BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND................................................................................................................LITTLE OWL MARTIN JUMP

Tuesday 21 May 2013

B is for Blackpool!

One of John Leedals excellent quotes was thrown at me one day at a lonely upland location which we had to ourselves and I made a comment about the tranquillity of places like this when he proclaimed in the name of solitude....'Thank Goodness For Blackpool'.


Redstart with food
Redstart Brian Rafferty  

But yesterdays B was for Barbondale - something of a birding hotspot - where I made my second visit this year primarily to keep a check on the Pied Flycatcher. But the result was a little disappointing as I connected with just three birds - two pairs on 30 April - with a female evading me today and only two pairs nesting here which accounts for the disappointment as I had hoped for an increase on the visit three weeks ago.

Brilliant Redstart image Brian, Thank You.  

Cuckoo Marc Heath

A Cuckoo here was excellent and my first this year. Brilliant Cuckoo image Marc, Thank You. 


Green Woodpecker. Andrei Stroe.

A Green Woodpecker gave excellent views with at least 8 Redstart, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Reed Bunting, and 2 Kestrel. I saw/heard only about 8 Willow Warbler, and just two butterflies both being Peacock

Not the most rewarding of visits here, and just as important to record birds not seen - though expected to be - as it is those seen. I was amazed that given I spent 6 hours here yesterday covering a large surrounding area, I saw not one Wheatear which is often seen in double figures here, no Whinchat, Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher, or even a Dipper or Common Sandpiper on Barbon Beck.

5 comments:

  1. you caught him eating a snack

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would have been quite happy with the birds you did see. I still haven't had a clear view of a Green Woodpecker yet. Grandma has a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart nesting at her house, so I am hoping to see them next week when I go for the half term holidays. Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I have been having lots of SATS exams at school. From Findlay

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like Findlay, Pete, I'd have been delighted to have seen the birds you did see. You found some superb images to illustrate this post with!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Peter.. fantastics birds.. Have a nice weekend..

    ReplyDelete
  5. Adam/Findlay/Richard/Ana....Just to say a big thank you for looking in and taking the time to comment.

    I'll try to keep the blog alive if only for the four of you.

    ReplyDelete