Hi all, sorry for not being around recently but on Thursday I left for a few days away in the Yorkshire Dales and am back to work today! Hope everyone had a nice weekend! For anyone interested here is a little rundown of my trip, it was technically just a few days away to relax and do some walking but of course I tried my best to see some wildlife too!
I stayed in Bainbridge in a lovely B & B called "Riverside" and from there explored a number of places. The road from Redmire to Grinton crossing Moorland was a great place to spend a morning as the Red Grouse there are numerous and very used to cars going past and stopping right next to them! I managed to get some great photographs of them in both a snow storm and lovely morning light which was pleasing! Whilst driving I also spotted numerous Golden Plover, some Lapwing and a Curlew. The other "notable" bird was Pheasant of which there were lots of them.
A trip to Malham Cove unfortunately did not result in a Peregrine Falcon but flooded fields on the way allowed for good numbers of Oystercatcher, Greylag Geese and Mallard and a few hovering Kestrels. Unfortunately birds of prey seemed few and far between up there with a single Buzzard being the only other raptor seen in 4 days driving around.
At Malham Jackdaws were busy sorting out territories, Skylarks were already singing in the sheep fields and along one of the fast flowing rivers a pair of Goosander, a Grey Wagtail and a Dipper were seen, really pleased to get the Dipper!
On Sunday I visited a woodland and was treated to amazing views of Red Squirrels, so pleased to see these chaps making a comeback in the Dales and lets hope they continue to spread into what remaining woodland there is. I couldn't help but notice how little wooded areas there are, rolling hills are nice but surely some more woodland is needed for the benefit of all wildlife?!
Waterfalls were in full force and Hardraw Force Waterfall was a particular delight as you have to go through the Green Dragon pub to see it, which means afterwards a pint by the fire is needed! Whilst in that area it was pleasing to see a swathe of hilly moorland being managed as part of a Black Grouse regeneration project, no Grouse of that variety were seen that day but good to know work is being done for them!
Overall I really enjoyed my time in the area, the weather was mixed and the wildlife was nice, I do feel it is an area that needs further exploring and I am sure in Spring a larger variety of birds may have been seen, will have to go back!
Thanks all for the nice comments, I will get some photos uploaded on here over the weekend! Have edited a few Grouse images but still haven't touched the Red Squirrel ones, when I do will get them altogether and include them on this thread!