Round Up

Although I have been out and about during the week I have failed to see very little.
I have visited Harrington Airfield every day and it has been very quiet. On Tuesday 20th there was a small flurry of birds, 2 Brambling, Redpoll, Crossbill and a few Siskin flying over plus a decent number of Meadow Pipit and Skylark feeding on the newly worked fields.  It is good to see that the Grey Partridge families are doing well.
On my daily visits to Blueberry Farm area I regularly saw 3 Stonechat and up to 6 Whinchat. A cream crown Marsh Harrier was seen on several occassions, usually late afternoon.
The valley area below Hanging Houghton has been attracting large numbers of Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Corvids including up to 4 Ravens foraging the fields.  There has also been the noticable presence of good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylark.  Other birds of note have been Wheatear and a male Peregrine.
Whilst out running along the Brampton Valley Way the other morning there was Brambling and Common Redstart at Merry Tom Lane.
I end on a sad note as Jo Knowles of Blueberry Farm died last week from cancer, only a few weeks following the death of Stephen. Such a lovely couple who welcomed so many of us onto their land to enjoy and share in the wildlife.  Jo was equally as welcoming and enthusiastic as Stephen and between them they have created a unique and almost "magical" place.  A place which is special to so many of us and it is fitting that it will also be their final resting place as their ashes will be scattered at the top of "Blueberry Hill" and a stone bench erected in their memory.
Thank You Stephen and Jo, rest in peace.
Our thoughts and sympathy are with their family at this sad and difficult time.

Regards Eleanor