Blackcocks, Greyhens and masked Bandito's

Sunday 13th and Me, Mark and Pete decided to go for the Grouse up in Teesdale, it wasn’t looking good at first as we drove into thick fog around Scotch Corner, fortunately however we came out of it as we climbed up out of Barnard Castle, first stop was the bridge at Langdon Beck where we had Dipper and Grey Wagtail plus several Woodcocks flying around, a bit further on we had up to 30 Blackcocks in the usual field with two fairly close as we headed up the road to St John’s Chapel, it had turned into a beautiful sunny morning and one of those rare occasions up there with hardly any wind, Skylark were singing, Snipe were drumming, Golden plover piping, Curlew bubbling, a real feelgood factor, a Raptor got up, female Merlin she gained a bit of height then powered off down the valley, we followed after her coming across a female Black and several Red Grouse then just before St John’s Chapel a male Sparrowhawk stood sentinel on a post by the side of the road till we stopped the car that is. The Penduline Tits had reappeared again across the road from Saltholme, they had been seen briefly on Friday then shown most of Saturday afternoon, reported again this morning so it was across to Teesside next, they were still present and showing when we got there although they were right at the back of the reedbed and spent more time down than up, still we managed to get a scope on them and got some good views, no chance of any pics though. We gave up on them coming any closer and headed off to Hartlepool for Pete to see some of the wintering goodies, the two Shore Larks and half a dozen Snow Buntings were showing well by the Jewish Cemetery, a smart Black Redstart was in the Memorial Gardens at the Headland and a Ring Necked Parakeet posed well by the entrance gate of Ward Jackson Park. We headed back and stopped for another look at the Penduline Tits, they were a little closer but it wasn’t long before they flew off back over the road into Saltholme, ended the day at Dorman’s Pool but apart from a couple of Little Egrets and a Stonechat there wasn’t much happening there.

Langdon Beck in full flow

distant Blackcocks

but a couple of closer ones around the corner

they soon lost their nerve and flew off

parting shot

displaying Snipe

the Grouse turned Red further up the valley

Langdon Fell

Snow Bunting at Hartlepool

Black Redstart escaped to a nearby chimney

but was soon back behind bars

RN Parakeet posing

and checking out its nest hole