Ribble To Amazon!

SOLWAY: Waders, wildfowl & WeBS.

2009-07-14T19:59:00.008+01:00

Life in sleepy Carsethorn - see here for explanation. Probably the best pub in the world! Read on.

Our holiday on the Solway wasn't all fun 'n' frolics of course as there were Timed Tetrad Visits to finish and WeBS counts to do. Actually there were a few surprises around - a flock of 14 Common Sandpipers at Newbie, a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits at Dornock (one in stunning summer plumage), several Whimbrel at various sites, four figure Curlew counts on the Nith, single Gadwall on the National Nature Reserve at Caerlaverock and a few Barnacle Geese including the two pictured above at Newbie Mains.

WeBS counting on the Nith Estuary. No I'm not going bald, it's a brood patch!

Just a few of the thousand plus Curlew on the Nith Estuary last week.

I ended the trip with a seawatch off Southerness Point early 13th July. A pair of Ravens over the point was a nice surprise but better still the two dark morph Arctic Skuas that passed by a few times were most welcome. There's something magic about skuas for me so double delight when a couple of Bonxies flew west soon after the Arctics. However the holiday highlight was definitely the main event at Carsethorn just round the coast from Southerness.
As previously explained we've had a bit of a giggle at the expense of the Steamboat Inn there over the last 20 years, having rarely seen it open. A couple of weeks ago we were about to take the plunge and go in when they turned the sign round to "CLOSED". Not being ones to take a hint we tried again this weekend.

The moment of truth!

Then it happened - I went in AND bought drinks!

Triumph. Ecstatic with satisfaction I return with drinks and crisps!

I was so taken with the friendly welcoming attitude of Anne & Graham and the rest of the staff here I decided to take Mrs B back the next night for a meal. I can thoroughly recommend the Steamboat Inn at Carsethorn for a pint, a meal and a warm D&G welcome. We'll be back ...... if you're open. Naaaah, just kidding.

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SOLWAY: Local stuff.

2009-07-14T19:11:00.009+01:00

Looking out over the Solway from Rockcliffe towards Portling, Dumfries & Galloway July 2009.

We're fortunate enough to have quite a few places to visit within easy striking distance from our caravan at Southerness. The Colvend Coast is very attractive indeed and a short walk from Rockcliffe to Castle Point on a calm day can produce good numbers of scoters. You can just about see the bay behind Mrs B's feet in the picture above. Long narrow feet are apparently indicative of Celtic roots and this is well represented by the size of Mrs B's plates: "Like two barges going down the canal" as my Dad used to say. Anyway enough of Mrs. B's feet. The Solway Firth is an important moulting ground for scoters; we counted 2015 Common Scoters off Balcary Point (just across Auchencairn Bay from Rockcliffe) on 5th July. Couldn't see anything else amongst them but they were a way off.

Loch Kindar is just inland from the shore of the Nith Estuary and although not too interesting for birds at this season, it does have a good forest walk. It's one of the few areas I've seen Green Woodpecker in D&G (although worryingly I've not heard one anywhere in D&G this year) and is a pretty reliable site for Bullfinch.

Common Blue Damselfly, Loch Kindar July 2009.

Mrs. B. and I spent a very hot afternoon in the area last week. Crossbills were all over the shop although mainly in groups no larger than 12 - 15 birds.

Plenty of insects about in the sunny glades such as Blue-tailed Damselflies, Golden-ringed Dragonflies, Common Hawker, Ringlets and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Ringlet, Loch Kindar July 2009.

Painted Lady.

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SOLWAY: Out 'n' about.

2009-07-14T17:20:00.009+01:00

Border birding at Langholm, July 2009.

Dumfries & Galloway is a big county, a very big county. With more than a week to spare for the first time in ages Mrs B. and I decided to travel around a bit. In the far east of the county at Langholm Moor we spent a very pleasant afternoon in the company of Red Grouse, Whinchats (including a couple of recently fledged young) and best of all a superb male Hen Harrier.

Kirkgunzeon Lane near Dalbeatie, July 2009.

Banded Demoiselle, Kirkgunzeon Lane, July 2009.

With blistering good weather we finally enjoyed the opportunity to search out a few of the insects of the area. A few years ago local countryside ranger Keith Kirk discovered a colony of Banded Demoiselles at Kirkgunzeon Lane. It's not actually "a lane" at all, but a river and Mrs. B soon spotted a loose group of Demoiselles below the bridge. I believe this is the only site in D&G for this dragonfly, although one wonders where else they will be found in the near future given the recent expansion of ranges of other insects (Red-veined Darters have just been found on the Mull of Galloway per D&G Birding Yahoo Group).

Banded Demoiselle.

Passing "The Lane" one evening we chanced upon an Otter crossing the road and this area clearly has good birding potential with Nightjars in the nearby Dalbeatie Forest (D&G is the only Scottish Nightjar stronghold).

Another favourite jaunt of ours is the mountain road from Laurieston down to the A75 at Gatehouse of Fleet. Laurieston is on the "Red Kite Trail" and you can't miss this impressive raptor anywhere in the Loch Ken or Laurieston area. Once through the forest (where we found Nightjars and Long-eared Owls after dark) the road enters open moorland where we found a couple of family parties of Whinchats before descending to the coast at Skyreburn.

Skyreburn is always worth a check by the bridge and a handsome 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was a nice find last week. The Kettle cafe by the A75 is a must if you're in the area though and I can recommend the bacon baps. I'm not saying the bacon was thick but I thought a bloke's ear had fallen into my roll!

Mrs. B suffers from the sun owing to her rather pale complexion (she tells me it's due to her Scottish genes - she uses tipex as fake tan!) and on approaching the car with tea and rolls I was shocked and horrified to find she'd acquired Scooby Doo sunshades for the car. Oh, how I laughed .......

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SOLWAY: Galloway Forest Park.

2009-07-14T16:41:00.006+01:00

The old viaduct near Stroan Loch, Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries & Galloway.

Otters Pool near the Raider's Road, Galloway National Forest, Dumfries & Galloway.

