Langfield and Gaddings Dam

Walked to Gaddings Dam via Lee Dam and Langfield Edge this morning, my first walk onto the hills for a couple of months. It was a fine but blustery morning and a shower threatened to spoil the day but it didn't last long and the sun came out shortly after.

A Grey Heron watched a family of Canada Geese go by at Lee Dam -

and the same Canada Geese were eyed up by a passing Little Grebe -

A pair of Twite at Langfield were a good find, as was a juvenile Stonechat. At Gaddings Dam Swallows and Swifts were feeding over the water and a Ringed plover and a Dunlin were at the water's edge -

While walking back I almost stepped on this beetle. Turns out it is quite an uncommon beetle called Carabus nitens  It's a beauty!

Fledglings all over the place

Following the young GSW's seen earlier in the week, there were lots of young birds around today as I went for a walk down to Hardcastle Crags with Andy. Tons of Great Tits, a few Coal Tits and many Blue Tits flapping about finding their wings -

 A family of Mallards was on Gibson Mill pond (this image doesn't stand blowing up but looks OK at this small size) -

... and best of all, a group of 5 Treecreepers were being fed by an adult. Sorry about the quality here as the lighting was challenging to say the least -

Later we came upon a singing Wood Warbler and Andy managed a good pic (mine were rubbish as usual. I just can't get a decent Wood Warbler pic for some reason) -

Another Great Spotted Woodpecker