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