I like to keep my eye on things in the early summer at Barbondale and made my second visit there this year on Thursday in weather more reminiscent of March with grey skies, a cold wind still blowing, and not a glimpse of sun to be seen....this can't possibly be good for breeding birds.
I marked up 23 species in the three enjoyable and rewarding hours I spent there, most notable was 3 Pied Flycatcher seen as a pair and a lone female, though I suspect there was more evading me as my next visit might hopefully prove, the visit on 7 May produced three pair. Also of note, I found 5 Redstart including a female, and probably heard another three singing males, at least 10 Willow Warbler were seen/heard, 2 Nuthatch included one entering a tree hole, 2 Dunnock, a Treecreeper, Goldcrest, and a number of Chaffinch are notable here this year. A Dipper was on Barbon Beck where several Swallow were hawking accompanied by a lone Sand Martin.
I marked up 23 species in the three enjoyable and rewarding hours I spent there, most notable was 3 Pied Flycatcher seen as a pair and a lone female, though I suspect there was more evading me as my next visit might hopefully prove, the visit on 7 May produced three pair. Also of note, I found 5 Redstart including a female, and probably heard another three singing males, at least 10 Willow Warbler were seen/heard, 2 Nuthatch included one entering a tree hole, 2 Dunnock, a Treecreeper, Goldcrest, and a number of Chaffinch are notable here this year. A Dipper was on Barbon Beck where several Swallow were hawking accompanied by a lone Sand Martin.
Plan for the day was to go on to Clapham and the Newby Moor area where I've not visited for a couple of years as a previous Stonechat stronghold prior to the two harsh winters starting in 2009/10. But the weather on Thursday held back my enthusiasm for a visit, so I abandoned the idea for another day.
Two Of A Kind.
Two Of A Kind.
Stonechat Brian Rafferty
Jay Gary Jones
Two 'I can't resist these' in flight shots, both in the 'brilliant' category, the Stonechat with thanks to BR, and the Jay with thanks to GJ. Thanks also to Ana for the excellent Nightingale header, one of which isn't likely to turn up anytime soon up here i'nt north.
All good birds you've highlighted there Pete. I'm off to wales in a weeks time, so might get to photograph some of these species for myself ;-)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant two in flight, nice one Pete.
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