The Moor's Got Talent

Avian talent of course.  But as much talent as a dancing dog?  As the Churchill dog would say, oh yes!

I spent most of yesterday on the North Staffs Moors, for the now annual "Can't find a Dotterel on the moors" search.  Actually that doesn't matter quite so much now, after last year's Dotterel at Whitemoor Haye.  And it's a nice part of the world to be in, especially at this time of year.

But while I was up there, I tried one of the areas of woodland that for a while has taken my fancy for exploring.  That is the area around Gradbach.

There's a scout camp round here, dib dib dib, ging-gang-gooly-whatsits and all that.  A search around the wood revealed a Wood Warbler, Redstart, a couple of Pied Flys, Redpoll.  3 Wheatear and a Stonechat in the area too.  Not bad for a first attempt, and definitely warrants further exploration for another day.

Then checking various spots of the moors.  Most of the best looking short grass habitiat appeared to be around Flash, not that there were any Dotterel around.  Other pasture land was looking too long.  But your usual species were around, including Curlew, Lapwing, Red Grouse, Wheatear and a Hobby.



You ain't seen me, right?

Back to Uttoxeter Quarry this morning, plenty of talent around.  2 Hobbies were patrolling the sky, watch out hirundines!  Also present were 7 Common Terns, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, a Wheatear and a good selection of warblers with Sedge, Reed, Garden, Lesser and Common Whitethroat.