Page 6 - Out Birding Winter 2023

Paul, Penny and Alix who had not come so far. The former two had already been up and down dale on foot so declined the opportunity to walk from Muker to Keld, so they joined us on the valley bo􏰀om and then retraced their steps. A Garden Warbler was singing as we le􏰁 the car park, and all day we had Willow Warbler in the back- ground.
No sooner had we finished admiring the several fields of flower meadows and gone over the s􏰂le to the river did we hear the first Redstart of the day, and Paul had some fine pictures of it at the top of a tree. The valley bo􏰀om has breeding Oystercatcher and Dipper, and it didn't take much scanning to find young of both. We also saw Wheatear in the usual place, half way along the three mile uphill walk to Keld in an open spot near old mine workings. There were plenty of Redstart flying round, and good views of Spo􏰀ed Flycatcher on the river as we approached Keld. These birds, once so common in the Dales, have declined by 92% na􏰂onally.
With miraculous 􏰂ming, our Oxfordshire pals appeared in Keld, having driven, just as we traipsed in having walked. Reunited and for􏰂fied at the café, we four walked the three-mile return leg to Muker along the other side of the river. The thick deciduous woods here allowed plenty of holes for nes􏰂ng Great Spo􏰀ed Woodpecker. We had similar luck a li􏰀le further along with great views of a Redstart dar􏰂ng in and out of a hole in a barn wall; Swaledale is renowned for its number of barns and maybe this is why the area is so popular for these birds. Having walked six miles, we were happy to flop by the river and enjoyed watching a juvenile Dipper who was clearly learning its trade but also sat for long periods blended against the rocks. Common Sandpiper were seen once in a while, and a Cuckoo was calling somewhere nearby.
It was a􏰁er 5 o’clock by the 􏰂me our route took us through the hay meadows again, and we enjoyed them in a different light from the morning. The flowers were one of the main points of the event, this being one of the best places to see upland hay meadows from public rights of way. The most common plants are meadow bu􏰀ercup, sel􏰃eal, pignut, and red clover, and then bistort, eyebright, yellow ra􏰀le, and betony. Specialist plants of upland hay meadows were also evident, such as globeflower, lady’s mantle, wood crane’s bill and melancholy thistle. This array is very accessible and brings many visitors, which is why I’d put our trip on a Thursday. These par􏰂cular fields are harvested for seed banks, but the surrounding area is also full of glorious flowers. I was the only one not driving so when the others had le􏰁, at gone six o’clock, I had a pint at the village pub and then walked through more meadows to my campsite. We’d had a really lovely day in stunning countryside. Thanks to everyone who came.
Rachael
RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk 17/6/2023
A warm, but some􏰂mes overcast Saturday in mid-June saw 11 GBC members from around the country unite for a day’s birding on the Suffolk coast. The trip was planned
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