Ornithology and wildlife around East Lancashire, Pendle hill and the Forest of Bowland, by Neil Mitchell
Friday 30 April 2010
Monday 26 April 2010
Saturday 24 April 2010
Langden valley again
Started from the car park at 8am. This week there were 2 cars there before me. Jill came along for the walk today and we packed a picnic. All the usual birds on the walk-in, with the addition of common sandpiper. There were none here last week, this week I heard (and saw) at least 2 male calling from the brook. There were many green hairstreak butterflies along the path, and plenty green tiger beetles too.
Green tiger beetle - click on photo to enlarge
"Feathered-ear" ? moth on the langden valley path
From the building, we had great views of a pair of hen harrier, first individually and then sky-dancing together. 2 male ring ouzels flew down the valley and a pair of wheatear seem to have nested in the building chimney.
A lovely day with a nice picnic but only one new bird (common sandpiper) for my 2010 yearlist
Started from the car park at 8am. This week there were 2 cars there before me. Jill came along for the walk today and we packed a picnic. All the usual birds on the walk-in, with the addition of common sandpiper. There were none here last week, this week I heard (and saw) at least 2 male calling from the brook. There were many green hairstreak butterflies along the path, and plenty green tiger beetles too.
Green tiger beetle - click on photo to enlarge
"Feathered-ear" ? moth on the langden valley path
From the building, we had great views of a pair of hen harrier, first individually and then sky-dancing together. 2 male ring ouzels flew down the valley and a pair of wheatear seem to have nested in the building chimney.
A lovely day with a nice picnic but only one new bird (common sandpiper) for my 2010 yearlist
Friday 23 April 2010
Fridays deliveries in Preston meant a stop off at Newton marsh as usual. At last, I caught up with my bogey bird of the year. Little grebe! More than 110 days into the year to find one. My 2010 list now stands at 108 species. A possible corn bunting was also seen here but not 100%, so not counting it.
Thursday 22 April 2010
Here. Hare. Here! (quote from "withnail & I)
Springtime developments at Dick Leigh chainsaws in Barrow.
The long tailed tit nest that I watched being built 12 days ago was raided :( probably by a magpie that I've seen hanging around.
Blackbird nest was also raided and 5 eggs taken. Jay was the culprit this time. Most of my nestboxes are occupied by bluetits and the coal tits are perfectly safe in their concrete nesthole.
The sparrowhawk has made 4 pigeon kills in the last fortnight. The feral flock (sometimes 20 strong) doesnt hang around the feeding stations as much now. Good. I'd rather have sprawks than feral pigeons. The mallard eggs havent hatched yet, but should soon. The kestrels are in my nestbox for the 3rd year. Hopefully sucessful this time, I saw them mating yesterday.
But, the most unusual sighting recently was Brown Hare, in one of the back fields! I saw a cat from whiteacre lane in one of our fields, shoo'ed it off with a well aimed clump of mud and went to see what it was doing, and found a leveret!
Then I saw an adult hare. The last hare I saw in this area was across the road towards the railway, about 3 years ago.
Saw the Adult hare again today but no sign of the leveret that I saved from the cat.
Springtime developments at Dick Leigh chainsaws in Barrow.
The long tailed tit nest that I watched being built 12 days ago was raided :( probably by a magpie that I've seen hanging around.
Blackbird nest was also raided and 5 eggs taken. Jay was the culprit this time. Most of my nestboxes are occupied by bluetits and the coal tits are perfectly safe in their concrete nesthole.
The sparrowhawk has made 4 pigeon kills in the last fortnight. The feral flock (sometimes 20 strong) doesnt hang around the feeding stations as much now. Good. I'd rather have sprawks than feral pigeons. The mallard eggs havent hatched yet, but should soon. The kestrels are in my nestbox for the 3rd year. Hopefully sucessful this time, I saw them mating yesterday.
But, the most unusual sighting recently was Brown Hare, in one of the back fields! I saw a cat from whiteacre lane in one of our fields, shoo'ed it off with a well aimed clump of mud and went to see what it was doing, and found a leveret!
Then I saw an adult hare. The last hare I saw in this area was across the road towards the railway, about 3 years ago.
Saw the Adult hare again today but no sign of the leveret that I saved from the cat.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Sky dancers in Langden valley
7.30 start at Langden valley, the mist lifted and the sun shone. A perfect mornings birding.
