Great to hear about hen harrier nests elsewhere in England but of course we are all very disappointed in Northumberland where our harriers haven't had a successful season.
We hoped that the male hen harrier would start displaying again and pull in a new mate, but that hasn't happened, so far. However, we saw a male hen harrier towards the end of last week which was uplifting. Of course, it would help if he stayed put on the territory and made a bit of effort with some skydancing!
While he roams the hills, we keep watch for his return every day.
Having spent the last two and a half months staring at one hill, two hillocks and a belt of high crags, I am now very familiar with every bush on the skyline, every contour and every rock. This means that if one morning there appears an additional grey-white object on the landscape, I get very excited. It's a bit like someone adding a new plant to your garden during the night. The following day, you'd instantly know that something was different.
Of late, those occasions when a stone on a hillside becomes a male hen harrier, have been less frequent, but we don't give up.
I am extremely fortunate to have the help of volunteer wardens at the North Tynedale site. The hen harrier protection project would simply not be possible without the support of these dedicated individuals. At the moment I have more offers of help than I need as it is quiet, but it has been fantastic knowing that there are people living locally who are willing to step in and assist with the monitoring - often at short notice.
Even when there is not much activity, they put in a sterling effort, scanning the hills and sky and keeping detailed notes. They also monitor the other raptors in the area and, if nothing else, at least we are helping to keep the peregrine nest safe from human persecution. It takes a lot of commitment to keep turning up and putting in the hours when the chances of seeing a displaying harrier are becoming very slim.
Of course, there are other birds to enjoy when things are quiet on the harrier front. The peregrines are always about as are buzzards and kestrels, and occasionally we see goshawks and, at dusk, long-eared owls. Warblers and swallows have been around for quite a while and there are many other songbirds including stonechats, linnets and crossbills. Cuckoos have been calling for a few weeks. I frequently see deer bounding into the woods when I enter the site, and sometimes I spot the odd mischievous stoat darting across the sand stones at my observation point.
I've been joined by many tens of bees during my observations over the last few weeks which are attracted to the pink bilberry flowers. A few bees usually come over and politely check me out with a few circuits of my head before returning to foraging. The bilberry flowers are past their best now, but the lime green of their leaves and new bracken shoots are bringing colour to the hills.