At last a day came this Spring that was worthy of the name. A rare warm, sunny day, with almost cloudless skies with very light breezes. I headed for Beacon Hill which is only now beginning to look green and the foliage seemed to be growing before my eyes. Around 15 Willow Warblers were singing, a Redstart, Garden Warbler and Marsh Tit noted. Several displaying Redpolls overhead.Two Roe Deer and three Hares seen, including a pair in the woods at close range. Only now do the Willow Warblers appear to be showing any signs of begining nesting activity, having been on territory for six weeks now.
As I headed north, more Willow Warblers could be heard and the rookery near Blackpool Farm was in full swing. Two Garden Warblers and many Whitethroats were at Wingates, with three Buzzards in the air ,calling. Two then began a series of climbs and stoops ,one after the other displaying. Several male Redstarts noted from the car.
A walk over the fells and lunch halt in the Simonsides, where three Cuckoos called and a pair of Great spotted Woodpeckers fed young in a tree hole. Around ten Redpolls here , singing Skylarks and a few Red Grouse noted. Then a female Ring Ousel flew past and landed in a Rowan,not a common species here. A Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit,Redstart and Siskins and Meadow Pipits also noted. Swallows look to be in very good numbers at all the farms . The House Martin colony at Gt . Tosson was a hive of activity.
On to Hepple,where Common Sandpipers lived up to their name and two colonies of Sand Martins were very active.
At Holystone Grange, two Garden Warblers, Tree Pipit, Redstart ,Treecreeper and Swift were among the species seen. Then a walk up to Holystone North Wood, produced a nice Wood Warbler, seven Tree Pipits, four Redstarts and four G.S.Woodpeckers, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Heron and at least six pairs of Mistle Thrush and three of Song Thrush. I set off for home ,sorry to end what was a perfect Spring day.
Alan S. Jack