OK fair enough, it's not really the Solway but we often venture inland to the Galloway Forest Park for a day or two when in D&G. July's not a great time for birds and just about everything had stopped singing. Apart from a load of Crossbills that is ..... no big flocks but just about every stop had some chipping away or even singing. I sat overlooking one of my favourite patches of forest watching Crossbills of various colours for a while and just as I was beginning to get bored I caught a flash of white on at least one of the birds dropping into the canopy. Trouble was I saw it well, I had my 'scope at hand and knew damn well it was just a Chaffinch. Double white wing bar though, chance to ignore the white outer tail feathers, brief distant views, blah, blah, blah ....... Two-barred Chaffinch!

Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Galloway Forest Park, July 2009.

Back on planet Earth we decided to search around the stream for Golden-ringed Dragonflies and found a few pretty quickly. One of my favourite insects, a sort of "Odonata Skua" with their marauding low level flights over the rushing streams. Apart from the Crossbills the birds few and far between. Spotted Flycatcher, always a noteworthy bird in my opinion, flew across the clear fell while I was indulging in fantasy birding about rare crossbills and Whitethroats have invaded this habitat now they've occupied just about every available hedgerow too. Star bird was undoubtedly the Goshawk that gave us magnificent views however. Big place the forest park so not giving anything away here and as Chris Baines commented - "Lucky to see one in July; usually think your chances are over after March".

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SOLWAY: Skuas, Otters, Dragonflies and midges!

2009-07-13T19:00:00.004+01:00

Carsethorn (with Cumbria behind) from the Drumburn viewpoint on the Nith Estuary, Dumfries & Galloway.

Just back from a week in Dumfries & Galloway with Mrs B. Not much going on as expected (it is July after all), but cracking weather helped us see a few insects and we travelled around the county a bit completing some Timed Tetrad Visits and WeBS counts. A couple of hours seawatching at Southerness Point this morning produced a pair of dark morph Arctic Skuas, 2 Bonxies and 4 Manx Shearwaters and waders appear to be making their way back to the Solway too.
More on the birding adventures of Mrs B. soon ........

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LANCS: Yellow-legged Gull.

2009-06-29T18:23:00.012+01:00

Three Golden-ringed Dragonflies on the stream at Tower Lodge in Bowland this morning was a delightful sight. It was such a shame that the experience was spoiled by the disgusting mess left by those who see fit to use an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a post-barbecue refuse tip. This disgraceful disregard for one of our natural resources has been highlighted by other local birders (see this post on "Birds2Blog") and is beyond comprehension to me, but "resource" is interpreted in different ways by others I suppose.
Anyway, back to yesterday. Mrs B is getting itchy feet and wants to move. Not far mind you, so we spent yesterday afternoon touring prospective abodes on the Fylde. Not that anything should be read into this as I fear we could well find ourselves in any other corner of Lancs, or just staying here in Preston! Anyway, I digress. There was a Yellow-legged Gull at Cocker's Dyke near Pilling (somewhere Mrs B had earmarked with potential for future dwelling - Pilling - not Cocker's Dyke!) and having paid a cursory glance at one house I persuaded Mrs B that the YLG would be most educational. After a first scan through the gathering of standing Larids (the ones whose legs I could see), I drew a blank. A second sift through loafing Larids (tricky - can't see legs), picked out the gull in the photo above. Mantle tone midway between LBBG and Herring, no bluish cast. Fair start.

Then it stood up. Yellow legs! Time to alert Mrs B who by now has returned to the car overcome by the excitement of yet another sub-adult gull. No need to worry though as I had read the situation, removing all sharp objects and shoe laces etc from the car, therefore preventing any self-harm situations.

Spot the YLG, Cocker's Dyke, Pilling 28 June 2009.

Third-summer Yellow-legged Gull (rear, with Herring & LBBG's) , Cocker's Dyke 28 June 2009.

Yellow-legged Gull, Pilling 28 June 2009. Note mantle colour (between Herring / LBBG in grey tone), "squared-off" head shape and lack of "tertial step" producing attenuated appearance. Oh, nearly forgot - yellow legs!

Now, me and YLG's have history. Date: 14 April 2008, location Loch Arthur in Dumfries & Galloway. Loads of LBBG's, few Herring Gulls, end of the day so better check through them. There, in the middle of the flock of white-headed gulls sat one bird, square headed with a dark grey mantle, tone midway between Herring & LBBG. Spot-on for YLG. It even started preening and showed nice custard yellow feet and legs as it rolled. Knowing this would be a good D&G bird (and a D&G tick for me) I decided to try a few snaps with the digiscope. Mistake! The results of this wise decision can be seen here where a nice clear blue gap on the water shows exactly where the putative (don't you just hate that word?) YLG sat only seconds beforehand. My enthusiasm for securing D&G's first documented record of Yellow-legged Gull wilted somewhat when I realised I'd need the pattern of the fifth primary for record acceptance. As you can see from the above shot, the Pilling bird was a bit more co-operative. I'll be checking lots of white-headed gulls in D&G next week, I can assure you. Mrs B can hardly wait!

"Old Blockhead" at the back shows well at Pilling yesterday.

So there we have it. Plenty of mundane drivel to be going on with and I dare say we'll end up moving about 100 yards down the road.

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LANCS: Reasons to be cheerful ........

2009-06-28T13:32:00.011+01:00

ONE: Male Ring Ouzel, Bowland 28 June 2009.

TWO: Ringtail Hen Harrier.

Life is good. I'm saddened by the fact that this morning was my last fieldwork for the season in Bowland, but what a way to go out. Peregrines, Hen Harriers, Merlins, Whinchats (two new territories), Stonechats (including a male in unusual song-flight) and best of all a pair of Ring Ouzels.

The Ring Ouzels were very busy on this muggy morning, male and female travelling in different directions to feed (and greater distances than I imagined). With steady, purposeful flight the male would pass, stopping only on a rowan or atop heather to sing a few phrases. I finally got to grips with him when I noticed some movement in the bracken on a bank, the white crescent on his chest showing in the small gap. Hopping around like an Antpitta (I'm starting to miss guiding in South America - I thought I heard Bolivian Earthcreeper this morning!), then perching to sing briefly he eventually surrendered. What a moment, my favourite Turdus!

Bowland: These deep cloughs with heather and bracken seem to suit Stonechats well. Whinchats appear to prefer the gentler slopes, predominately covered in bracken.

