The run of good weather we've been having came to an end this morning with low cloud, rain and poor visibility at Dove Stone this morning. On the plus side, rain is what we need at the moment as the reservoir levels at Dove Stone are very low at the moment.
We've had a busy weekend on the Peregrine watch. The two Peregrines that have fledged are still being seen regularly on the crag from Ashway Gap. The remaining two young Peregrines on the nest ledge haven't fledged this weekend - we'll give you an update during this week as it won't be long before they too are fledging. We're still seeing the adult Peregrines on the crag, including seeing them fly in with kills for the young birds, so there's still plenty of Peregrine action to see.
Elsewhere around Dove Stone this week there have been recent sightings of Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Blackcap, Golden Plover, Short Eared Owl, Wheatear, Red Legged Partridge, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Spotted Flycatcher.
My bird of the week is the Cuckoo, one of which gave us great views by posing for quite sometime on one of the telephone cables running along the fields adjacent to the main car park. The fields adjacent to the main car park at Dove Stone are actually quite a good spot. As well as our Cuckoo I've seen Curlew, Oystercatcher, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker in those fields. Down in the main carpark you might also look out for one of wildlife action zones. Our feeders are attracting a good number of Goldfinches and Greenfinches amongst other seed feeding birds. A local artist has also made some feeders for us cleverly disguised as bracket fungi - see if you can spot them.
More soon . . .
Thanks for these updates Rachel, they make me feel I must get up and get out!
from John Harris, local RSPB member.