Lockdown

With lockdown in force, early morning trips to Burdon Moor have been my only escape from staring out of the window, praying for a White-tailed Eagle.

 On the 6th April two Willow Warbler were singing along Tanfield Railway, along with a couple of Blackcap, but Burdon Moor was quiet with just the pair of Stonechat to speak of.

The next day 5 Willow Warbler were singing at Burdon Moor, but the star was the male Ring Ouzel feeding along the top fence-line. Annual here, but rarely stopping long, this is a bird that I missed last year. Also new for the year were 3 male Wheatear in the freshly tilled field by the entrance.

Ring Ouzel

The 7th was better again with a smart male Redstart getting chased by the Stonechat pair along the hedge-line at the top of the loop. Views were as brief as for the previous day's Ouzel. A couple tired looking Swallow dropped in to rest on wires and there were now 5 Wheatear in the entrance field.

Redstart

Swallow

A few quiet mornings then the moor was back on form today. First up was another Ring Ouzel, this one picked up on call on the bottom track. It quickly moved along the hedgerow, resting briefly in a tall tree, then flying high west. 2 singing Whitethroat were fresh in and both showed superbly along with a singing Stonechat. A vocal Tree Pipit was heard and seen as it zipped overhead to the north and a couple of Swallow passed through. Frustrating views of a flushed Snipe sp. that will hopefully be there tomorrow. Wheatear had built up to 6 in the entrance field by the time I left.

Ring Ouzel

Stonechat

Wheatear

Whitethroat