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.
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