Pennine Excursion - Black and Red Grouse

14 April - sunset over the northern Pennines from the B6277 east of Alston. An excellent evening's birding around Langdon Beck, the highlight being 13 male and 1 female Black Grouse, including 11 males in the same field. The silence was punctuated by displaying Curlew and Lapwings, 2 Snipe were seen drumming, and at dusk 1 Red Grouse was seen in a patch of heather a 5 others heard. Later, a roding Woodcock flew over just W of Alston. A superb quiet and unspoilt piece of England, thinly populated and full of impressive rugged wide open views, especially during the current spell of fine weather.