Touring the Trough!

Langden Valley

Meadow Pipit, Langden Valley

Wheatear, LV

Tawny Owl, Halton

Roe Deer, Caton

Common Sandpiper, Halton

Snipe, PF

Little Ringed Plover, PF

Little Owl, Croft. My digiscoping camera started mis-focusing again when both owls were perched up side by side - it suddenly fixed itself just in time to capture the second owl returning to its hole. Bloody technology!

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Saturday was technically a non-birding day though I did see some good stuff. In the afternoon I walked along the prom from Heysham village to Morecambe (lots of money spent on the prom - it's a bit good) at low tide. Around one of the rocky outcrops around 95 Eiders had congregated while just off shore a single Sandwich Tern was fishing. At the van the usual stuff was in evidence - a flock of around 40 mixed finches flew over and disappeared before I could determine what was there!

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Late evening I had a wander with Billy down by the Lune at Halton. I love this stretch of river - always something to see and very pleasant to walk around. There is something very calming about this kind of river. The usual Chiffchaffs had been joined by a Willow Warbler while an immature Heron fished a small pool at the side of the river. A drake Goosander was loafing around nearby while on the opposite shoreline were 2 Common Sandpipers. I wandered up to the small wood and was immediately struck by the racket from several thrush species. I knew they had to be mobbing something - the something turned out to be a Tawny Owl. The owl eventually tired of the racket and moved - curiously to a more visisble perch though the thrushes then left it alone.

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Wandering back down the river I spotted five Goosanders flying up river, the usual Grey Wags and then a pair of Dippers that were preening on rocks just below the weir. It was a very pleasant walk - when I got back to the van the resident Tawny Owl flew over - my second of the evening!

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This morning I woke up, looked out of the window and saw a small flock of Meadow Pipits in the field behind the van. I trawled through them looking for something rarer but to no avail. I then loaded Bill into the car and headed off for the Trough, collecting a Roe buck and several Red Grouse along the way.

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First stop was Marshaw. A single Lesser Redpoll was climbing around in a tree by the car park. I then walked up through the small conifer stand and stood by the gate to the grazing land. It was deserted at first - then a Raven started cronking so I stood there for a while to see what would turn up. A few Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff began singing, then three Lesser Redpolls landed in the nearest conifer. I watched them and followed them through the bins as they flew off -scanning right of their tree I noticed a bird perched in the top of the next tree. It was a cracking male Redstart. I watched this bird for about a minute before the option of digiscoping occurred to me. By the time I had set my scope up it had gone and I couldn't relocate it.

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A female Sparrowhawk flew over shortly afterwards and then four pipits began flying around. Curiously they were not calling. They eventually landed on a distant fenceline and I managed to scope them and confirmed they were Tree Pipits. Marvellous start to the day!

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I then headed off to my main destination for the day - Langden Valley. It was a beautiful morning by the time I arrived. I walked down the path through the larches and at least 10 Lesser Redpolls were buzzing around the tops of the trees. I also found a Goldcrest and a Kestrel flew over. Eventually the path emerged out into the valley - the place is stunning! I watched a Wheatear on some rocks by the stream, a male Stonechat showing off and a Coal Tit building a nest in a dry stone wall. Meadow Pipits were everywhere and at least 6 Willow Warblers were singing. On the way up I saw no sign of my target bird, Ring Ouzel, though at the "castle" I found quite a few birders already line up and watching something.

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The something in this case turned out to be a pair of Hen Harriers. They had disappeared by the time I arrived, however a Peregrine (probable male) flew over and then a male Hen Harrier gave a good flying display at the head of the valley. One lady called a Kestrel flying along the hillside. I got onto it and immediately thought Merlin - the little falcon came closer and the ID was confirmed. I had a natter with a nice bloke from Accrington called Andrew Bates and headed back down the valley with him. Andrew had seen two male Ring Ouzels on the way up.

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Approx half way down a larger Peregrine (probable female) flew low over and then I heard an unfamiliar call and we both turned round to see a male Ring Ouzel fly over and then round the hillside in front. It appeared to drop into the gulley where Andrew had seen the birds earlier so we were both optimistic on re-finding it. Unfortunately the mountain Blackbirds had other ideas and that was my only sighting for the day. Beautiful day and breathtaking countryside - can't wait to go back up there for another mooch!