Birding Bowland

Female Woodchat Shrike, Tower Lodge, Bowland

Whitewell valley

Hawthornthwaite Fell

Croasdale Fell, Bowland

Sykes Fell

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A free afternoon and a reported Woodchat Shrike in Bowland - no brainer really! Mid afternoon found me fighting the traffic heading north into the lakes - fortunately not too many delays. My destination was a small plantation near Tower Lodge - approx half way between Abbeystead and Dunsop Bridge. On arrival I found a birder who glumly pronounced that the bird had not been reported for three hours - however having seen it himself he could confirm it was a cracker!

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I headed up the path behind the lodge and immediately a Redstart flashed across in front of me and off into the trees to the left. Tracking it, and losing it, I then located a Spotted Flycatcher and subsequently had stonking views of two of these birds in the tree. Great start! I then wandered along the track before emerging from the wood to immediately see, way in the distance, the Woodchat Shrike. A group of birders were already present and I eventually got some dodgy digiscope shots.

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At this point things began to go pear shaped. One of the photographers (big lens) asked permission from the rest of us to enter the mossy field to get closer. We all agreed this was OK - bird was still a long way off and we all moved a bit closer. The photographer (and another one) however showed no field craft - instead of approaching slowly a bit at a time and giving the bird the opportunity to get used to people they simply marched straight over and flushed the bird. It flew into the trees west of the stream and stayed there for around 20 minutes. It then reappeared on a post further up the field nr the path.

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At this point most of the birders wandered back to the path (the two photographers stayed put), kept their distance and enjoyed good views for approx 10 minutes. The bird then flew off (no flushing) into trees to the east. It stayed here for over 45 minutes and then suddenly reappeared back on the fence right in front of the photographers. It immediately disappeared and was not seen again - at this point I had wandered off down the path in search of Tree Pipits and saw all this from a distance.

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I notice from the Lancaster website that a young, inexperienced birder in a white t-shirt is being blamed for this and not the "two experienced photographers who had quietly set themselves up in position". First one of the so-called experienced photographers was wearing a very pale shirt. Second the guy in the white t-shirt was neither young (est in 40's), inexperienced (he was picking up bird calls as they flew over that no one else was - I spent time talking to him) or near the photographers (approx 100 yds away). Well, there has to be a scapegoat.

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The other annoying thing was that, when the Shrike was not on view, most of the birders simply stood and chatted. I was constantly scanning the nearby trees and hills - 3 Buzzards, a pair of Red Grouse, 4 Curlews plus singing Redstart and Tree Pipit were the rewards. I estimate between 30 and 40 Painted Ladies also flew through! I then left the site and headed off towards Whitewell, collecting another Buzzard, Raven, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper and 5 Oystercatchers as I went. Aside from the Buzzards the no-show from other raptors was slightly disappointing.

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On the way home this evening I popped into Moor Piece - a male Pied Flycatcher was feeding a juvenile with a third bird seen briefly going into the nest box - nothing else of note. It was a glorious afternoon and evening though, good birds and stunning views of the hills - good to be back on home territory again!

Roll on the holidays

Male Yellow Wagtail, Frodsham Marsh
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Am winding down before a holiday in Northumberland so busy getting work straight. Yesterday at HGF the Black-necked Grebes continued the in-out theme - one was back in the morning and gone again today. A pair of Yellow Wags were flying around yesterday - this evening two males were fighting. A Little Grebe was also on the pool today - the first since 28th November!
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On the way home from working in N Wales a quick diversion to Leasowe gunsight and immediately had 2 Gannets, a close in Manx Shearwater, a Kittiwake and a Common Tern. Unfortunately it was several hours past high tide and nothing else appeared.

Free Pij!

Pij in the large Ash tree in the garden immediately after escape

Laughing Gull, Marton Mere

Laughing Gull

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Tufted Duck

Moorhen

Moorhen chick - look at the size of those feet!