Male Ring Ouzel with a "friend" in Bowland this morning.

Ring Ouzels are in serious decline (red listed). Why? Well, upland afforestation and the popularity of leisure pursuits (rambling, hiking) in their breeding areas has been cited. Others have suggested that bracken clearance or the spread of other thrush species (residents that would take up territory in suitable habitat before Ring Ouzels arrive from Africa) may be the cause of the demise of Turdus torquatus in Britain. The Scandinavian population is at a stable level apparently and they are responsible for the majority of east coast records in the UK during passage times. The numbers of migrant Ring Ouzels on the west coast has decreased however so the plight of this charismatic "Mountain Blackbird" may well be in the hands of hunters in southern Europe. Decline has also been linked to reduced food supplies due to high spring rainfall in the Atlas Mountains in N. Africa. Interesting that the same weather in that region has been linked to higher than normal numbers of Painted Lady butterflies ........

So, that's it then. Time for the knees to recover and do a bit of coastal birding.

Oh, nearly forgot:

THREE!

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LANCS: Misty morning.

2009-06-27T11:33:00.004+01:00

Up with the lark again this morning and out on the moors once again. With a bit of time to spare I decided to have a look at some likely spots for Ring Ouzels. So far I've seen 3-4 birds this spring, all in "traditional" spots, so I thought I might try some untried sites. One visited this morning looked spot-on: a nice deep rocky clough, a few trees and flanked by heather and bracken with a bit of grazed areas for feeding. It was well off the beaten track too, so not disturbed. The decline of the Ring Ouzel in the UK has been attributed to several factors, involving theories relevant to breeding season, migration and wintering areas. It's thought that some Ring Ouzels have been displaced from nesting sites by the spread of Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes into moorland areas. So far I had seen very few of either in Bowland this spring, and mainly in plantations in in-bye. Also Cumbrian birders had commented that Ring Ouzels nest alongside Blackbirds in quarries there, so could this really be a prohibitive factor? Well, despite my optimism I failed to find a Ring Ouzel this morning and did see Blackbird (a male) and Mistle Thrush in prime Ring Ouzel habitat. Of course this means absolutely nothing at all with such a small sample, but isn't it ironic that one of our finest summer visitors may be usurped by some of our commonest birds and not because of the much maligned raptors in the uplands? Food for Peregrines......sorry, I mean thought!
Anyway I did see a few birds this morning. Carrying on from yesterday's theme I spent a fair bit of time concentrating on Whinchats, returning to an area where I'd previously found 5 birds. This particular fell slope with large patches of bracken appears to be well populated and at least 7 Whinchats were on show this morning. This included a juvenile (along with 4 males, 2 females) and all were in close proximity of one another. Initially I found this "grouping" of Whinchats rather strange but the latest Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Lancashire & North Merseyside mentions "clusters" of Whinchats and indeed states that "loosely colonial nesting" had been observed. Well, there you go .......
A fine adult Med' Gull, Dipper, a very confused juvenile Stonechat (with the Whinchats, but later reunited with its parent) and Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard all noted in rather dreary conditions, but a Badger running directly at me as I walked along the road was amusing.

Thanks to Steve Flynn and Pete Woodruff for their Whinchat related comments regarding the last post (Chat Room) by the way. Nice to see a bit of optimism and read some positive comments about one of our summer visitors at last.

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LANCS: Chat Room.

2009-06-26T13:45:00.009+01:00

Male Whinchat, Bowland 26 May 2009.

Another fine morning to be out and about on the moors. I can't deny it was a bit slow at first - low cloud base and pleasant breezy conditions, but few birds moving around apart from Meadow Pipits (which was lucky as that's what I was counting). A few singing Skylarks lifted spirits a little until I came across my first Stonechats of the morning. In fact I found a single male, then a pair with two young and then a male with one young.
With the clip board safely stashed at the end of the last survey it was time for a bit of birding on the way back to the car. Canada Goose (I've seen a few of these nesting in the damper areas here), plenty of Red Grouse with young and Buzzard kept me amused (not much though), if not satisfied. The soft "wheu-tack" call of a Whinchat had me scanning the bracken and I was delighted to find first a female and then, just behind her, a male plus two young. Proof of breeding Whinchat at last.

Juvenile Whinchat, Bowland 26 June 2009.

Having seen Whinchat previously on a nearby slope and suspected they were breeding, I thought I'd check to see if maybe they were the same birds on a bit of wander. So it was a pleasant surprise to find the male still in place here and, even better, another juvenile.

Bowland is the Lancashire stronghold of this attractive species. They were extinct as a breeding species in the 'lowlands' (mirroring a national trend attributed to the loss of marginal farmland habitats) and on the coast by the end of the 80's. Birds of Lancashire estimates the county population as low as 100 pairs with BTO Beeding Bird Surveys indicating a 15% national decline between 1994 and 2002. Whinchat is amber listed in Birds of Conservation Concern by virtue of this decline.

It's of no scientific value, and of little comfort (given their recent change in status) that I've encountered more Whinchats than I expected in Bowland this spring. After all I've trudged over some areas I've never visited before and covered familiar sites (to me) far more thoroughly due to fieldwork. But it's been great to see them (maybe a dozen pars) and get to know the Whinchat a little better.

Finally back at the car I was greeted by another male Whinchat. Definitely a favourite of mine and hopefully the downturn in fortunes of yet another of our summer visitors can be arrested.

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LANCS: Flaming June.

2009-06-24T12:34:00.004+01:00

Travelled out for the last (planned, at least) visit for the foreseeable future to Bowland Knotts this morning. I must admit it's not my favourite bit of Bowland (hope I haven't offended any of those patch-working Bowland birders). It's a long way from Preston and I haven't seen too much out there. But one thing it has got going for it is Skylarks. I like Skylarks - cheerful little blighters that just seem to be so happy they have to get high in the air and sing their hearts out. Strangely scarce on my survey squares west of Slaidburn, there seems to be more in the cushion bog dominated terrain above Stock Reservoir. Green Woodpecker was the only noteworthy bird for me on the moor, with Nuthatch singing as I trudged back to the car along the road.

