Sample report of a summer walk
SNS Walk by DAVID FISHER
A short walk with the aim of spotting some of our lovely moorland birds and waders took us and our binoculars up above Holme village. On the way up past Digley four brown hares were seen, an oyster catcher was sitting on her three eggs, and a couple of common sandpipers were skittering about on the embankment too, all of these quite common to the area. Once up on the Issues Road which used to serve two old farms, now demolished, we saw and heard curlew, lapwing, so acrobatic in flight, and most excitingly golden plover which are uncommon this low down. They took some patient spotting but once they’d been seen their plumage and behaviour were unmistakeable. During a break for lunch a dunlin (we think) flew rapidly past us and disappeared into the deep grass; we also noticed dozens of tiny black caterpillars enjoying the warmth of the dry stone walls which line the road. Other birds seen were pheasant and grouse of course, a buzzard soaring so high it was almost invisible without our artificial aids, and rather worryingly, lesser black-back gulls and crows which represent such a threat to these wonderful but vulnerable ground-nesting birds.
Meanwhile, in the ditches alongside the track we identified the prettily-flowered water crowfoot.
Conversations en route with the farmer and with a very experienced local ranger greatly enhanced our understanding of the wildlife of the area and the efforts being made to encourage it.
The weather was still and bright and the event was deemed a success by our large group of enthusiasts.
A short walk with the aim of spotting some of our lovely moorland birds and waders took us and our binoculars up above Holme village. On the way up past Digley four brown hares were seen, an oyster catcher was sitting on her three eggs, and a couple of common sandpipers were skittering about on the embankment too, all of these quite common to the area. Once up on the Issues Road which used to serve two old farms, now demolished, we saw and heard curlew, lapwing, so acrobatic in flight, and most excitingly golden plover which are uncommon this low down. They took some patient spotting but once they’d been seen their plumage and behaviour were unmistakeable. During a break for lunch a dunlin (we think) flew rapidly past us and disappeared into the deep grass; we also noticed dozens of tiny black caterpillars enjoying the warmth of the dry stone walls which line the road. Other birds seen were pheasant and grouse of course, a buzzard soaring so high it was almost invisible without our artificial aids, and rather worryingly, lesser black-back gulls and crows which represent such a threat to these wonderful but vulnerable ground-nesting birds.
Meanwhile, in the ditches alongside the track we identified the prettily-flowered water crowfoot.
Conversations en route with the farmer and with a very experienced local ranger greatly enhanced our understanding of the wildlife of the area and the efforts being made to encourage it.
The weather was still and bright and the event was deemed a success by our large group of enthusiasts.