on top of the Pennines

I did something very out of character this morning.

I announced to friends that I was going to do a specific walk on a fixed day (today) and at a publicised start time (10:00) and I actually managed to do it. I normally decide where I am going when I get there :-)

I walked up to Black Moor which is on the Kinder side of the Snake pass road in some decent sunshine but no great clarity for distant views.

There were Curlew calling at the start of the walk I saw 4 there may have been more. Only 5 Lapwing flying about, a Skylark calling ( I never found it in the sky)

At the only stile I had to go over I popped my head over a wall as I could hear some bird chattering - Starling - lots of them. I estimate 700 but probably nearer 800

My first Meadow pipits of the year near the top and at the top a Buzzard buzzed over me a couple of times scattering Red Grouse in every direction on the way back a Kestrel was hovering towards the town.

I had great fun with the sheep who always seem to think I'm the farmer and about 50 of them started running across the field to see me - i took some photos but they were into the sun.

Such a lovely day had a very sad story to spoil it, the next thing I saw in the sky was an Air ambulance arriving at great speed across the valley and all sirens meant bad news for someone - I heard later that a motorcyclist lost their life meeting a car on a lower bend on the Snake pass. The road was closed all afternoon - its happened before and it will happen again - no idea who's fault it and it doesn't matter there always seems to be someone who thinks The Snake Pass is a racetrack. No one learns that it could happen to them.