Male Whitethroat, Warrington

Whitethroat

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The big news - 17 days after being horrifically mauled by a cat, Pij the Woodpigeon is free! I had a good look at the bird late last week and decided it was well enough to be released at the weekend. Obviously the bird had the same idea - on Saturday when I opened the cage door to check it again, Pij made a break for it and managed to escape anyway. It flew straight up into the larger of the two Ash trees in our garden.

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Ever since Pij was rescued, three Woodies have been present in the garden - a pair which is nesting across the road and a single bird which the pair have tried to evict several times. I have also seen at least one bird on the ground in front of Pij's cage on numerous occasions. Within minutes of Pij flying into the tree it was joined by another Woodie. Both stayed all afternoon and most of the evening together, with Pij taking the odd short flight, before both flew off together late on. I haven't seen them since. There was a lucky escape shortly after Pij got loose. A female Sparrowhawk came bombing over the field towards the garden - I warned her off by jumping up and down waving my arms.

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Pij will clearly need some time and luck to survive, especially as it will need to regain a lot of strength - I do think this bird has several lives though. In my mind I have no doubt that its mate has been hanging around while it was recovering and they are now reunited.

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HGF recently has been monotonous with the same birds over and over again. The Black-necked Grebes have been doing their version of the hokey kokey - they have been in, out, in, out etc etc. Each time they stay for a day, disappear for a day and then return again. None now since Saturday though. Yellow Wagtails are less frequently seen though it is clear at least two pairs are breeding locally. A new female was seen yesterday - different plumage characteristics to the usual females though, after some consultation, apparently within the diverse range of female Yellow Wags. This takes the number of individuals this year to at least seven. Two male Corn Buntings are now present.

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This evening, in a break from the monotony, a pair of Shovelers were present, along with a Canada Goose and 2 new Swans. In the 3.5 yrs I have been watching the pool, I have recorded Shovelers only 15 times, 13 of these sightings being in winter and very early Spring. They are very rare here in summer.

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On Saturday morning I paid a visit to Woolsten Eyes. It was, as usual when I go there, very quiet and I ws reduced to counting singing warblers. I got the following:

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40 Whitethroats

23 Blackcaps

21 Willow Warblers

17 Reed Warblers

14 Sedge Warblers

11 Chiffchaffs

2 Garden Warblers

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In addition to these I also had 2 Kingfishers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Buzzards, 12 Black-necked Grebes, 14 Pochard and a range of other waterfowl.

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This morning I finally had a decent spell of birding. I started off with a trip to Swillington Ings and quickly got distant views of the Collared Pratincole - I would guess this is the same bird Jonathan was watching last week in Norfolk. At one point the bird just seemed to disappear in front of 20 or so birders - none of us saw it go. And that, unfortunately, was the last sighting of the bird.

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Also at Swillington was a single Whiskered Tern and good views of a female Marsh Harrier hunting. I picked up a Garden Warbler singing in dense bushes by the path. The final good bird of the day was the Laughing Gull - this is only the second of this species I have seen and a cracking bird for someone like me who finds gulls interesting!

Where has all the sunshine gone?

Male Pied Flycatcher, MP, Lancashire

Common Scoters, Wigan Flashes

Deceased drake Mallard, HGF. Another bloody dog kill. Although the corvids had been busy, bite marks were still evident on this bird.

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Saturday 16th:

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HGF this morning and yesterdays Black-necked Grebe had gone. Three Yellow Wagtails were on the banking briefly before disappearing - again no opportunity to see if the Channel Wagtail was there. At least 120 Swallows were feeding over the water. I then had a quick trip to Wigan Flashes were 2 Black Terns were showing distantly. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing by the path leading to the bridge and 4 Common Scoters were on Scotsmans, found by Jimmy Meadows.

