This is a short blog on a private tour to Teesdale on Saturday just gone. Guests were hopeful of seeing both Black Grouse and Ring Ouzel.
We started early on and were greeted by the sights and sounds of upland breeding waders with Redshank and Curlew both in excellent voice and showing well. It didn't take long until the first target was seen with multiple male Black Grouse, including a bird lekking to a female who had chicks in tow. Shortly afterward we enjoyed good views of a male Ring Ouzel as it foraged on pasture amongst sheep, sometimes joined by a family of Wheatears. Later on we also saw a female Ring Ouzel flying around, with both adults evidently a pair and feeding young nearby.
(Ring Ouzel - 24 June 2023 - © Andrew Kinghorn)
Common Sandpipers were numerous as they went about their business on the river and a Dipper flew along the river before perching up and allowing some scope views. Careful observation of a Common Sandpiper revealed it nesting not far from the path.
(Common Sandpiper nest - 24 June 2023 - © Andrew Kinghorn)
Throughout the tour we also managed to see no fewer than five different Peregrines, including an adult watching over two juveniles at a nest in an undisclosed location. The other two Peregrines appeared to be two adults hunting over the upland expanse, underneath them another cracking male Black Grouse was present amongst the flowering meadows. A slightly worrying sighting came in the form of a mini flock of high flying Golden Plovers, the suggestion here being that they may have failed in this years breeding attempt.
(Peregrine Falcon - 24 June 2023 - © Andrew Kinghorn)
"Now we’re back home from our trip we just wanted to send you this email to say a huge thank you for organising such an excellent birding day in Upper Teesdale on Saturday 24th June. It ticked all the boxes for us and surpassed our expectations!"
We finished the day on 38 species, with some real upland specialities seen very well. When it all comes together it can be hard to beat a day in the Durham uplands.