Spring Is Sprung!

With a good weather forecast for Friday, the plan was that I got into Bowland on a sunny early April day, and it was good to get out of the motor and on to Harrisend again for the first time since 26 January.

Harrisend produced my first record of 6 Stonechats on territory on 24 March 2022, with the same number seen again 5 days later on 29 April. But in large areas here today, hopes of any birds were dashed by the sight of grazing sheep. But all hope wasn't lost, although a bit of a struggle I did eventually find 3 Stonechat in sheep free areas, so there is a realistic possibility of 2 pairs here this year so far, hopefully with more to come, but I'm hoping the sheep are going to be driven off here soon....wishful thinking!

It was a nice surprise to find a smart male Wheatear, which I took to be the same individual seen 3 hours later on the return leg. At least 21 Meadow Pipit (34 seen on 29 April 2022) noted as a common breeder. Also noted as a common bird in the uplands of Bowland were 6 Wren all heard only. I heard just one Curlew here, and noted a Reed Bunting and 2 Red Grouse, with just one raptor seen, being a Kestrel over the ridge.

At Hawthornthwaite, 5 Stonechat seen, so probably three pairs here to date, at least 14 Sand Martin in flight up and down Catshaw Grieve, 13 Meadow Pipit was one less for my count in April 2022, 3 Wren, 2 Red Grouse. As at Harrisend, just one Curlew seen, in flight and singing its evocative and distinctive rippling trill. A Buzzard and Kestrel were the only raptors seen.

Spring is sprung!  

Now we are into the second week of April and Stonechat migration is at an end, upland records are of birds on territory. But whilst mine on Harrisend and Hawthornthwaite are obvious breeders, three lowland sites on the Fylde and North Merseyside this April are unknowns to me as breeding sites. But whilst I wait to see updates of annual reports, I read a pair bred at Freshfield Dune Heath, three pairs at Cabin Hill, and five pairs at Marton Mere WWT in 2022. So does that mean two birds seen yesterday at Wesham Marsh on the Fylde are likely to be a pair of this years lowland breeders?

And Finally.

I have info regarding Common Sandpiper and 2 pairs of Grey Wagtail on the Marshaw Wyre at Marshaw on Friday, and it was great to see 3 Raven high over our urban Lancaster garden on Saturday.

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Todays Rant.

I'd like to use B2B as a platform for publicity about some vandalism obviously caused by the few who like to get that little bit closer to the action, with better views of birds and photographs on Conder Pool.

Investigations about this vandalism on the south side of the pool, showed there had been an opening cut in the Elder tree, and fencing was broken to gain access. The damage has since been repaired and blocked, but you do wonder whether or not the protection of Schedule 1 species - of which Conder Pool does have and has had many in the past - really matters to these people....Here's hoping it does.