I decided to take the route through the Trough of Bowland on the way home and stopped off at Tower Lodge. It took me about ten minutes to find a Golden-ringed Dragonfly as well as a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Grey Wags with recently fledged young. Wish I'd had a bit more time here but there'll be other opportunities I hope.
Gavin Haig recently commented that "June is rubbish" in a recent post on his excellent blog 'Not Quite Scilly'. This provoked a bit of discussion (none of it at all contentious) including a response outlining an excellent day in the field for a couple of observers tallying a number of scarce birds in a single June day. Gav capitulated a little, admitting June could be OK for rarities but generally birding (ie. patch-working or "on-speck" excursions) was a bit "rubbish". Without thinking, I immediately agreed but then thought about my recent experiences, giving me so much pleasure - all in June. So, it's all relative isn't it? The less you have to choose from (there are fewer species out on the moors than say, coastal marshes), the lower your expectations I suppose. Low expectations - wallowing in mediocrity? Me? Nah - bring on July!

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LANCS: Back on Bowland.

2009-06-23T12:34:00.005+01:00

Early morning from the source of the Hodder at White Greet in Bowland, 23 June 2009.

Classic Whinchat habitat (bracken covered clough flanks) this morning in Bowland.

Another cracking morning on the uplands. Three male and a single female Whinchat in the White Greet area, 3 pairs of Wheatears (4+ juvs seen) and 5 juvenile Stonechats in one tight group on a dry stone wall. Peregrines calling somewhere over the fell, a female Merlin and 5 Ravens circling together.

Stopped off at Jeffrey's Hill at Longridge Fell on the way home to take in the view over Chipping Vale in glorious sunshine. Just one week of fieldwork left now - gonna miss it ........

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LANCS: OK, got the egret now where's the Curlew?

2009-06-22T17:48:00.007+01:00

One of the Daggers (I think?) on the house in Fulwood, Preston.

Time for a bit of Ribblesiding at last as I spent the last two mornings surveying the saltmarsh, grazing and tidal creek systems of the proposed Ribble Estuary Regional Park. Helping out with WeBS counts on the Banks Marsh (part of the National Nature Reserve) yesterday I was reminded just what a rarity magnet the whole area used to be. The famous Freckleton Sewage Farm (sadly no longer with us) boasted records of Broad-billed Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope and many others, whilst the south shore hosted Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt Sandpiper. Of course good birds such as these must still occur. Finding them on the Ribble is another story though, with restricted access and distant viewing. Not too many notable sightings on the WeBS apart from female Eider with 3 chicks, 800+ Shelduck, 20+ Common Terns and a Peregrine. A Corn Bunting at the car park was probably bird of the day.
Is this all about to change though with the development of the RSPB's Hesketh Out Marsh Reserve and opening scheduled for September? Surely all this area needs is a 'focal point' where birders can concentrate their efforts and former glories will be resotored?
This morning's birds on the south shore opposite Warton during a breeding bird survey included 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, Arctic Tern, 3 Avocets, a Common Sandpiper (autumn's here!) and best of all a pair of Yellow Wagtails.
Oh how things have changed. Struggling for Yellow Wags and Little Egrets little more than a "padder". Seeing these graceful birds this morning reminded me of a situation in the hide at Leighton Moss at the weekend when one birder located some Curlew for some newcomers.
"They're next to the Little Egret, at the edge of the marsh": I never thought I'd see the day when Little Egret was used as a reference point to day-tick Curlews .......

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LANCS: Fells to Coast.

2009-06-20T19:13:00.015+01:00

Looking north from Waddington Fell, Lancs 20 June 2009.

Super day out today started with a bit of fieldwork in Bowland. Out early I managed to find a few "windows of opportunity" between the showers and counting Meadow Pipits (whoopee!) was tolerable due to the fine selection of birds in Bowland this morning.

My first hour or so was pretty quiet admittedly but livened up with the appearance of Green Woodpecker, then Cuckoo and Snipe "chipping" over some damp grazing and juncus before perching in full view on a nearby fence post. Last time I walked this patch 4 or 5 Redstarts could be heard, but nothing from them this morning. Summer is here then, or was it just the weather (if you see what I mean).

A Short-eared Owl was without doubt bird of the morning though on my way back to the car at the end of the final survey of the morning. A Tawny Owl sang as I watched the Shortie perched up on a fence post for ten minutes or so. Surreal stuff indeed.
Mrs B decided she'd like an afternoon out and as we hadn't been out to Leighton Moss for a while we thought we'd give it a try.

Little Gulls on the Allen Pool, Leighton Moss, Lancs 20 June 2009.

Two Little Gulls were on show from the Allen Hide alongside 70+ Black-tailed Godwits. A Peregrine bombed in and caused mayhem with the Blackwits and Redshanks, flushing everything as it swooped through including another 150 or so Blackwits from the Eric Morcambe Pool.
We could see a few more Little Gulls feeding over the Eric Morcambe Pool so we moved to the next hide. Little Egret, a couple of Greenshank, single (!) Avocet, 70+ Teal, several Shoveler and small numbers of Gadwall were present. At least 6 Little Gulls were out there too but a superb adult summer plumaged Spotted Redshank came out from behind an island, started to preen and bathe frantically and then fell asleep with the other waders. Tough life.

Little Egret, Eric Morcambe Pool, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

Spotted Redshank with Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

Male Marsh Harrier was the next in the all star cast this afternoon spooking everything from the pool as he passed in front of the hide. Slowly quartering the reeds and plopping down every now and then, he finally crossed the back of the pool being mobbed by the Avocet and scattering all the Teal before heading off across the saltmarsh. A fine performance indeed.

Male Marsh Harrier, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

The coastal hides had kept us busy for most of the afternoon but it we thought we'd take a quick look at the reserve before returning home. A Lesser Whitethroat singing just outside the Morcambe Hide as we left delayed us a bit, although he failed to show well in the breezy (but pleasant) conditions.

Reed Warblers blurted out their strident song as we strolled along the causeway to the public hide, by now virtually empty. A pair of Gadwall, Pochard and half-a-dozen Tufties were the offering on the water but 2 female Marsh Harriers on show more than compensated for that. Not bad ......

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Ribble to Amazon?

2009-06-19T13:05:00.021+01:00

Bearded Tachuri, Guyana February 2009.

