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!