Continuing our Yorkshire weekend, we had an early morning visit to Strid Woods in Wharfedale. The Strid in late May is one of my favourite places, and this year it was as lovely as ever. With loads of Pied Flycatchers, as well as a few Spotted Flycatchers, Dippers, Redstarts, Goosanders, Common Sandpipers as well as the more common woodland birds, and the calls of Oystercatchers and Curlew from the moor above, it’s a great place to be in the morning. Unfortunately there were no Wood Warblers to be found this time, but a Tawny Owl with a well-hidden chick was a treat.
In the afternoon we went up Nidderdale to Scar House reservoir for a walk with Mum and my brother and sister in law. It was a bit quieter than normal in spring (apart from the racket made by a group of motorbikers scaring the sheep) but we still had nice views of Wheatear and many Lapwings.