Common birds up on the Moors

Friday the 15th, I made a little visit to Allerthorpe Common on my way home from work, it's always been a good site for Garden Warblers but they were evident from the outset this time, also a Willow Tit was showing well during the early part of the walk, further in a couple of Cuckoo’s were calling and two Tawny Owls seemed to be responding to their calls, all the usual stuff around the YWT Reserve, Whitethroats, Yellowhammers, Green Woodpecker etc, all in all a pleasant evenings stroll.

 

Garden warbler singing near the entrance gate, seems to be a good number this year

one of the Cuckoo's

hear the Lark ascending

Whitethroat keeping an eye on the Cuckoo

Sunday the 17th, I thought I'd have a day on the Moors starting at Sutton Bank again for another try for the showy Turtle Doves but despite hanging around for a couple of hours there was no sign this morning, a good selection of other stuff attending the feeders there though including both Marsh and Willow Tits. I then headed off to Bransdale and took a steady drive up and down, all the usual stuff present, Whinchats were in the usual spot, Spotted Flycatcher again at the site I discovered last year and a Buzzard at the top end, a Stoat had a pair of Wheatears on edge at the Ring Ouzel site but was too quick for me to get anything more than a head shot, further along the Redstarts unfortunately kept their distance this time, still always an enjoyable day up there. Late afternoon I headed back to Sutton Bank for another go, I got out of the car and two Turtle Doves flew into the tree in front of me, seems they are afternoon birds, at least four birds were present with two feeding underneath the feeders at one point, just a shame it had clouded over by this time so the light wasn't very good.

the Whitestone Cliffs

some yellow birds at the feeders

Early Purple Orchid

male Whinchat looking very smart

Spot Fly, always nice to see

it really is a lovely place

female Wheatear

keeping an eye on this fella

the male kept a discreet distance

didn't get close to any of these this time

back to Sutton Bank, got out of the car and there they were

the two under the feeders