After a bit of a cloudy start it turned into a lovely sunny day for a ride out to the west side of the County.
The Stang - lots of Red Grouse, Curlew and Lapwing around. The first bird of note was a Jay feeding on a rabbit carcass on the road through the forest. Crossbill 20+ were flitting about near the top edge with similar numbers of Siskin and Goldfinch plus a few Linnet, Greenfinch and Dunnock. The Crossbills were in the roadside trees again but only two were coming down to the grit, likewise just two Siskin though I only stayed 30 mins as from my last visit I realised a later visit would be better light and planned on returning but ran out of time. Heading back down I came across a Kestrel and a Mistle Thrush.
Deepdale, Barnard Castle - a real blessing that the 'water-board' bridge across the River Tees reopened this week. Several Nuthatch, Wren, Robin, Blackcap and Willow Warbler were calling in the woods on the Barney side of the river. No sign of Grey Wagtail or Dipper in Percy Beck this time and nothing on the stones by the bandstand.
Lots of birds heard singing as soon as I entered Deepdale with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Robin, Chaffinch and Blackbird near the entrance. Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and another Chiffchaff were a little further along. I counted eight Bullfinch spread between the entrance and Raygill.
It was nice to see a pair of Dipper nesting in the traditional spot in the bankside once again. A pair of Grey Wagtail were in the streambed below.
I got all excited when I thought I'd found a LSW when I heard a quietish call and slow drumming from the remains of a tree they used to use but it turned out to be a GSW painstakingly pecking away. A hole in a tree on the other side of the valley looked recently bored out though it had two older holes as well.
Two Sand Martin were hunting flies over one of the clearings as well.
Bolliehope was the next stop where I bumped into Hilary and DaveJ who'd also gone looking for Ring Ouzel. I saw five in the end but no close views other than one flying overhead. Dave and Hilary had better luck when a pair flew onto the quarry face just as they were passing. Other birds there were Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, Red Grouse, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Curlew, Starling, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull and a Red Kite soaring very high. It seemed a little odd that despite it's height a Lapwing was still repeatedly mobbing the Kite even as it disappeared from view towards Teesdale. It looks as though the Kite may have sustained some damage.
Having spent so long at Bolliehope I ran out of time and had to head back east to collect the wife from work.
