More '09 Snippet's.

But first of all, many thanks to Simon Hawtin for allowing me to begin the post with two excellent images of the Fieldfare in his garden including the one with the bird checking out the possible dangers overhead.

MAY.

1st. Heard a Cuckoo on Birk Bank only briefly. At Abbeystead 2 Pied Flycatcher males seen.

7th. 3 Arctic Skua were on the sea on the Lune Estuary a few mtrs upstream off Plover Scar .

11th. At Barbondale a pair and a singing male Pied Flycatcher, a Wood Warbler, pair of Whinchat, and 8 Stonechat were all to note.

12th. Spotted Flycatcher in the Tower Lodge area in the Trough of Bowland.

18th. A Fulmar lingering off the headland here and a Reed Warbler in song at Conder Green.

19th. An Arctic Tern  on the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock I think was the only one I saw here all summer. A female Whinchat on Jeremy Lane.

26th Spotted Flycatcher at Abbeystead Church.

28th. At Barbondale 3 Tree Pipit was my maximum here this summer.

29th. A Woodchat Shrike was behind Tower Lodge, a Cuckoo was at Langden Beck, and a Tawny Owlet gave excellent views roosting at Stoops Bridge Abbeystead.

30th. Painted Lady day with the mass influx giving me a count of at least 150 On Clougha/Birk Bank in c.4 hours.

31st. Three 1st summer Little Gulls from the Eric M'cbe hide at Leighton Moss.

JUNE.

1st. Ten Whinchat was an excellent count in the Cross of Greet/Bloe Greet area in a summer which proved poor for Stonechat here. A Cuckoo, 2 Raven, and a stunning male Hen Harrier seen. And with gratitude to a landowner permitting me access to his private woodland I found Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, and Tawny Owl.

2nd. Tower Lodge area, a Cuckoo heard.

4th. A Pair of Pied Flycatcher at Barbondale and a pair of Whinchat.

5th. The Abbeystead Pied Flycatchers were now feeding young at a natural nest hole.

8th. At Harrisend 12 Stonechat included 5 young, 2 Redpoll were in the lone Hawthorn here. An adult Common Sandpiper was with a young bird at Marshaw where a male Hen Harrier was seen, and 5 Stonechat included 3 juveniles.

9th. Five adult Common Sandpiper were at Marshaw. In the Lowgill area Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, and a Blackcap were seen.

15th. In the Clougha/Birk Bank area 20 Stonechat, 2 Garden Warbler, and 2 Raven. Over the bog here 2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary seen.

16th. On Conder Pool a pair of Little-ringed Plover and a young bird seen.

22nd. On Conder Pool 2 adult, a young, and a juvenile Little-ringed Plover seen today.

23rd. An adult and 2 young Little-ringed Plover seen today. The LRP's on Conder Pool confused John Bateman and I all this summer.

26th. At Aldcliffe 5 Raven were noted.

29th. An excellent count of 15 Whinchat included 4 juveniles, 5 Stonechat, and 5 Raven were also of note......

......and the year was already an excellent birding one for me.

Today 3 Song Thrush in our humble and small walled garden are unprecedented......you just don't get Song Thrush in little gardens in Bowerham Lancaster unless you have the ice-age return, talking of which the tragedy is now beginning to unfold with two Kingfisher found dead on the River Lune in Lancaster.