Not been too much "Amazon" on the blog of late as I spend my usual "wet season" break here in the UK. Just exactly where the wet season is at the moment is a bit debatable admittedly (with our recent run of awful UK springs). So I thought I'd slip in a few shots from the last two trips. Here goes:

This Common Potoo was found during an Ornitholidays tour at Karanambu Ranch in Guyana. I must admit to being astounded at the amount of white exhibited by this individual on the wing (more so when outstretched), but my excitement was soon quelled. Guyana, well it didn't really do it for me I'm afraid. The itineraries need attention (too much emphasis on birding open grasslands in my opinion) and not enough forest birding or effort spent finding some of the country's important birds.

Great Jacamar, Guyana February 2009.

Black Nunbird, February 2009.

Northern Caracara, Guyana February 2009.

However I must say that birding tourism is in its infancy in Guyana. Only time will tell whether it will become one of South America's classic destinations. One experience highlighted how behaviour and attitudes to birding and the birds had changed though. My local guide was particularly keen to reduce the amount of playback used to lure birds into view. A policy I fully respect. Yes, I do use limited playback when necessary abroad but always have the bird's welfare as an utmost priority. I rarely gained permission to use the iPod in Guyana (unless it was a lifer for my guide, funny enough), but attitudes to another aspect of bird tourism troubled me.

In order to view Hoatzins, Guyana's national bird, we had to travel by boat on a small river. Hoatzins frequent vegetation-choked water courses and boats are not very maneuverable so viewing can be difficult. So much so that the guide's assistant saw fit to throw small sticks in the cover to flush the birds out. This was not discouraged by our guide until I made my feelings towards this process known. A second instance involved the ever-popular Sunbittern (above), discovered feeding quietly in a roadside pool. This bird is famous for its dazzling wing "flash" in flight and a driver was instructed to disembark from our truck and shout at the bird as he approached in an attempt to make the bird fly. Personally I think we are losing our focus here when it's OK disturb birds in this manner, purely to obtain our objective and our materialistic desires are overriding common sense. Unfortunately I'm seeing more of this in the presence of birders in possession of cameras. Please note I did not use the term "bird photographers".

Tropical Sceech-Owl, Rock View Lodge, Guyana February 2009.

Adult Black-crowned Night Heron, Georgetown Botanical Gardens, Guyana February 2009.

Black-collared Hawk, Guyana February 2009.

Lesser Kiskadee, Guyana February 2009.

Red-shouldered Macaws, Georgetown, Guyana February 2009.

Swallow-tailed Kite over Iwokrama, Guyana February 2009.

Scarlet Ibis, Guyana February 2009.

Black Curassow, Atta Rainforest Reserve, Guyana February 2009.

Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Iwokrama, Guyana February 2009.

My latest tour was to Mexico, returning just before the Swine Flu outbreak. It'll be a great shame if Mexico suffers a few years in the doldrums due to this. Mexico has a lot to offer birders, with spectacular birding and scenery, nice people and is steeped in culture. I look forward to returning to Rancho Primavera where we saw these Orange-chinned Parakeets and the volcanoes near Ciudad Guzman where the Mountain Pygmy-Owl (below) was photographed very soon.

So that's a bit of "Amazon" (well, Latin America anyway), how about the Ribble ........?

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LANCS: A bit of a grouse.

2009-06-17T07:53:00.008+01:00

Another fine afternoon for surveying yesterday so I set off after a morning in the office for some evening fieldwork. My first squares were not too inspiring to be honest, mainly treading gingerly over blanket bog and farmland pasture. I did have the privilege to have lengthy chats with a few local people though, one a gentleman of eighty with a lifetime in Bowland to recount. I realised in the course of conversation how one man's conservation issues are not necessarily anothers. Too much emphasis on the protection of birds of prey was the general opinion, apparently at the cost of the smaller birds which were considered of little importance to conservation bodies. Stories of a handsome brace of Red Grouse maybe revealed the underlying issue, something all too rare apparently since the harriers began to prosper on the moors. Later in the evening I was invited into a farmhouse (Bowland folk have been very hospitable throughout my contract out here) where the residents were singing from much the same hymn sheet, with a respectable tolerance for raptor conservation policies, but little more. I did sense a great concern for the well being of all other forms of wildlife though as we spoke of the recent troubled plight of our resident and migrant species: "What's happened to the [House] martins?"

Anyway yesterday's birds were dispersed at fairly regular intervals throughout the late afternoon and evening starting with a drake Teal on a boggy section near Bowland Knotts where I sat for a while watching Large Red Damselflies and a Four-spotted Chaser. In fact a couple of the more interesting birds were just off my survey squares, namely a Tree Pipit and the first of the evening's Green Woodpeckers. The woody is a bird I rarely find in Lancs and the Stocks Reservoir area of Bowland is probably the most reliable I know for this species. A ringtail Hen Harrier scattered Curlews as she quartered an area of grazing near the farm where I'd been chatting earlier with one of the residents. Funny how when he'd mentioned harriers I'd thought "Well, they won't trouble you down here until winter at least". Just goes to show how wrong you (well, I) can be!
In keeping with my usual form for seeing other people's birds I thought I'd take a look at Stock's Reservoir as a break from clipboard birding. From the hide I could confirm quite quickly that I had indeed managed to miss the previous day's Spotted Redshank quite successfully and returned to work content with yet another pathetic effort. Waders are starting to congregate in flocks on the in-bye now; Oystercatchers and Curlews feeding in flocks of 7 and 16 respectively in the evening sunshine yesterday.

I decided to return via Waddington Fell for a change and noticed the sign of the pub near the top. My chances of seeing Black Grouse in Lancs are long gone as they are extinct in Lancs unfortunately with the last Lancashire birds possibly present until 1997. Reading through the species accounts in the excellent 'Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside' there appears to be some doubt that Black Grouse ever occurred in the county in a truly wild state, their status clouded by introductions for shooting purposes. Indeed the name 'Moor Cock' may well refer to Red Grouse and 'Heath Cock' was used to refer to Black Grouse.

Anyway, I didn't see any so I needn't worry too much!

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LANCS: Striking gold.

