Spent a week with the family (wife and son – 18 months) near Settle in Yorkshire. Its a fantastic birding area with a range of habitats and, while we weren’t on a birding holiday, we managed to rack up a count of 72 species in the week.
Monday 22nd March – Bolton Abbey and Strid Wood
After seeing a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the tree opposite the cottage I had high hopes of a good weeks birding, and hoped to tick off a few year ticks.
Monday was spent at Bolton Abbey past Skipton, a ruined abbey (part is still functional) dominates the valley but the Strid woodland leads up the river and several miles of paths wind along the river and through the surrounding woodland. The “strid”, a thin gorge where the water thunders through up to 30m deep, is the main tourist attraction – enjoyed by up to 40,000 victorians in a single day, and still attracts thousands each year. All the paths were pushchair accessible and so George sat and enjoyed the view while Daddy pushed around quite steep paths in places. 
The woodland was alive with Tits but we had to wait a while for our first non-”common” bird, a pair of Nuthatch at eye level in a tree not too far away. The light wasn’t great for a photo but they looked beautiful as they moved around the tree – cracking birds. In the distance on the water I picked out two Goosander (male and female), which we picked up later as we got back down to water level. We had brief views of in-flight Greater Spotted Woodpecker, several mallard and a Greenfinch.
As we reached the viaduct we came back down the near side, we were scanning all the woodland trees for roosting Tawny Owl but those familiar with my blog will know that my wife and Owls just don’t mix – she always wants to see them but for some reason we never can when she’s around. Further round we stopped for a packed lunch, where we heard Greater Spotted Woodpecker drumming, and had good views of two Treecreeper and some more Nuthatch (later we saw one head into it’s nest).
More Goosander were on the water and we were buoyed by a Kingfisher flashing past, but it wasn’t til late on we got my target bird – Dipper. Regular in Derbyshire as they are I hadn’t made the journey this year, so I was pleased to see a pair on the water, feeding for a while and then sitting on rocks. Later we saw another one near the Abbey.
Curlew (year tick) flew overhead at several stages, and we had several more views of GS Woodpecker, but apart from a Pied Wagtail and three Fieldfare that was to be our lot. Not a bad day all round – and although George might disagree better than the Animal Park we had planned – until we found it was closed until Easter.
That evening I headed out for a quick walk round the cottage, no Owls but did see several Curlew including two sparring individuals – they appeared to be bashing each other with their bills. Not sure if they were loving or fighting. Apart from that I had several Gull (LBB, GBB, BH, Common and Herring), a few rabbits and pheasant, several pied wagtail and loads of chaffinch (really common up here – much more noticable than at home – or maybe its the time of year).
Tuesday 23rd March – Malham Cove and Gisburn Forest/Stocks Reservoir
Malham Cove is a natural cove which until the 1700′s had a waterfall higher than Niagra Falls, its a massive natural geological beauty spot and lots of birds use it as a nesting area. Last year when we visited we heard they had RSPB volenteers with a scope trained on a Peregrine nest – unfortunately we were too early for that but that meant it was quieter which wasn’t a bad thing.
It isn’t a difficult walk, I had George in a back pack thing, and its an amazing place. Like Cresswell Crags it brings home that thats just how its been for thosands of years, and you can imagine Neanderthal walking looking at exactly the same view with Crows cawing in the same way.
Birdwise, we had Pied Wagtail hunting on the water, Tits in the trees (inc Willow Tit on the way up), a Wren showing really well along the waterside, a nice early Wheatear in the fields above (I’d said literally two seconds previous that this would be perfect place for my first of the year), Meadow Pipit in the same area and Jackdaw too.
Later we went to Gisburn Forest, part of the Forest of Bowland. They have amazing feeders – attracting lots of Tits (inc Coal Tit), Reed Bunting and GS Woodpecker (are these getting ridiculously common now or is it me?). Also on our walk we had Red-Breasted Merganser, Goldeneye, Grey Heron and Oystercatcher all on Stocks Reservoir, Nuthatch in the forest and another Dipper in the beck.
