After a highly enjoyable trip to Old Trafford to see Man United beat Arsenal on Sunday (whoops .... sorry .... wrong discussion forum
), I found somewhere to stay overnight in readiness for my trip around the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
I was up early and scraping the ice off the car windows in temperatures of minus 4 degrees .... did someone say Spring had arrived?
As dawn arrived, a day of blue sky and sunshine developed
. The Yorkshire Dales were stunningly beautiful and I was rewarded with the sights and sounds of many of the typical moorland bird species.
Red Grouse .... several noisy males and seemingly unimpressed females .... photos for the gallery to follow.
Black Grouse .... 2 separate groups of 8 and 10 males .... not sure where the females were!
Ring Ousel .... a stunning male .... first of the year for me.
Wheatear .... at least 5 .... again, first of the year for me.
Lapwing .... plenty of madly displaying pairs.
Golden Plover .... one pair in stunning summer plumage.
Curlew .... several.
Meadow Pipits .... loads!
Unfortunately no birds of prey such as Buzzard, Merlin, Hen Harrier or Short-eared Owl but nonetheless a very enjoyable day.
Richard