People, Lapland Bunting and Fieldfares

A simply stunning day today so off for a walk over the hills to Warland reservoir and back on the Rochdale Canal. About 11 miles so a good work out.

Walking into Mankinholes it was clear that  something was afoot as there were loads of cars parking in the field and people milling about. It turns out that East Pennine Orienteering Club had an event running with around 400 people taking part.

Walked over to Lee Dam and the 3 Goldeneye that were here for the last 2 days had disappeared but a Goosander (f), 3 Teal, a Moorhen and a Little Grebe more than made up for their absence.

As I walked up the Long Causeway out of Mankinholes there were people all over the hills:

 It was good to see so many people, including youngsters, out on the hills enjoying themselves. The weather helped but they would have been there anyway as it was a well-organised event by the looks of it.

Over to Warland res on the Pennine Way I wasn't expecting to see much in the way of birds as this part of the moor is pretty quiet even in Spring, with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits most in evidence with the odd Red Grouse and Curlew.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see a Lapland Bunting then!

Great views of the bird which were only ended when some oik on a mountain bike came splashing through the mud on the Pennine Way and scared it off. Ay well, onwards and....onwards. Below Warland res there were loads of Fieldfare in the fields, at least 97 as this was how mnany I got in one photo, and probably more. They have been arriving in large numbers and I look forward to seeing more of them over the coming months.

Nearer home there were 3 Lapwing, a Tufted Duck, 5 Black Headed Gulls and numerous Canada Geese on Longfield Pond. I checked Lee Dam on the way past but there was nothing stirring. I was sorely tempted to stop in at the Top Brink for a well-earned pint but I pressed on and got home about 3 o'clock.