April on Langholm Moor
The moor is a very exciting place at the moment, there is so much activity. Red Grouse can be heard all around chuckling their territorial displays and Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover are filling the moorland skies with their wonderful calls. Skylark and Meadow Pipit dash here and there and the vole activity is amazing.. hopefully a good indication of a good season for our resident Barn Owls and other breeding raptors. The Harrier activity is keeping the team of staff and volunteers very busy, it is looking promising but will this early activity translate into breeding attempts / success?
The weather is mixed to say the least with the odd sunny day mixed in with our more usual wet and foggy days. We've enjoyed superb sightings of Hen Harriers, Merlin, Short Eared Owls, Red Kite and even sightings of Ring Ouzel, Osprey and Marsh Harrier on passage. With southern migrants like Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Swallows appearing and yet we still have the odd Brambling about at the feeding station - who must surely be heading north soon?
 |
| Brambling - John Wright |
April 9th and all three tagged Harriers are alive and well. Miranda is showing no signs of leaving her wintering spot, will she stay and attempt to breed?
Check out Hen Harrier Ireland blog to see how Miranda's movements vary from her Irish-born neighbour Heather more details http://henharrierireland.blogspot.co.uk/
Grainne and Hattie are getting stuck in to Spring . We'll have to wait and see if Grainne & Hattie attempt to breed this year.. watch this space. In the meantime enjoy these stunning shots by Laurie Campbell who took these photographs a couple of years ago at Langholm.
 |
| Laurie Campbell |
 |
| Laurie Campbell |
 |
| Laurie Campbell |
No comments:
Post a Comment