Grey wagtail in Biggin Dale photo taken by Richard. 
Richard's Dipper on the Dove.
The lone ranger in Wolfscote Dale!
Pilsbury Castle - easily missed, but not today!
Our first real show of Snowdrops at Pilsbury.Walk stats:Distance:11.5 miles, Climb:1137'.
Time: 5 hours 41 minutes. On the Move walking average:2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.0.m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Richard and Dave J.
The weather turned out to be better than expected, the forecast rain didn't materialise, except for about ten minutes when we felt a few spots and similarly the cold East wind only chilled us slightly as we entered the upper sections of Biggin Dale. In the main it was sunny and for at least one person it was a little on the warm side!
As ever the beautiful Wolfscote Dale also provided us with the bird of the day, a Dipper singing and dancing within just a few feet of us. Biggin Dale however provided us with the surprise of the day, running water in its lower section and flying overhead a skein of geese, probably Pink-foot.
Lunch was enjoyed in the centre of Hartington village, by the village pump, taking advantage of a well positioned seat.
The afternoon walk to Pilsbury Castle, unusual in that most of it follows paths looking down on the valley, first from the Southern side and later from the Northern side. Pilsbury Castle whilst being visited, on this occasion wasn't explored.
Today was the first time this year that we had seen a real display of Snowdrops, around the wooded slopes around the settlement of Pilsbury.
Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Carrion crow, Black-billed magpie, Robin, Wren, House sparrow, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Jackdaw, Mallard, Chaffinch, Pied wagtail, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Grey wagtail and Buzzard.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wilkes Head in Leek, where our tipple was Hartington Bitter, the best bitter in the world!
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