Two of us arrived at the Surprise View car park in sunny but quite windy weather needing windproofs. We we entertained by a Red Kite slowly drifting along. Two other members joined us and. We walked over the top of Millstone to Higgar Tor where Geoff mysteriously appeared from nowhere. A coffee break was taken overlooking the Burbage plantation and we continued to Burbage North bridge and down the valley to the road where Geoff departed suspiciously close to the Fox House Inn.
A lunch stop was taken at the top of Padley Gorge before continuing down the Gorge spotting Pied Flycatchers and a Tree Creeper. A short ascent up to Bole Hill was taken up to the path leading to Lawrencefield where a Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker were seen. A brief stop was taken to look at the swarms? of tadpoles in the quarry pond before returning to the car park. A distance covered of about 6.4 miles. Thanks to the small band who attended on a leisurely day out.