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Sunday 17th:

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Not as any Swifts and hirundines this evening. A pair of Yellow Wags were present and 2 Corn Buntings were on the wires nr Myddleton Farm. 4 Black-necked Grebes were in the middle today. This morning was spent in Lancashire - highlights being 4 Pied Flycatchers at MP (including a pair chasing off an intruding male) and a Garden Warbler. I also paid a brief visit to SR where 2 of the breeding Med Gulls were visible in the gull colony. In the garden two Woodpigeons have spent all weekend fighting off an intruding male. They have built a nest in a conifer near the Magpie nest - doomed to failure! A few juvenile House Sparrows are visiting the feeders and the sunflower hearts and fat balls are now getting hammered.

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Monday 18th:

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2 male Yellow Wags feeding together on the lawn at HGF this evening. Both were male flavissima birds. 2 Corn Buntings on the wires again and no sign of the BNG's.

It's a bit wet!

Rape field, Rixton Moss

Woodpigeon, Glazebrook

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A day of torrential rain interrupted by brief lulls - not exactly the weather anyone wanted. The rain did stop on two occasions and I managed a quick lunch-time trip around Rixton and a late evening visit to HGF.

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The higlight at Rixton was a male Yellow Wagtail in the fields between Woodend and Prospect Lanes. I have long thought this was a superb spot for Yellow Wags and have been slightly puzzled at the lack of any sightings. Also here were 6 Wheatears, 3 Corn Buntings and 3 Yellowhammers. Two pairs of Grey Partridges were also mooching around, one of the birds being very blackish in colour. In the small pool at the base of the tip at least 120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were bathing - a Redshank was also calling from here though I couldn't see it. 3 Herring Gulls completed the gull line-up. In a field off Woodend Lane were 52 Carrion Crows!

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By Moat Lane lots of warblers were singing with 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs all trying out for this weekends Eurovision song contest. I know which I prefer! A male Great Spotted Woodpecker posed for photos while I was on the phone and the camera was in the car. A male Bullfinch was also showing nicely and 2 Grey Wagtails flew off the fishing pools. A Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were on the large pool and a Buzzard was perched in the bushes nearby. On the way home eight Corn Buntings were on the wires in Culcheth, four outside Holcroft Hall farm and four outside Hanging Birch farm.

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At HGF this evening over 90 Swallows were perched on the wires opposite the kennels - around 30 Swifts were in the air but few of the other hirundines! The male Corn Bunting was singing on the wires above the west hedge and single Oystercatcher and Redshank were present - the former in the field west of Midhops farm. 4 Yellow Wagtails were on the west bank, 2 females and a male with the fourth bird having its back to me before all were flushed by dog walkers - they didn't return. The drake Wigeon is still around and a single Black-necked Grebe was also in the middle of the pool. Yesterday a drake Pochard was around for the morning.

It's a mystery!

As Toyah once sang. The mystery is thus. On Sunday a drake Wigeon was found dead on the bank at HGF. On Monday morning I couldn't find the usual drake Wigeon at HGF - I didn't know about the dead bird at the time (I have subsequently seen it) and wasn't paying a lot of attention anyway. Monday evening a drake Wigeon was present and is still there today. So is the dead bird the drake that decided to remain from the winter flock? If so, where did the bird currently swimming around the pool come from? Or is the dead bird a stranger, and if so, where did it come from? Interesting eh!
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Not much to report. Pair of Yellow Wags on the pool yesterday and a single Black-necked Grebe on the water today. A mooch around Neumann's Flash on the way home this evening yielded surprisingly little although a Lesser Whitethroat was particularly noisy in a sheltered bit of hedge. A male Sparrowhawk paid a visit to the garden this evening. Working all week in N Wales this week so birding opportunities severely curtailed.

Homeward bound!

Wheatear, HGF

Whinchat, Pennington Flash

Channel Wagtail, HGF

Pendle Hill viewed from Lower Black Moss Reservoir

The river from Higher Hodder Bridge

Higher Hodder Bridge

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Yesterday saw me heading back home and a trip around the Pendle area. I do miss the hills - Winwick is a bit on the flat side! First pit stop was Higher Hodder Bridge which is a reliable site for Dippers. True to form a juvenile was hanging around upstream though no adults appeared. Wierd that Dippers were so commonplace when I was a kid in the brooks - now down in Cheshire its a bit of a rarity!