Stopped briefly at Whitewell and heard snipe drumming in the morning mist, a single redshank, a few RL partridge and 4 brown hare also here.
Some redpoll and siskin at the langden car park. Goldcrest and bullfinch calling a bit further on. Willow warbler and chaffinch were singing all the way up the valley but I didnt hear a single chiffchaff today. Several pairs of pied wagtail on the stream. A single male stonechat, single male reed bunting and single male wheatear having a bachelor party just before where the path splits.
I took the lower path on the way to langden castle. Curlew, oystercatcher, lapwing and pheasant calling occasionally, but only 2 red grouse seen today. A female sparrowhawk over low and fast gave me great views as she chased meadow pipits but didnt manage a kill.
The next raptor I saw, just before Langden castle was a male hen harrier soaring overhead. I joined Chris Larkin at the building and we watched a total of 2 male and 1 female hen harrier with one of the males sky dancing in the sun for a while and giving great views. This is the reason for birdwatching, absolutely spectacular!
A single peregrine was also seen from here. On the way back, taking the high path, I found a green tiger beetle on the path, and when we stopped to look at that, we heard that kind of blackbirdy sounding song.....yup, ring ouzel, 2 males feeding on the patchy grass between the upper and lower paths.
As the path descended we heard I more male ouzel singing in a gully and I found this green hairstreak butterfly.
A fantastic mornings birding, with some nice insects thrown in. I think I'll return for some sky dancing next week...... after checking Pendle hill for Dotterel, that is.
7.30 start at Langden valley, the mist lifted and the sun shone. A perfect mornings birding.
Stopped briefly at Whitewell and heard snipe drumming in the morning mist, a single redshank, a few RL partridge and 4 brown hare also here.
Some redpoll and siskin at the langden car park. Goldcrest and bullfinch calling a bit further on. Willow warbler and chaffinch were singing all the way up the valley but I didnt hear a single chiffchaff today. Several pairs of pied wagtail on the stream. A single male stonechat, single male reed bunting and single male wheatear having a bachelor party just before where the path splits.
I took the lower path on the way to langden castle. Curlew, oystercatcher, lapwing and pheasant calling occasionally, but only 2 red grouse seen today. A female sparrowhawk over low and fast gave me great views as she chased meadow pipits but didnt manage a kill.
The next raptor I saw, just before Langden castle was a male hen harrier soaring overhead. I joined Chris Larkin at the building and we watched a total of 2 male and 1 female hen harrier with one of the males sky dancing in the sun for a while and giving great views. This is the reason for birdwatching, absolutely spectacular!
A single peregrine was also seen from here. On the way back, taking the high path, I found a green tiger beetle on the path, and when we stopped to look at that, we heard that kind of blackbirdy sounding song.....yup, ring ouzel, 2 males feeding on the patchy grass between the upper and lower paths.
As the path descended we heard I more male ouzel singing in a gully and I found this green hairstreak butterfly.
A fantastic mornings birding, with some nice insects thrown in. I think I'll return for some sky dancing next week...... after checking Pendle hill for Dotterel, that is.
Saturday 10 April 2010
Dunsop Bridge raptors
I watched this bird and its partner for about an hour this morning. Had them all to myself and then shared with a couple from Wigan, who luckily came along while I still had it in the scope. A lifer for them!
Then we watched the pair in flight for a while until they disappeared before the weekend crowds came along. (inevitable on this lovely sunny day)
I watched the perched bird preening (my scope views better than these "dodgyscoped pics" show) and both birds together in flight.
Having met "Mr Angry" last weekend, a random birder I came across, effing and ceeing to me about all these "so-called" birders who cant tell a "Sprawk" from a "Gossie". He was quite comical in his ranting, and clearly thinks he is a "better" birder than most. But anyway, the views I've had this weekend were even better than last and I am in no doubt as to their identity.
PS also today my first willow warbler sighted in 2010, with many singing, and 3 small tortoiseshell butterflies too.
I watched this bird and its partner for about an hour this morning. Had them all to myself and then shared with a couple from Wigan, who luckily came along while I still had it in the scope. A lifer for them!
Then we watched the pair in flight for a while until they disappeared before the weekend crowds came along. (inevitable on this lovely sunny day)
I watched the perched bird preening (my scope views better than these "dodgyscoped pics" show) and both birds together in flight.
Having met "Mr Angry" last weekend, a random birder I came across, effing and ceeing to me about all these "so-called" birders who cant tell a "Sprawk" from a "Gossie". He was quite comical in his ranting, and clearly thinks he is a "better" birder than most. But anyway, the views I've had this weekend were even better than last and I am in no doubt as to their identity.
