover and Red Breasted Merganser to the group list. Two or three of us had seen ducks in flight during the walk and had thought they may be Goosanders, but I suspect that they may have been the Red Breasted Mergansers. One member had seen Whinchat which is reported in the area.
So it was for home we made after a very good and exhilarating day with everyone in fine fettle. The group list came to 47. Then we added Red Kite on the way home bringing a total of 48. Bird of the day for me has to be the Ring Ouzel and we had wonderful sightings of them. Mind you there are some close challengers in Wheatear and Black Grouse. Wheatears definitely have a place in my top ten UK birds. No new bird species for the year list today, but no- matter. Definitely some new and interesting wild flowers for my ever growing list, some beautiful and rugged scenery and some good laughs as always.
I’ll add a few pics.
1)Birdseye Primrose 2) Globe Flower 3 Marsh Marigolds 4) Water Avens