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Next stop was Moor Piece. As soon as I parked the car and got out I heard a Garden Warbler singing loudly. I tracked the bird down to the top of a Silver Birch were it was showing very openly - most unusual. In the time it took me to walk 50 yds for my camera the bird disappeared! On then to the target bird - Pied Flycatcher. The usual nest box nr the corner of Rabbit Lane is occupied again and the male was singing clearly in various trees around the nest site - but not showing too well. Just the odd glimpse as he flitted through the trees. Eventually better views were had, all too briefly, when he laned in the top of a conifer before flying off. Following this grey clouds appeared and a string wind and everything went silent!

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On then to Black Moss Reservoirs in the shadow of Pendle Hill. I knew there was a Dotterel on the top of Pendle but given the lousy weather conditions I wasn't tempted. After walking all the way around the lower reservoir there was no sign of the unseasonal red-head Smew that has been present for a few days. A birder descending from the upper reservoir had a similar tale - I then turned and suddenly caught sight of the Smew diving in the corner of the lower reservoir. Don't know how I missed it! The bird showed well for 20 mins or so in poor conditions and then just seemed to vanish! An adult Dipper was in the stream in Barley and 2 Curlews flew over calling.

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At HGF yesterday evening three Yellow Wags were present with one of them being the Channel Wagtail. The Corn Bunting was on the usual wires and a Sparrowhawk flew over the eastern treeline. One of the female Mallards was acting a bit grebe-like, carrying a duckling on her back!

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HGF this morning and the female Wheatear was present nr Midhops - the Channel Wagtail and his mate were also there. The resident pair of Yellow Wags were by the pool. I was knackered this morning and I couldn't be bothered driving to Plex Moss for the Dotterels so I decided on a mooch to Pennington. The highlights were a Whinchat on the ruck, a Lesser Whitethroat showing well and singing outside Horrocks Hide and an Arctic Tern over nr the yacht club. Oh and 2 Black-necked Grebes and a shed load of warblers!

Birding shifts

Redshank, HGF

Dunlins, HGF

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This morning at HGF the Swifts were everywhere with at least 70 birds present. There were, however, hardly any hirundines. This evening there were 40+ Sand Martins with a few Swallows and House Martins - but no Swifts! I have come to the conclusion that they must do shifts with the Swifts being on 6-2! It has been very windy today (just for a change!) - I'm sure we get more frequent windy days in recent years.

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A couple of Dunlins were present this morning - one largely in breeding plumage and the other with only a slight moult underway. When I tried to digiscope them, a Woodpigeon dive bombed them (don't ask me) and they flew off. The usual pair of Yellow Wagtails were on the west bank but no Black-necked Grebes today. The Corn Bunting was singing on the wires nr the farm and a Grey Partridge was asleep in the field nr Midhops. A Cormorant flew over this evening.

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I had a very quick mooch around Rixton at lunch. 18 Wheatears were in the fields between Prospect and Woodend Lanes with a few being Greenland race birds. A Grey Partridge and a Corn Bunting were the only other birds of note. On Moat Lane by the large pool eight singing Whitethroats were heard or seen with 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Sod all on the water.

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On the way home this evening a Yellow Wagtail was flitting around the entrance to Franks Farm in Culcheth - a Corn Bunting was also present. In Winwick this evening a pair of Linnets were the only birds of note in Waterworks Lane - they were messing around the farm machinery which seems to be a favourite area for many birds. On Highfield Lane a Buzzard was perched on the pylon. It watched me set up my scope and get ready to digiscope it before scarpering as I was about to press the shutter. Damned inconsiderate - I am going to write a letter of complaint to my M.P.!

Yank brightens up the day!

