Hardcastle Crags 6/4/08

Absolutely stunning views of the place at 8 am when we got there, with heavy frost on all the trees but hardly a cloud in the sky.All the usual suspects at the Crags this morning in some numbers and singing away happily despite the cold. No Chiff-Chaffs though. Best sightings were an assumed pair of Herons on the small dam as you take the footpath upstream behind Gibson Mill. Do Herons exhibit sexual dimorphism ? One bird was very much lighter and more delicate then the other which was very noticeably heavier and darker grey. We also had a Dipper near where the waterfall drips down in this area and runs through a tunnel/arch under the footpath into the river. This bird was carrying nesting material so we did not hang about in case the nest site was nearby (we had the dog with us). Might be worth checking out this area for the nest by those who visit the Crags regularly.