Search This Blog

Monday 18 April 2011

To The Hills 17-4-11


A run inland today up to the Cheviot area , a walk around the two hill forts of West Hill and St Gregory parked at the Village Hall of Kirknewton headed East, Blackcap the first bird heard singing Swallows overhead, more Blackcaps and Willow Warblers  on the edge of the gardens , some of the feral Goats on the hillside they seem to always be here, a Hare just sitting on the path ahead of us, the Yaffle of Green Woodpecker but no sign , 2 Buzzards over ,Meadow Pipits on the open grassland seemed more than I have ever seen in this area well over 100 birds . Two red Legged Partridge sitting on the wall watching us I  gave directions to where they were sitting  but  one step off the track and they where gone., two nice Male Wheatears  on the walk up West Hill ,Female on the top, another two on St Gregorys , but 7 birds on the track back down to the road  5 male 2 female (much more sheltered here) ,another 2 Hares & the gruesome sight of a dead Lamb with it's eyes pecked out .
called at Brunton Gravel pits on the way back , a hide has been erected and a car park made , but not sure of access, the usual Greylag & Canada a few Black headed Gulls and 20 Tufted Duck.
 Kids butting heads together
 Some of the feral Goats
 Wheatears in good numbers no Ring Ouzel though .
 Hare the wind was in our favour
 Tick on the track below, the river runs in the valley below Green Woodpecker here.
 View across the Millfield plain in the historic past this was a huge lake.
 The camera can't get it all in


A small stream separates the two hills
Kirknewton just below beyond the Gorse no sign of Stonechats they seem to have had a hammering from the harsh winter..

No comments: