I’m glad to be back at Geltsdale after my Galloway break, and hoping for lots of harrier action. Many thanks to Steve for posting last week’s blog.
Wall-to-wall sunshine and some strong hints of early spring here last week. Our first ring ouzels are back, and three or four pairs of merlins have already established territories up on the Fells.
And I’ve got some very exciting hen harrier radio-tracking news. Scanning from Geltsdale, my team have picked up a signal for one of last year’s North Tynedale radio-tagged birds. This bird was actually last logged back on 8 August; and was then somewhere in the north Cheviots! It seems likely that she has probably spent the winter up in Scotland, well beyond signal range. On Saturday she was picked up during our guided hen harrier tracking event - which was fantastic for both wardens and visitors alike. Yesterday she was logged north of the reserve, and appears to be drifting eastwards – possibly back towards her natal site? So Gemma could possibly be seeing her in Northumberland soon…
Here on the reserve there have been daily sightings of a ring-tail since Wednesday. This could well be the single adult female that continues to roost at a site nearby. The bird has been foraging up on the heather moorland during the day, where meadow pipits and skylarks are now back in abundance. A smart, silvery-grey male is what we need now…