Yorkshire’s Upland Birds

I had a very early start to a day in Wensleydale and Swaledale in north Yorkshire that began at 3am with a 90 minute drive in the near dark. I arrived at just before 5am as daylight was beginning to develop but the sun was not to make it through the overcast skies. Along the empty roads through the villages and hamlets there were rabbits in their thousands playing Russian roulette on the road before me, how I didn’t contribute to the considerable roadkill I will never know. The day comprised of slowly driving along the narrow upland roads through heather clad moorland scanning the distance and wall tops for the summer residents of the winged variety. There were many instances of the birds that you would expect including; Golden Plover, Red Grouse, Curlew, Red Sandpiper, Snipe, Larks, Meadow Pipits, Wheatear, etc. There were many more Golden Plovers than I have seen before but seemed to be less of the Grouse around. Below are a Curlew, Meadow Pipit and Red Sandpiper, that were all conveniently sat on the stone walls posing for the camera.