PS also today my first willow warbler sighted in 2010, with many singing, and 3 small tortoiseshell butterflies too.
Thursday 8 April 2010
Currently watching coal tit and long-tailed tit nest-building from the office window. Coal tits are in a hole in the house chimney stack, some 20ft up! The long tails are in a conifer, surprisingly close to one of our feeding stations, I thought the presence of other species at the feeders might have put them off this site. I havent yet checked which of my many nest boxes are being used by blue tits or great tits.
This afternoon, I found a nuthatch nest, a blackbirds with 2 eggs and we still have 14 eggs in the mallard nest. The ducklings should be due in about a week now.
This afternoon, I found a nuthatch nest, a blackbirds with 2 eggs and we still have 14 eggs in the mallard nest. The ducklings should be due in about a week now.
Monday 5 April 2010
Leighton moss was less crowded due to the rainy weather! Unfortunately the wind and rain kept most of my target species out of site too.
Scored a Marsh tit for my years list almost immediately, at the feeding station with many other species including some nice bullfinches.
Heading down to Lillians hide, I heard chiffchaff and willow warbler singing but neither was sighted. Nothing new at Lillians, I'd hoped that marsh harrier or water rail would have been my 100th species this year. Or at least little grebe or red breasted merganser, two species that have evaded all year! No luck here, only a single swallow of note (struggling against the rain and wind).
On to the public hide, in hope of cettis warbler or bearded tit.......
Nothing really :( A pair of Gbb gulls look like they've nested on the island, a few pochard and 20+ swallows on this pond. The rain got heavier, so decided against the lower hide on this visit.
The Tim Jackson hide produced a red deer (as usual) and a few little egrets. I was still looking for the 100th species on my 2010 list, and the grisedale hide delivered! As soon as the rain let-up a cracking male marsh harrier flew past, showing for 10 mins or so.
On the walk back to the car park, I heard another chiffchaff call, and managed to get this one in the bins. Species 101.
Soup and sarnies in the car. We noticed a female chaffinch nest building right in front of us. A tiny well camoflaged nest in a rowan fork.
The Allen hide had a gale force wind blowing straight in the window slits. The avocets (8) didnt seem as bothered as the redshanks (millions) though.
A closer inspection of the huddled redshanks, produced a spotted redshank, alone at the back of the flock.
A pair of gadwall hung around near the shelducks here too.
The black tailed godwits where probably sheltering a greenshank, but I could find any today.
Then, at last, I found one of this years bogey birds, a red-breasted merganser drake hauled-out on an island. Species no. 104 this year.... I still havent seen little grebe this year!
Scored a Marsh tit for my years list almost immediately, at the feeding station with many other species including some nice bullfinches.
Heading down to Lillians hide, I heard chiffchaff and willow warbler singing but neither was sighted. Nothing new at Lillians, I'd hoped that marsh harrier or water rail would have been my 100th species this year. Or at least little grebe or red breasted merganser, two species that have evaded all year! No luck here, only a single swallow of note (struggling against the rain and wind).
On to the public hide, in hope of cettis warbler or bearded tit.......
Nothing really :( A pair of Gbb gulls look like they've nested on the island, a few pochard and 20+ swallows on this pond. The rain got heavier, so decided against the lower hide on this visit.
The Tim Jackson hide produced a red deer (as usual) and a few little egrets. I was still looking for the 100th species on my 2010 list, and the grisedale hide delivered! As soon as the rain let-up a cracking male marsh harrier flew past, showing for 10 mins or so.
On the walk back to the car park, I heard another chiffchaff call, and managed to get this one in the bins. Species 101.
Soup and sarnies in the car. We noticed a female chaffinch nest building right in front of us. A tiny well camoflaged nest in a rowan fork.
The Allen hide had a gale force wind blowing straight in the window slits. The avocets (8) didnt seem as bothered as the redshanks (millions) though.
A closer inspection of the huddled redshanks, produced a spotted redshank, alone at the back of the flock.
A pair of gadwall hung around near the shelducks here too.
The black tailed godwits where probably sheltering a greenshank, but I could find any today.
Then, at last, I found one of this years bogey birds, a red-breasted merganser drake hauled-out on an island. Species no. 104 this year.... I still havent seen little grebe this year!
Saturday 3 April 2010
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