Wednesday 24th March – Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve
A day I’d been looking forward to for a long time, I had had some reservations about the “serious” birders not being too happy with their hides being invaded by a toddler, but I was reassured on a forum that they’re well used to school trips and so not too worry. As it was George was really good, and, while at times he was at times noisy, he loved the birds and pointed them out continually as we walked round.
As we arrived we’d been told that the day before the Marsh Harriers had arrived back from their Winter in Africa; at least one, maybe two, females had returned. Also three Snow Geese were showing further up towards Morcambe Bay – not far from the reserve. The former I’ve seen before, but the latter would be a lifer.
So off we went to the hides, first stop Lillian hide – with its extra large picture window. Lots of wildfowl could be seen through the drizzle, Teal, Widgeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pintail (year tick), Pochard, Goldeneye and Tufted Duck. Also lots of Black-headed Gulls and Lapwing.
Walking down towards the Causeway and reedbeds, we saw many finches and tits (including Marsh Tit), and a warbler – a Chiffchaff (year tick). Was it a Marsh Harrier that flew over the reeds, I fancy it probably wasn’t – over Erewash Meadows at that distance I’d have easily called it a pale Buzzard – but the thought of Marsh Harriers had my mind wandering to better things. Walking all the way to the furthest hides we saw a Common Frog disappear under the hide, but not too many other birds (Shelduck and Shoveler added to list). Similarly on the way back we had another “buzzard” in the distance, and it wasn’t until back at Lillian hide we picked out the Marsh Harrier (with some help) a blob in the distance perched in a tree – not really happy at the tick but still its a sighting, I’d have loved better views.
We decided we had time, after a lunch in an otherwise empty hide, to walk to the other hides, and on the way encountered Smooth Newt and Common Frog on the paths.
In the hides, we caught up with lots of Little Egrets – at least seven – along with lots more wildfowl. Alas I hadn’t caught up with Bearded Tit though, but I knew it was a long shot. Next month in Norfolk may hold more hope….
We decided to head for the Snow Geese, and caught up with them at a railway level crossing not far from Leighton Moss. They had been showing close to the road, but we only managed to see them in the far side of the field. I managed a few record shots with the camera, they were good looking birds. We decided to try the hides at Morcambe Bay – a sister site to Leighton Moss run by the RSPB. Two hides and similar habitat but being on the bay then it attracts a few more waders.
Visiting proved to be a good idea, as I got a few year ticks – Avocet (one of my wife’s favourite birds), Black Tailed Godwit and also, to my surprise, a lady with a scope pointed out a Spotted Redshank – a lifer for me. I’d never have picked it out without her help as my scope broke a few weeks ago (it was very cheap so no great loss).
So all in all the day produced nearly 40 species, very pleasing considering we didn’t have long for scanning the water what with George needing entertaining. We ended the day with Fish and Chips ate in a lay-by and watched a Buzzard settle down to roost in a nearby tree.
Thursday 25th March – Moors
While checking out the moors for Hen Harrier from the car we got lucky and found a Merlin, male, perched not far from the car on a stone wall. I drove into a small ditch trying to get safely off the road to get a photo – it would have been a good one, but as usually happens in those situations it flew off as I got focussed. It zipped away and although we also saw it Friday in the same place it never posed for a photo in the same way – though I did spend nearly an hour sat waiting. I did see a Hare though which came quite close to the car. The car did get out the ditch, despite some horrible grinding on the alloys as I revved it to get traction.
Other birds today were Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Oystercatcher and Sparrowhawk. Never did see Hen Harrier which is a great disappointment, as they are in the area, but never quite managed to catch up with them.
Saturday 27th March – Old Moor RSPB Reserve
30 species today after a quick visit on the trip home. A brief view of Water Rail in the reeds, Tree Sparrow flying across near the feeders and Sand Martin (year tick) were all new birds for the holiday. Lots of Wildfowl about, as well as a Kestrel perched not far away on a fence post from one hide.