Pectoral Sandpiper, Hope Carr
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Winwick this morning - 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Grey Partridges in the field opposite the farm. At HGF this evening the male Corn Bunting was singing on the wires nr his favourite bush behind Myddleton Farm and the female Wheatear was in the field nr Midhops Farm. 2 male Yellow Wagtails were on the west bank and, surprisingly, were tolerating each others presence. 2 Black-necked Grebes still around with 2 Common Sandpipers and approximately 20 Swifts engaged in hedge hopping.
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Oh and there was a wierd yankee wader somewhere - but who would want to go and see that....

Brief birding

Not much to report today. Having assumed yesterday that the Black-necked Grebes had all flit, it was a bit of a surprise this morning to find 2 pairs back on the pool. Only the male Yellow Wag around today and no sign of Wheatear or Corn Bunting. A Buzzard was present this evening.
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On the way home from work in N Wales, a quick mooch around Frodsham yielded little - it was like a ghost town! Eventually I heard a Yellow Wag in a field by the road along the bottom of No. 6 tank - I eventually saw the bird. A Wheatear was present here with 5 Greenland race Wheatears in a group together in the next field. And that's all folks!

Rainy days and Tuesdays

Weather grim today and the weather forecast for the next week is so dire I might as well go and build an ark!
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This evening at Houghton Green Flash the male Channel Wagtail was back - feeding on the lawn in the south field. He is also now paired up with a flavissima female. I tried digiscoping, however the wind was blowing the scope all over the place. The resident pair of Yellow Wags soon appeared anyway and booted off the intruders. I later picked up the Channel and his mate in the SW corner of the pool, unfortunately they were flushed by a woman with a Spaniel. I hope they stick around, I have decided not to publicise their presence as breeding Yellow Wags may attract the wrong kind of attention.
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The last 2 Black-necked Grebes have now gone though they should be back in mid June. 12 of their Great Crested cousins were present with 16 Coots, 3 Tufted Ducks and 27 Mallards. The latter includes broods of 2 and 6. Elsewhere the usual suspects were all present. The male Corn Bunting was singing from the top of his little bush behind Myddleton Farm, the female Wheatear was in the field by Midhops, the male Whitethroat in the bushes by the road, the Billy-No-Mates drake Wigeon on the pool and the Oystercatcher wandering around like a lost part. Not so many hirundines but 3 Swifts present. A Kestrel and a Buzzard also flew over.
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At home Pete the Woodpigeon (Pij for short) is healing amazingly fast. It is only a week since it had big chunks carved out of its flanks and breast, however they have almost healed and the little blighter is keen to be off. I think it needs to be kept a bit longer until some flight feathers have regrown - I suspect it would still be an easy target for a Sparrowhawk.

Rainy days and Mondays...

Pallid Swift, Crosby Marina

Whimbrel, Seaforth

Little Ringed Plover, Seaforth

Little Gull (first summer), Seaforth

Sandwich Terns, Seaforth

Common Tern, Seaforth

Wheatear, Seaforth

Black-tailed Godwits, Seaforth

Orange Tip, Loggerheads CP

Speckled Wood, Houghton Green Flash

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Yesterday - 5am - Jonathan, Ste and myself set off for the Great Orme in the pouring rain. As Frank Sinatra once sang about an Ant - we had high hopes! Unfortunately it was cold, wet and windy and two and a half hours of scouring the rock yielded the best part of bugger all! Aside from a sprinkling of Wheatears and Mipits, the best birds were 4 Choughs, at least 4 Ravens, a couple of Gannets, a Fulmar and a male Stonechat. Oh and a singing Sedge Warbler - mustn't forget him! On the way over we had briefly stopped at Rhos Point and spotted 7 Gannets and 4 Fulmars.