2009-06-16T08:04:00.009+01:00

There are a few species, granted not particularly rare or even spectacular, that evoke happy birding times. One such species for me is Golden Plover. Like the Curlew it's a bird of wide and often wild open spaces with its estuarine winter haunt and moorland breeding home. I'm fond of this gentle looking wader and spend many a happy hour searching through coastal flocks on the Solway for "Lesser Goldies" from the far Arctic tundra of points further east or west.
I remember my teenage birding excursions by bus from Watford Junction to Staines with great affection. A Green Line bus journey of just over an hour found me at the bottom of the causeway between the concrete bowls, ever optimistic and often surprised by the quality of bird frequenting this inhospitable landscape. Long-billed Dowitcher, Baird's Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Collared Pratincole, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a selection of lost seabirds and various waterfowl adorned an impressive personal tally for the "resers". The lure of other nearby sites lengthened my days in the Staines area and Wraysbury Gravel Pits and Queen Mary Reservoir added a bit of variety and often a good soaking and sore feet. One bird I just couldn't get to grip with in the early days was Golden Plover however. Checking London Natural History Bird Reports I discovered that there was a regular flock on Staines Moor so that looked worthy of a stroll. One cold February morning I walked the moor and found a Golden Plover almost straight away. Well, a bit of one. It was dead but live ones soon followed as we located a flock in a nearby field. I can still remember them shuffling around in their usual plover way in the late winter mist.
So why recount all this drivel? Well last night I located several Golden Plovers on the tops of the high fells in Bowland, Lancs. That same thrill shot through me, just as it did back in the 70's on Staines Moor. Golden Plover are pretty rare in Bowland in the summer months and the site of a singing male tumbling through the air over a sphagnum bog in the late evening remnants of sunshine was quite magical:
"The characteristic high-circling display flight of the male Golden Plover, with its accompanying far-carrying song, is one of the most evocative sounds of the Lancashire uplands in early spring." (Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside). Spot on!
Anyway the GP encounter was a perfect ending to a great day. Congratulations to Callum, our youngest son, who passed his driving test at the first time of asking last week. We celebrated with lunch at Bashall Barn in Bowland today before Callum and Mrs B. let me loose with a clipboard and GPS and returned home. The rest of my day consisted of surveying some bracken covered slopes with 4 pairs of Whinchats, a couple of pairs of Wheatears and a Peregrine darting overhead before I clambered onto the fells. Happy days indeed.

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SOLWAY: The rewards of birding in the west.

2009-06-15T09:05:00.010+01:00

June is a tricky month as far as birding goes for me. It's often a case of "making the best of it" when we head up to D&G at this time of year and playing it by ear. So we decided to give the Southerness area a bit of a thrash one day, but it was pretty uninspiring really. We did locate our first local Dippers near Carsethorn (at sea level) though - an adult feeding young in the brook pictured above. A most unlikely place for a bird normally associated with rushing clear water streams.

Ailsa Crag from Corsewall Point.

In truth it's been a bit quieter this year in D&G for us. In fact the western "bit" (the old Wigtownshire) has been more interesting with a nice run of scarce or rare birds this year. The latest of these was an albatross seen in Loch Ryan seen independently by some local and visiting birders. Knowing full well that we had absolutely no chance of seeing this we went for a look. The weather was great so we sat out at the mouth of the loch at Wig Bay for a while. Plenty of Eiders, Gannets, a Black Guillemot, Fulmars and some Sandwich Terns were all we were rewarded with, but very pleasant it was nonetheless.

We searched the sheltered Lady's Bay north of the Wig without luck and then headed out to Corsewall Point where Gannets, Manx Shearwaters and Fulmars were present offshore, but little else.

We decided that it would be a good idea to go to Auchie Glen on the Mull and see if we could fail to even hear the Quail there before calling in at Scotland's most southerly point and miss Puffins. Boy do we know what we're doing! No audible evidence of Quail and nuffin in the Puffin stakes. Full house!

Mrs B. was let loose with the camera, getting good views of some bird crap on the cliffs. Such as shame that a few Kittiwakes, Shags, Guillemots and Herring Gulls made it into the frame to spoil it. A diversion en route back to Southerness took us by a male Hen Harrier and then into the Forest of Galloway where we heard plenty of Tawny Owls, a Grasshopper Warbler and a distant churring Nightjar.
Back on familiar territory we checked out Carlingwark Lock (6 Tufted Ducks - deep joy!) and Southerness a couple of times where Whitethroats seems to be the most common trans Saharan migrant by far at the moment. A Barn Owl near Powillimount was a nice distraction from all this excitement.
I'm helping out with the WeBS counts on the Caerlaverock NNR when possible at the moment. I didn't think a June count would be too challenging but was surprised to find nearly 1500 Shelducks on the Nith and a couple of flocks of Mallards in three figures. Waders were few and far between apart from 23 Ringed Plovers with a single Dunlin at Brow Well.

It was back to the "comfort zone" with some survey work in the Stock Reservoir area near Slaidburn in Lancashire. Drumming Snipe and Skylarks abound in this part of Bowland. A few Small Coppers on the wing this morning too. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler was my first of the survey period in Bowland and Redstarts are still in song so there's still plenty to see ........

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SOLWAY: A whole load of nothing!

2009-06-14T17:46:00.007+01:00

Just back from a quick break on the Solway with Mrs B. Not a lot to report really but then it is mid June I suppose. We stopped in at Caerlaverock on the way up as usual. Not much to report on the bird front but the rare Tadpole Shrimps ("older than the dinosaurs!") are worth a look at in reception.

The Black-headed Gull nests have been raided by the foxes apparently but it was great to see Badgers in D&G without finding them run over on the A75!

NO, it's not me with a new camera.

These two young animals frequented the grassy area near to the Farmhouse Tower and kept us amused until we left around 7PM for Southerness. A night drive later on provided us with Nightjar feeding over clear fell and Tawny Owl sitting in the middle of the road!
A good start that wasn't maintained!

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LANCS: Bowland 7 & 8 June.

