Got up this morning, the sun was shining so thought I'd have a change and head to the moors along with Jim T. We began with a walk out to look for Black Grouse, but I had forgot my golden rule I used to apply when I did the moors regular - look at any sign of bad weather on the lowland and then X by four! The wind was so strong that the chances of picking up a Black Grouse or anything else for that matter seemed remote. Fortunately, when we dropped down a bit to view out from Ewden Heights we had enough shelter to just call it blustery. Early afternoon the Rough-legged Buzzard showed up quite close to the road over the valley before landing on the moorland behind. After a while it headed off towards Upper Commons, hugging the moorland as it did so and landing again briefly on at least four occasions before we lost it over the ridge. Job done, so we decided to take a walk out along Dukes Road and before we knew it, (well maybe not, actually), we had completed the c four mile circuit that takes you past the Shooting Lodge, back to Ewden Heights, and back to Dukes Road. Five Rough-legs at least then! Never done that walk before but was very impressed with it (not least, the scenery) and would certainly recommend it. A few birds too, shed-loads of Red Grouse (or should that be shooting lodge-loads?), 2 Common Buzzards, female Peregrine, a couple of Crossbills (appeared to have been drinking at one of the bog pools) and perhaps the biggest surprise, 4 Golden Plovers. No Curlews though. Finished the trip with a quick look at Broomhead Res (7+ Goosanders) and a visit to the Rushy Lane feeders which were alive with birds and included good numbers of Siskins in the adjacent trees.
News from Old Moor = Little Egret, Peregrine, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers Cetti's (singing)
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