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Over to plan B - except we didn't have one. After some discussion we decided to head over to Loggerheads CP hoping that there would be some more activity and also shelter from the wind in the trees. It was also very quiet - a few Chiffers and Blackcaps singing, a Nuthatch, a falcon calling which Jonathan ID'd as a Peregrine and a Marsh Tit which Ste spotted. A male Bullfinch was nearby and Siskins were heard calling. 2 Grey Wagtails were flitting around in the brook nr the car park and a Goldcrest put in an appearance nr the car park. From a migrants point of view it was a disappointing day, however I did really enjoy the company, the exercise and the walking. I clearly don't do enough of the latter.

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At HGF yesterday evening the Black-necked Grebes were back up to five birds. Two Common Sandpipers were also there. A male Sparrowhawk flew through the garden later on.

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This morning I had a quick mooch around the back lanes. Two pairs of Grey Partridges were showing on Waterworks Lane - one opposite the farm and one in the field on the bend. Two Yellowhammers also picked up - one in the field opposite the pylon on Waterworks and one in its usual spot on Highfield Lane. At the latter a male Peregrine was perched on top of the pylon for a few minutes before flying off to the south west. A Buzzard was perched in a nearby hedgrow and singing Whitethroats were on both lanes. Two Stock Doves were in the same field as the Yellowhammer.

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At HGF this morning there was only a pair of Black-necked Grebes present with the male Yellow Wagtail patrolling the bank in the SW corner. The Whitethroat is still singing in the bushes by the road and a Willow Warbler was singing behind the east hedge. The drake Wigeon is still around and all by itself - it tried following Mallards around for a while but I think they just ignored it. Three Oystercatchers were flying around making lots of noise. A Corn Bunting was also perched on the wires nr Myddleton Hall. Hirundines numbered:

50+ Swallow

6+ Sand Martin

5+ House Martin

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Mid morning and I finally caved in and headed off to Crosby for the Pallid Swift. When I finally caught up with the bird it flew right over my head, no more than 20 feet high! Pity the lighting conditions were shite - it was ironic that I couldn't pick up any detail on the bird when it was right above me, however I could see the ID features when it was distant over the water. Pallid Swifts normally occur around the Mediterranean Sea coasts. ID features are:

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Basically a brown bird with a greyish forehead and dark eye patch

Tail is short and forked
Long swept back wings
Large white throat patch

Underparts appear scaley

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Sepration from Common Swift is discussed here:

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http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=40368

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At Seaforth two Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 19 Black-tailed Godwits and 48 Dunlin comprised the wader presence. 27 Sandwich Terns and at least 49 Common Terns were also there, along with 4 first summer Little Gulls. We did have a mooch for the Black Redstart that was reported but to no avail. 13 Wheatears and at least 30 White Wagtails were flitting around on the long bank.

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This evening and another trip to HGF in the rain. In the field by Midhops Farm were 2 Grey Partridges and a Wheatear. 2 Redshanks flew high off the pool, calling, and headed east. A Buzzard flew over and a Swift put in an appearance while both Yellow Wagtails appeared in the SW corner. A domestic ensued which resulted in the female flitting over to their favourite feeding spot - the "lawn" in the south field. The male disappeared - presumably down the pub!!! On the way home I noticed that the Corn Bunting was perched in the top of a low growing bush at the back of the field below Myddleton Farm. This bush is completely isolated - I regularly spotted a male Corn Bunting singing from the top of this bush last year. Maybe the same bird?

Murder!

Female Mallard in south field at HGF.

Common Sandpiper, HGF.

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A visit to HGF this evening and I noticed the dead female Mallard in the south field. Later I happened to talk to two people who witnessed her demise. Some arrogant, ignorant tosser had turned up with a leggy, black, Spaniel type dog that he couldn't control. The dog came across the Mallard with her brood of ducklings and promptly nailed the youngsters, leaving them dead on the bank. It then attacked and killed the mother - its owner ws quite happy to walk all the way round the pool with the dead Mallard being carried by his dog. It's probably a good job I wasn't there as I suspect I would now be facing a murder charge! There is a reason why I become more antisocial as I get older.

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Little Owl was playing out this afternoon on Lady Lane.