An afternoon visit to Bolton Abbey walking the banks of the River Wharfe. This is a lovely site in the summer when the trees are in full leaf and on a warm day such as this, the midges were plentiful and providing food for the numerous flycatchers and wagtails along the riverbank. In the deciduous woodland, both Spotted and Pied Flycatchers seemed to be doing well at their breeding sites. Several superb black and white male Pieds were seen, but always too high up and too fast for a photograph! Females were a bit easier. The walk past the Strid and on towards Barden Bridge continued to produce birds, Treecreepers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackcaps and Nuthatches. Close to Barden Bridge, I caught sight of a stunning male Redstart feeding in bushes and finally caught it, out in the open. The river held the usual Goosanders, although only females were seen. Grey Wagtails numbered about eight including some young. Amazingly, not one Dipper was seen on the 5-mile round trip. Barden Bridge Back at the car park, a Red Kite flew low through the valley - it had been a very pleasant outing, Ellie the dog enjoyed it too!
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