We made sandwiches and drove to the raptor viewpoint at Highwood Brow at the south end of the North York Moors. A 5 minute walk from the car park through the trees brought us to a ridge with two wooden benches.
There were a couple of birders set up for the day there with scopes and camp chairs. They were hoping to spot the first Honey Buzzards of the year, but there were only Common Buzzards to be seen thus far. Five Crossbills had been over earlier. We said we were hoping to see some Turtle Doves. For sure, some years ago our man had seen a few in the garden of pub whose name he couldn’t remember in a nearby village whose name he couldn’t remember. One option would have been to visit all of the pubs in the area, but we didn’t do that.
We walked along the road as far as a Forestry Commission tree nursery, but no Turtle Doves.
We ate our lunch on bench at another overlook and then drove to Hackness village and parked next to the bridge. We walked along the river for a bit, saw Grey and Pied Wagtails, Kestrel, possible Peregrine.
Then on the way back we stopped at the car park at Jugger Howe on Fylingdale moor. We walked down the trail for a bit but decided the whole loop was too far for today, so went to the Spar shop at Sleights to get some provisions for dinner.
After dinner we walked down to the bench next to the pond and watched the Barn Owl box in the field opposite. The Barn Owl appeared.
