After having the previous week off and already visiting the local patch 3 times,i decided to give the new motor a run out and headed for beautiful Troutsdale,stopping briefly at Hackness Lake before travelling on up into the forest at Wykeham.
After a nice drive over through the sleepy Yorkshire Wolds,i headed for a pretty frosty and cold Hilla Green which is situated in the lovely Troutsdale Valley(The valley below Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint).
After getting several layers on and the birding kit together i began to explore,with the first bird i clapped eyes on being target number one for the day,Dipper.
The bird was only seen briefly and as i know these birds are sensitive to disturbance here,i didn't pursue it any further,but it was great to see my first for the year.
I then walked up the road past the small ox-bow lake,seeing another target for the day,Mandarin Duck.
Birds are not easy to see on here and they can be jumpy,but i did manage to count at least 18 birds the most i have seen at this site.
Also on here were at least 8 Teal.
I gave the surrounding woodland a good scan,but it was far too cold and early for any raptor action,but passerines kept the interest going with some lovely views of a pair of Marsh Tit and as i watched a lovely Mistle Thrush serenaded me as i passed by.
The sun was just breaking now over the top of the forest,what a fantastic morning to be out i thought to myself,i'm so lucky to be able to get out to places like this and it still is one of my favourite areas in North Yorkshire.
After a good hour or so,i walked back towards Hilla and had a wander along the bubbling River Derwent seeing a lovely Roe Deer having it's morning drink in the river,before it bolted after seeing me,giving that harsh,dog like bark,as it scolded me for disturbing him!.
Obviously the latter isn't true,this alarm call is just a warning to the other Deer in the area there is a threat,what beautiful animals they are.
After enjoying my wander around Hilla and Troutsdale i drove the short journey over to Hackness lake.
On arrival,a scan of the lake revealed at least 12 more Mandarins and also 5 Little Grebe,but not much else,so i got back in the car and headed up to the forest.
After driving up through North Moor and up to the viewpoint car park,i couldn't believe how many cars were here,the most I've seen in a long time.
As i got the gear together,a couple of Crossbills chipped by,a nice start to proceedings here,but expected really.
I quickly got settled in at the viewpoint bumping into fellow birder and twitter pal,Rob Robertson on a trip down from County Durham and also Leeds birder Bob Eckersley.
It wasn't long before we were watching our first Gos.as patrolling female flew along the woodland on the opposite side of the valley before she perched up in full view.
A bit distant in the haze,but i did manage to take some phonescoped video of her for posterity,filming her in flight was another matter,but i did manage to get some stuff of her,slowing the clip down so it was in slow motion for full affect,showing the flight of this big female.
We did get more views of her and her mate,plus at least one other pair and another single bird,but none were displaying due to the still conditions.It was still a privilege to see these magnificent birds of prey in this fantastic setting,just brilliant!.
Other birds seen from our viewpoint included a handfull of Crossbills,at least 7 Common Buzzards.
Before long it was time to travel home,but i had really enjoyed my visit to this stunning area of the home county and i will be back again soon,as i have promised Mrs R we will have a walk along Troutsdale.
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| Stunning Troutsdale. |
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