Doesn't take much

There's a cycle path, I think its a cycle path, that runs from the Cricket Club at Hipsburn to the bridge across the River Aln into Alnmouth. 

I like it, it has some good habitat to the north of it, small overgrown ponds and some grazing areas with cattle. 

A Moorhen was feeding a chick, I couldn't resist it in those white aquatic flowers, no idea what they are.

I was getting a little to close to young Lapwings as this adult was demonstrating, didn't push it and turned around

A very short walk, great time of year spring, it doesn't take much

Hearthope Heat

A nice sunny clear morning, cool at first. We were at Hedgeley Gravel Pits first. A wander around the newly created gravel pits was interesting, a nice male Ruff and two Common Sandpiper, the Common Sandpipers were showing off some interesting courtship-display type behavior, calling and fast low flight with those typical stiff wing beats.

Also displaying were a nice pair of Redstart in an area of mature trees, behind us as we were watching the ponds.

Nice though this was, and it was very nice at Hedgeley, the main event of our morning was to unfold further north.

We headed into Harthope Valley.

We parked up and had a short walk, it was really warm now with a light breeze and butterflies were on the wing, it was wonderful..

Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Heath and Whites all on the wing.

Small Coppers

Green Hairstreaks

When I did eventually look up from the insect activity to stretch my legs and straighten my back, a Red Kite was drifting overhead

Red Kite

 Mother Shipton and Purple Bar moths were found and also Mountain Bumblebee

Mother Shipton