February is the time when Curlew slowly begin to return to the moor along with Golden Plover, Snipe and Redshank. It can be a terrible place to visit during February and March with the icy cold wind blasting across the moor with no shelter for the poor birder, usually me, but a hint of spring can usually be picked up with an early Curlew call, the piping of a Redshank and drumming of Snipe beginning to display.
Its a time of cross over when winter birds are leaving and summer birds are moving in. I,ve had Whooper Swans and Pink Footed Geese on their way out and Curlew and Wheatear on the way in on the same day.
Winter thrushes can be seen heading north whilst flocks of Golden Plover along with Canada and Greylag geese return.
February into March is one of those interesting months when you can never predict just what you,re going to see but usually well worth the effort to get geared up and pay it a visit.
Here are just some of the birds you can be expected to see but be warned, several visits can provide you with a bird less trip as DJS will back me up on, but stick at it and you will get rewarded.
BS