Brookie's Diary

• Monday, May 5, 2008 - Strid Wood

Futher afield today, a journey to one of the best woods around, a trip to Strid Wood nr Bolton Abbey. Arriving in the car park a 6am I soon heard the familiar sound of the Curlew on the surrounding moor. Further into the wood Song Thrush and Blackbird. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch seemed to be everywhere. The river did hold Dipper and Common Sandpiper, joined by Mallard and a splendid male Mandarin Duck. Grey Wagtail was picked amongst the river rocks. I still hadn't found the birds I came looking for, I made my way back up the river. Then I heard a unfamiliar bird call I knew I had found one of the birds I had come for. A  male Redstart. He was soon joined by a Spotted Flycatcher, but that wasn't around for long when the Redstart saw him, he soon had him off his territory. Wood Warbler then decided to join in two down one to go. Talking to a couple of guys in the wood I found out where my third bird was hiding out, but I didn't want to cross to the other side of the Strid. I came to the conclusion that what they saw over there I should surely be able to see over this side. I soon saw another guy on the other side looking in to one of the trees. I had a look. It took a good five minutes to locate the bird but there he was a male Pied Flycatcher and then another, like buses all of a sudden. With Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler added and again a missed Lesser Whitethroat I decided to return home to see whether any Dotterel had turned up on the local moor. Around Ingbirchworth the local lads were out but alas no Dotterel seemed to be landing in the Huddersfield area this year. Checking the res. Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Mallard seemed to be the only birds about. I decided to check Broadstones in the hope of a Dotterel, in the past I believe they have stopped off here. At Broadstones I decided on dinner with Wilow Warblers, Meadow Pipits and Linnets and then athe surprise bird of the day a Raven making its way across the moor giving off that familiar call as it was buzzed by a Kestrel. Well no Dotterel again, end of a day. Day List

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