Trip reports

Robbers' Bridge - Sunday 5 July 2009

Monday, 6 July 2009

The venue is always approached in the same manner with a walk downstream from the car park then a route that climbs upstream beside Chalk Water, over the top of the moor at Black Barrow and down the meandering course of Weir Water back to the car park.
The thick growth beside the stream as it follows the road includes a lot of willow trees and is a good cover area for birdlife. Many of the better known species were listed before turning onto the open moor and walking beside Chalk Water.
The comprehensive list of species included stonechat, whinchat, willow warbler, chiffchaff, garden warbler, redstart, grey wagtail, spotted flycatcher, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, bluetit, coaltit, robin and dunnock. Buzzards and a couple of ravens soared overhead and the group followed a heron that moved away upstream as they approached.
Lunch was taken at the usual stopping point beside the old dry stone wall which was then followed up over the heather-covered moor to Black Barrow then down to join Weir Water.
By this time everyone felt very warm but the intermittent rain that seemd to get heavier as the afternoon wore on meant that waterproofs were constantly being donned then removed.
Some more species that were added to the list included meadow pipit, skylark, swift, swallow and house martin. The most enjoyable birding of the day was provided by really good close views of redstarts in both valleys. To see a male redstart is indeed very memorable. The female is also very attractive with her russet-coloured tail, but she lacks the outstanding black mask and throat and the conspicuous pearl-white forehead blaze that adorns the male.