Yorkshire Dales

After leaving carlisle had a wonderful drive through the Fell of the Lake District and the valleys of the Yorksire Dales it really does make you love this country espically when the waether as perfect as it was.

The stopped off at Gunnerside Gill and had a very pleasent and productive walk with Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing in the woodland area before hitting the riverside area where there were Oystercathers, Dippers and Pied Wagtail before climbing up the gill and getting a sighting of Wheaters, Meadow Pipits, Ravens and best of all 2 Males Ring Ouzels with one challenging the other one to a duel, though not for long, and a added bonus while walking back through the woodland had a view of a male Redstart and a young Mistle Thrush family.

Ring Ouzel

Young Mistle Thrush

Young Dipper

Next headed to Grinton Moor in the hope of seeing some Red Grouse at first no sign of any but after a little wait and with very close of Wheater and Meadit Pipit had a view of a lovely male Red Grouse feeding in the heather.

Meadow Pipit in the heather

Male Red Grouse

Male Red Grouse feeding

Last stop in the dales was Strid Wood part of bolton abbey with Grey Wagtail, Dippers, Kingfisher, Common Sandpipers and lots of Martins along the water edge but the best part is once you enter the woodland as it just seem perfect with the bluells covering the ground and at tree level birds everywhere with lots of the more westly nesting oakland birds with lots of nesting Pied Flycatchers and singing Wood Warblers and Redstarts around and also lots of Treecreepers, Nutchatcher and Woodpeckers filling the wood with sounds. Upon leaving the woodland had a nice view of a Peregrine Falcon being chased away by Lapwing and Oystercatcher perfect end to the stunning area of the dales.

Pied Flycatcher

Wood Warbler