2009-06-09T00:56:00.003+01:00

Spent the last couple of days in a remote part of Bowland and what a truly memorable experience it was! Nesting Buzzards, Peregrine Falcons, sky dancing Hen Harriers and a pair of Merlins darting overhead was exciting enough. Flushing a Short-eared Owl from the heather seconds after taking to my feet was just the icing on the cake ....... Little Owl was one of my first of those for ages as I made it back to civilisation and the car at dusk.
I watched the Hen Harriers again this evening only to have my attention distracted by a singing Ring Ouzel and a male Whinchat calling next to the path. The Dipper on the stream below me was just that finishing touch I guess. A flock of 19 Lapwings on the in-bye had me guessing - post breeding or non-breeding? Cuckoo calling as I made for the car too.
Mrs. B and I are off for a well-earned break tomorrow and with luck some birding without a GPS, clip board and maps. Maybe even a bird picture or two as well? Who knows?

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LANCS: Hen Harriers in Bowland.

2009-06-05T19:08:00.004+01:00

Cross o' Greet near Slaidburn in Bowland.

Spent this morning in a pretty remote part of Bowland surveying a kilometre square just before the heavens opened. At least they did there, it appears the other half of Bowland west to Preston didn't get a drop. A female Hen Harrier on the opposite fell was the highlight for sure and reminded me to add another link to the "Blogs I like" section (see right). Bowland is the breeding stronghold for Hen Harriers in England and although they can be difficult to find out on the moors you can always pop into the Bowland Visitor Centre at Beacon Fell and see them on screen. A CCT camera has been set at a nest containing two chicks allowing an intimate view of a day in the life of one of UK's rarest breeding birds. Check out the Bowland Hen Harrier Project blog and why not read a bit more about the Forest of Bowland AONB?
Yesterdays ramblings produced a nice selection of birds near Slaidburn including a female and 5 male Redstarts. Now, I don't want to "come over all Springwatch" but they really are cracking birds to see sitting up on top of the highest branches of a tree, belting out their song. Male Pied Flycatcher in the same wood as a pair of the Redstarts made a nice double.

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SOLWAY: Weekend break 30 - 31 May 2009.

2009-06-03T08:31:00.009+01:00

Quick jaunt out to Bowland on 30th May for some more survey work found me in the usual isolation of some of Lancashire's remote heather moors. Driving back alongside Marshaw Fell I watched this Curlew with its chick for sometime in the early morning sun before heading home to prepare for our weekend break in Scotland.

Gillfoot Bay and Southerness Point, Dumfries & Galloway 31 May 2009.

We arrived at Seafield Bay near Annan with the sun still beating down and after a coffee and a bit of time scanning over the bay (no, no skuas - I promise) we set off to do our Timed Tetrad Visit survey. A very pleasant walk produced Spotted Flycatcher (pair), Bullfinch (pair) and a couple of Magpies (still rare here). Plenty of Painted Lady butterflies using the old viaduct as their northbound route too.
On then to Newbie for the high tide wader roost where we found no less than 254 Sanderling huddled on the shore with 20 Dunlin. Sanderling are mainly a passage migrant on this part of the Solway and this is by far the most Sanderling I've seen in D&G. Very smart they were too, some in full summer plumage. Another Magpie was found near Barnkirk Point.
An evening drive in suitable habitat produced a variety of nocturnal species plus at least 3 singing male Grasshopper Warblers.

Looking west along the Colvend Coast from Southerness Point, 31 May 2009.

Next morning we strolled around Southerness Point in the early morning. We didn't see much apart from this group of 164 Oystercatchers, some in non-breeding plumage. Single Whimbrel, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Sandwich Terns and 6 Sedge Warblers were the only other species noted. Just the one Painted Lady here so maybe they cross the Solway at the narrow neck to the east near Annan?
We spent the rest of the day touring a few inland sites recording a few Redstarts (New Abbey and Mabie Forest), Red Kites (Milton and Laurieston), Peregrines and Wood Warbler (Raiders Road in the Forest of Galloway).

Male Reed Bunting, Caerlaverock WWT 31 May 2009.

Last port of call for the weekend was Caerlaverock which is overdue a good bird this spring. Wasn't to be though, although we enjoyed walking the meadow normally closed when the Barnacles are feeding there in the winter. Oystercatchers are attempting to nest on a small platform (Mrs B captured one just about to land in the pic above) and there were a few Common Blue Damselflies around.

LANCS: Marshes to Moorland.

2009-06-01T10:52:00.015+01:00

Male Stonechat at Marshaw 29 May 2009.

Spent the morning of 29 May surveying an area of the Ribble Estuary on the south bank. Very nice it was too in the best weather of the year to date. Nothing really special apart from healthy numbers of Lapwings, Redshanks and Skylarks (so good to hear their song). Few Avocets around as usual on here. Amazing how they don't stray across to the Fylde very often.

Lapwing at Marshside 29 May 2009.

Once the survey was finished I couldn't think of a nicer way to spend the rest of the afternoon than popping down to Marshside and check out the hides there. Plenty to see as usual including this Lapwing's strange behaviour! Every now and then he (I presume it's a male by the length of the crest?) would lean forward, hang his wins and stick his rear end in the air, exposing his vent towards the wind! It was suggested that it was a method of cooling his nether regions but I'd guess there's something else to it.

Black-headed Gulls, Marshside 29 May 2009.

A pair of Garganey were on show from Nel's Hide but the female spent most of her time loafing on the islands. Several Dunlin probing around on the mud but no sign of the Curlew Sand'.

Plenty of Avocets on show pleasing the photographers and Reed Warbler singing nearby - slipping into summer for sure. I took a walk up to Polly's Creek seeing a few more Dunlin and some Painted Ladies on the way, retreating to the car for lunch overlooking the patch of brambles where a Woodchat was fund a couple of years ago.
Strange how things happen like that. I was just thinking how I'd like to have seen that Woodchat (I was in Panama so it was tricky) when the message came through of one in Bowland! Off to Bowland then.

I suppose I could have justifiably felt a bit miffed (first day I've not been in Bowland for ages and a Woodchat turns up, blah, blah, blah......), but it wasn't anywhere near my survey squares so well done to Jeff Butcher who found this bird near Tower Lodge. Usual debate about who was responsible for the bird's disappearance later in the afternoon with photographers on site. They may well not have been too close but why do they have to be that few extra metres closer to the bird than the birders? Lots of Painted Ladies flying through (c. 12 per minute) all going in a westerly direction. Nice to hear Redstarts belting out their song too and great views of this stonking male Stonechat while I tried to locate the Woodchat. Quite a lot of activity really with Cuckoo, Snipe, Curlew and Red Grouse creating that evocative upland sound.

