The Penultimate Visit.

I'll probably visit Barbondale just once more this summer as its one of many places I get drawn to rather easily. I'll immediately record having see no Stonechats here again today and I'll be keeping a beady eye on the websites to see if anyone else can unearth one here or anywhere else for that matter, but....

Stonechat. Richard Shilling.  

I do have a decent photograph of a male Stonechat taken by Richard who's 'Landart' I often take pleasure in showcasing on Birds2blog and will be doing so again soon. This photograph is actually a part of the confirmation of just two pair on Birk Bank with none seen so far on Clougha this year. Thanks for this Richard....nice one!

I gave Barbondale a good six hours again today - nothing new there then - and did achieve a good part of why I went there in finding another one of our 'mega' summer visitors a male Whinchat to add to the pair seen again from the path towards the plantation, though this male bird is the one found on 20 May which I'd suggest is singing on hopefully to attract a female but I'd say its luck was out. Another good achievement today was to confirm the female Pied Flycatcher feeding young at the nest with no sign of the male, also noted 2 Spotted Flycatcher seen as a pair, 4 Redstart seen as two pair, three pair is the total I've seen here this year, 9 Wheatear, 16 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Robin, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Green Woodpecker heard, and....ALELLUIA a family party of at least eight Blue Tits to which I must add a noticeable absence of 'tits' at Barbondale this year. Non bird interest was fourteen butterflies being, 12 Small Heath, and 2 Common Blue, also 2 Golden-ringed Dragonflies seen. I noticeably didn't see Dipper or Grey Wagtail here today.

And finally....

Stonechat. Peter Guy.  

Another decent photograph of the female Stonechat....thanks for this Peter.