Shatterford - 8th March

Parked up a Shatterford car park as it was getting light at 6.20am this morning. It was mostly cloudy with a slight breeze.
I could hear Mistle Thrushes & Goldcrest singing from the trees near the car park as soon as I got out of the car.
As I walked over the heath next to the railway line there were Meadow Pipits doing there song-flights (first for me this year), Dartford Warblers were calling, Stonechats were singing & a flock of Redpolls flew over. A pair of Curlew called & flew about Bishop's Dyke.
At the foot-bridges over the mire at Woodfidley Passage some Reed Buntings were in the Willows & I could hear Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, Song Thrushes & Great Tits singing from Denny Lodge Inclosure.
A bit closer to the Inclosure a couple of herds of Fallow does were hanging about under the Silver Birches.
I walked down the side of the Inclosure & then over the railway bridge. In an Oak tree here, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was drumming only a few meters away & a Hawfinch called from the top of a Pine.
I carried on down the other side of the bridge & a pair of Sika hinds ran off from the bottom of it.
I then walked through the top end of Frame Heath Inclosure where there were some more Sika hinds, Song Thrushes, Goldcrest & Chaffinches singing.
As I came out of the top of Frame Heath & back along the edge to the railway bridge, four Lapwings were circling & calling over Rowbarrow pond. The wind had got up a bit more & dark clouds were now over head threatening rain.
Back at the bridge the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was still in his tree drumming & another called not far away.
I went through the gate into Denny Lodge Inclosure. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were still drumming & there were Green Woodpeckers, Great, Blue & Coal Tits, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Treecreepers, Siskins, Stock Doves, Redwings, Chaffinches & a few more Fallow does.
Out of the Inclosure near Woodfidley then along over the 5 bridges towards Denny Wood was a bit quiet except from the bird song coming from the woods & a Woodlark singing at the edge of the heath.
I stopped at the last footbridge before Denny Wood for a quick drink & noticed 4 Fallow bucks at their usual haunt near the fields of Denny Lodge.
Through Denny Wood were the usual birds with some Hawfinches singing from the tops of the trees.
Out on the heath again walking back to the car was quiet except for a few Meadow pipits.