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SOLWAY: Last ditch skuas.

2009-06-01T10:44:00.006+01:00

Tide rising at Seafield Bay near Annan, Dumfries & Galloway 27 May 2009.

Couldn't resist one last go at the skua passage on the Solway on 27th May. Having checked the weather charts all week and hearing that there were still a few Poms and Long-taileds trickling through (the chances of big flocks had long gone) I decided to give it my final shot and head up to Seafield Bay near Annan.

'Scope, tripod, flask, butties and the shelter of the old viaduct at Seafield near Annan, D&G.

The narrow crossing from the old viaduct on the Scottish shore of the Solway at Annan makes a great place to watch for skuas - as long as they come in. The other site on the Dumfries & Galloway side at Newbie was being watched by a couple of D&G birders and when I arrived at Seafield two hours prior to high tide they had already seen a Long-tailed and two Arctic Skuas! It was whilst receiving this news over the phone that the first skua came by - a handsome adult Pomarine with full set of "spoons". More than 25 Gannets were wheeling around just off the viaduct, finally making the "pass" and then coming back out again in ones and twos. A Cuckoo shooting past the viaduct chased by an irate Starling was a good "first" on a Solway seawatch for me too!
It wasn't long before I spotted 3 skuas coming towards me, one a bit smaller than the other two. Closer still I could see they were all pale phase birds - maybe they were the party the Newbie birders had seen (2 Arctics and a Long-tailed)? Nope, 2 Poms and an Arctic - the Arctic setting down on the sea just off the viaduct. Over the next 4 hours I experienced some great views of passing skuas, especially the couple of dark phase Arctics and a Pomarine overhead. Three Bonxies high and moving east were a big surprise. Leaving the viaduct at 16.30 hrs I'd accumulated quite a nice selection of passing seabirds:
3 Pomarine Skua
5 Bonxie
6 Arctic Skua
2 Common Scoter
6 Fulmar
25+ Gannet
2 Gt Cr Grebe

I was just about to pack up the gear back at the car when I noticed a skua "dipping" on the surface, eventually setting down. Lucky that my 'scope is always the last bit of kit packed in the car as a quick look revealed a smart adult Long-tailed Skua coming in and then drifting out on the tide!

Definitely it for the skua watching this spring. Roll on next year!

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LANCS: Local Celebrity.

2009-05-26T16:26:00.005+01:00

Called in on the Eagle Owl site this morning and could just about see one sitting in the heather in the gloomy conditions. These birds attracted a lot of attention a couple of years ago when their presence was put out in the public domain. I've bumped into a few visitors this year but there are strict regulation that any birder should adhere to. They are readily available on the excellent Lancaster & District Bird Watching Society's website here.
Another Whinchat today, this time a male and in the same place I saw a lone female yesterday. Located it by its "bullfinch call" so yesterday's efforts were worthwhile as I'd never heard this before. Single Painted Lady again this morning on the slopes and Stonechats with young notable as well.

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LANCS: Picture of a bird on blog shock!

2009-05-25T14:20:00.007+01:00

Spring arrives at last! After days of interrupted fieldwork it was a real treat to get out to Bowland yesterday - Meadow Pipits in parachute display flight, Red Grouse croaking away in the heather, Curlews bubbling overhead (can't believe how crap they are landing in heather!), Peregrine Falcon causing havoc over the LBBG colony and a couple of pairs of Stonechats in the clough below. Surely this is how Spring should be? Nice to see a few Green Hairsteraks on the wing for the first time in nearly a fortnight as well. Ring Ouzel on the way back was a rare treat this Spring. Didn't see another soul in this remote part of Bowland for over seven hours. Heaven.
Worrying times though as Mrs B was out and about in Bowland as well, somewhere in the Abbeystead area. I'll have to start hiding her bins again before this gets out of control and starts lugging her 'scope and tripod around too.

Well here it is the long awaited bird pic on the blog. Bowland is the breeding stronghold of the Hen Harrier in England nowadays and this bottle of "Sky Dancer" carries Bowland's flagship bird species as its logo. Nice drop of beer too - thanks to Mrs B for buying a few bottles out at Bashall Barn instead of gripping me off with something!

This morning was just as good, perhaps even hotter with hardly a breath of breeze. The absolute highlight was recording 4 Whinchats - a pair plus a male in one square and a female on my march back. The males were as always with species, mind blowing. I sat for quite a bit of time watching them listening to the wide variety of vocalisations (including a Bullfinch like call) and managed to record one bird. Another pair of Peregrines seen this morning and some very handsome Stonechats near the Whinchats too.

On the way back to the car I noticed this Painted Lady, not something I see in Lancs this early in the year. They are normally in the garden in late July / August on the buddleia if we're lucky with the weather. Shouldn't have been too surprised though; a quick look at one of the latest thread on the vismig yahoo group (see new link for visible migration blog on the right) tells all:

"Please forgive me for posting an item that is at the moment not related to the BOG area. So let me explain, whilst birding in Costa Blanca Spain (an area I know very well) I experienced a massive northerly movement of Painted Lady butterflies. The influx started on the 14th of May 09 with butterflies coming in off the sea from North Africa at Punta Prima.

The following day the 15th they were still coming in but in greater numbers. At 9am we went on the coast road to Clot de Gavney NR a distance of about 30 miles and during the whole journey butterflies were heading north many hitting the cars and landing on the roads.

At Clot de Gavney NR the place was 'alive' with Painted lady butterflies. On the 16th not one Painted Lady could be found. Given the distance of the movement thousands and thousands of butterflies must have been involved.

Some what about the BOG area I strongly believe that we should get some of these migrants in the next few weeks, so keep a look out and any good number please report them.

Sorry if I have gone on!"

Couple of Spotted Flycatchers in the Whitendale Valley at the end of my walk were the first of the year for me, Plenty of "normal" people out in Bowland today (not birders). Taking in the sun, BBQ's, camping, just enjoying themselves in the Bank Holiday sunshine. Should be back to normal tomorrow hopefully.

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