North Staffs

 

I was up early to make the best of the weather Saturday. At dawn a low mist still clouded the moors so the first hour was spent catching up with Tittersworth. A little bit of warmth seemed to make all the birds amorous, Teal were all trying to impress the females so were a couple of LRPs and Oystercatchers. The only new bird for the summer was a lone Swallow heading south obviously missed his stop. A quick look at the Churnet again for early arrivals didnt produce any but a Kingfisher was most welcome. Now the mist seemed to have cleared I headed up onto the moors, with the west side first. 2 Willow warblers on full song around the Roaches made the morning even more summery. The male Peregrine also shot past screeming heading back to the mrs. The moors did seem more alive with common birds such a Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, my first Wheatears of the year were on wrong side of the river Dane to go on the Staffordshire list but I did catch up with a dashing male not far from Boars Grove. An enjoyable couple of hours with the added extra of the feeling Winter is over