We spent yesterday lunch time sat in a shooting butt on one of our favourite moors with a sandwich and a flask of coffee. The life of the moor was just carrying on around us while we sat in the sun. Lapwings were doing their territorial display as were the Curlew. Looking very close over the wall of the butt we saw a female Red Grouse encouraging her brood to feed while the male was stood on top of the heather keeping watch. Meadow Pipits seemed to be everywhere and several Skylarks sang overhead. After about half an hour we quietly made our way back to the old track and as we walked back to the car there we could see several Oystercatchers sitting on nests and s pair of Pied Wagtails catching insects on the top of the stone wall. We were a bit disappointed not to see Snipe or Golden Plover but hopefully they will still be sat on nests. It was a great lunchtime in one of our favourite habitats
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Lot to learn
I miss my moorland walks, the only accessible ones tend to be frequented by too many folk, but I can picture what you saw, without any photos, and the bliss enjoyed.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Interestingly Mike it was all done with the blessing of the local gamekeeper it was him that told us which numbet butt would be best without too much disturbance to the birds.