The picturesque village of Juniper in Hexhamshire, with it’s riverside trees and bushes provided a good selection of birdlife with Spotted Flycatcher (3) and Pied Flycatcher and Garden Warbler being the highlights. Two of the former constantly chasing each other in the tree-tops. Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Siskins (bathing in the river), Mistle and Song Thrushes, Treecreeper , Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail and Swallows here too. On to Letah Wood where another Spotted Flycatcher called and 3 male Pied Flycatchers sang, one moving in and out of a nest-box. A male Redstart sang from a tree top. Several Swifts overhead. On to Allenbanks and access from the southern end showed Goldcrest, Siskin, 3 Pied Flycatchers, 2 singing Redstarts, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch and Swallows. Willow Warblers but no sign of any Wood Warblers today.
Next, heading higher into moorland habitat in Allendale, where good numbers of Lapwings, Curlew, Snipe and Redshanks were displaying, with some Lapwing pairs with small young now. Sipton Burn revealed 10 pairs . Here too were male Wheatear, Ring Ousel and a male Stonechat. Then two more Cuckoos flew towards me chasing each other, calling. A third bird called from distant wires. On Acton Fell another Cuckoo was calling, making four in the area. At Ropehaugh, 5 male Black Grouse seen, with 3 displaying and calling in a mini lek. Red Grouse were common here. Good numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits noted and another Grey Wagtail.
A.S.Jack