Meadow pipits

Meadow pipits are so common and widely distributed that they tend to be overlooked, but with their speckled breasts and neatly patterned wings they are attractive birds. 

The two locations where I most often encounter them here in the North East are coastal grasslands and moorland edge. This bird was photographed in near Hawthorn Dene, on the Durham coast.

I encountered this bird on Blanchland moor, just when the bell heather was beginning to bloom. Every time I approached, it rose and flew a little further away, so I suspect it was decoying me away from its nest.

Another bird from the edge of Blanchland moor. This one has no fewer than three grasshoppers in its beak and was about to feed fledglings. When you think about it, that's is pretty impressive hunting, catching the third when you've already got a beak full! 

A walk around St. John's Chapel, Weardale

These pictures were taken at the end of June, during a walk from St.John's Chapel in Weardale onto the slopes of Chapel Fell, then down into Daddry Shield and back along the river Wear to St.John's Chapel. It's a great circular walk, with splendid views, and when you get to the highest point the only sounds come from wind, water and birds.

Down in the valley, at Harthope Burn, hawthorn was still in peak blossom - incredibly late this year.

The path up onto the fell is along a wide, stony track fringed with drifts of wood cranesbill, lady's mantle and cow parsley - a natural perennial herbaceous border. Garden designers at the Chelsea Flower Show spend a fortune trying to replicate this.

In the foreground, wood cranesbill; in the background fields full of buttercups which have produced a memorable spectacle this year. Poor grass growth in the late spring prevented farmers taking an early crop, so the buttercups and cow parsley in the meadows have benefited from a stay of execution.

When we reached the highest point on the walk we were briefly surrounded by a flock of swifts that treated us to a display of aerobatics. 

The last deciduous tree on the path up - a rowan, in full bloom. Legend has it that these were planted around farm houses to ward off witches.

Meadow pipits are one of the commonest birds in the high pastures

The last flowery meadow - above this elevation the pastures are rough grass and rushes.

The views into upper Weardale from here are stunning.

The lapwings had chicks so were keen to deflect our attention.

Back down in the valley, at Daddry Shiield, burnet rose was in full bloom. This is the first wild rose species to flower here in summer and by far the most fragrant.

A haymeadow, along the footpath beside the river Wear between Daddry Shield and St. John's Chapel.

Hay rattle is the characteristic wild flower in these old meadows.

Marsh orchids, flowering on the river bank.

A young rabbit, wondering whether to stay put or bolt for cover.

Snow-in-summer Cerastium tomentosum, tumbling over stone walls in St. John's Chapel.

A perfect summer day.

Mull of Galloway 1

Last week's trip down to the Mull of Galloway was an absolute delight. This is the southernmost point in Scotland - further south in latitude than Durham, where we'd driven from. The fine lighthouse stands at the point where the waters of the North Channel and Solway Firth mingle and from this spot you can see Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the peaks of the Lake District.

The cliffs here are an RSPB reserve noted for nesting seabirds like these ....

... guillemots that nest on impossibly narrow ledges ....

... where there's standing room only during the breeding season.

The cliff top grassland provides fine habitat for species like this twite .....

... and a hard-working meadow pipit that seemed to have lost its tail feathers.