Raptorfest
by martin on Sep.29, 2011, under Birdwatching, North Pennines, Northumberland
We don’t usually do North Pennines trips in September; by this time of the year we’re focused closely on the coast, and our inland visits tend to be limited to our own photography projects. However, when we had a ‘phone call on Monday “we’re stopping in Allendale, what can you do for us this week?”, it seemed logical to head into the bleak open expanse of southwest Northumberland and Upper Teesdale.
I collected Jan and Pete from their holiday cottage and we headed cross country as I explained that birdwatching in the North Pennines tends to be about quality rather than quantity…
Sure enough, the mouth-watering quality of birdwatching on the moors was soon evident. After lots of obligingly photogenic Red Grouse we went through a remarkable period of raptor sightings. Kestrels and Common Buzzards were followed by a Peregrine harassing a Carrion Crow, a Common Buzzard somehow getting embroiled in that same dispute, a Merlin that raced across the fell behind the intriguing 3-way dogfight, more Kestrels and Common Buzzards, and a Sparrowhawk that had caught a Lapwing (which broke free and flew off, with the Sparrowhawk in pursuit).
Then we had a quantity of quality, as our afternoon and evening produced no less than 73 Black Grouse! 54 Blackcocks and 19 Greyhens was an extraordinary total for one trip and we enjoyed the sight of the cryptically patterned Greyhens, the iridescent blue of the adult Blackcocks and we picked out a few young birds amongst the groups as well.
Rounded off with a carmine pink sky just after sunset, we’ll have to think about adding some autumn North Pennines trips into our schedule for 2012 
2 Comments for this entry
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October 5th, 2011 on 08:58
Martin, We had a wonderful day. Not only an amazing amount of wildlife but fantastic scenery that I am sure we would have never seen without you.
Many thanks
Pete & Jan
October 13th, 2011 on 06:23
Hi Pete and Jan
Glad you enjoyed it . Enthusiastic clients always make it a great day
I’m still in shock now, at the number of Black Grouse we found. Late-September North Pennines trips are getting added to our itinerary for 2012!
best wishes
martin