The Hill
14th January 2019
A few miles down the road from Chester it is possible to escape from the commuter belts and enter a fairly and for the most part an area devoid of people but not wildlife.
Click here for an aerial view of the moors, where all the following photos have been taken and Click here for the Gallery photos "On the Moors".
Although on many occasions a cursory glance of the landscape will often not initially reveal the abundance and diversity of wildlife that inhabits this expanse of heather moorland which is bordered in the west by a forest plantation.
There are a number of Black Grouse leks on the mountain slopes and whilst the Black Grouse do attract a number of photographers in the month of April, during the main leking season they are not the only "residents" of the hills and valleys.
A good number of Cuckoos inhabit the lower slopes of the hillsides.
When either perched or flying between the few stunted pine trees on the slopes of the hills the Cuckoos are continually mobbed by small birds, mainly Meadow Pipits along with Whitethroat - both the Meadow Pipits and Whitethroat make their nests in the "fields" of tall ferns that cover the lower slopes of the hills, and no doubt have raised a few Cuckoos in their time.
Away from the lower slopes and onto higher ground you can find good numbers of Stonechat who watch over their territories from the tallest stalks of heather and ferns. There is a good deal of colouration in these mountain birds some being very dark whilst others are a lot lighter. They are very mobile birds continually moving between the clumps of heather as they seek out caterpillars and other "juicy"
morsels !!
Once the juveniles are on the wing family groups are a regular sight feeding amongst the heather.
Click here for an aerial view of the moors, where all the following photos have been taken and Click here for the Gallery photos "On the Moors".
Although on many occasions a cursory glance of the landscape will often not initially reveal the abundance and diversity of wildlife that inhabits this expanse of heather moorland which is bordered in the west by a forest plantation.
There are a number of Black Grouse leks on the mountain slopes and whilst the Black Grouse do attract a number of photographers in the month of April, during the main leking season they are not the only "residents" of the hills and valleys.
A good number of Cuckoos inhabit the lower slopes of the hillsides.
When either perched or flying between the few stunted pine trees on the slopes of the hills the Cuckoos are continually mobbed by small birds, mainly Meadow Pipits along with Whitethroat - both the Meadow Pipits and Whitethroat make their nests in the "fields" of tall ferns that cover the lower slopes of the hills, and no doubt have raised a few Cuckoos in their time.
Away from the lower slopes and onto higher ground you can find good numbers of Stonechat who watch over their territories from the tallest stalks of heather and ferns. There is a good deal of colouration in these mountain birds some being very dark whilst others are a lot lighter. They are very mobile birds continually moving between the clumps of heather as they seek out caterpillars and other "juicy"
morsels !!
Once the juveniles are on the wing family groups are a regular sight feeding amongst the heather.
Comments
By David: Great photos of the wildlife - keep up the good work By Jane: Wonderful wildlife collection By Harry: You have been busy really like the Black Grouse and those you have posted in the Gallery - well done