A splendidly hot summer morning to accompany a visitor from London in the Harthope Valley. Highlights of several hours spent were five Ring Ouzels two adults and three juveniles all in the same general area; one adult had two juveniles in attendance and a second adult with a single juvenile.
Between six-eight Whinchats were noted and a single male Stonechat. Up to six Spotted Flycatchers, mostly singles were noted in the wooded sections whilst three-four singing and displaying Tree Pipits, were mostly up-valley from Langleeford Farm. A single male Cuckoo sanf briefly from the tall pines just north of there as we moved up the valley. Several pairs of Lesser Redpoll were noted including a pair at a nest and flight calls of individuals moving up-valley were noted every few minutes late morning.
Other species encountered included Red Grouse, Curlew, Buzzard (2-4), Sparrowhawk 1, Dipper, Grey Wagtails (4), Willow Warblers.
A Tilmouth