Ewden lodge and return 27/8/17.

Top conditions, bright, good light, sunny and warm. At the entrance gate Nuthatch and Treecreeper with about 70 Swallows feeding up over the wood and moors. Steady trickle of House Martins and Swallows going south all afternoon up the valley. A bright coloured Whinchat possible moulting ad male was on the stone wall on right of track. Meadow Pipit total about 60 with some going s at the lodge. Raven total 4, Siskin 1 and a mobile pair of Curlews. Raptors were a cc Marsh Harrier showing well at times, firstly reported by Charlie Buller, 10+ C Buzzards with 11 up at the same time. Juv Peregrine showed a few times, Kestrel 6+, Sparrowhawk 1. Lastly a very high and distant ringtailed harrier went n. It showed a white rump eventually and was thought to be a Hen Harrier but impossible to be 100 per cent sure. Almost forgot, 5+ Stonechats at the s bend.