The Grand Finale.

Croasdale. Copy Permitted.

A nine mile walk on Thursday with Fylde birder Barry Dyson took us from the 'can't be bad' £1.90 for 11 hours car park at Slaidburn, to go along the Roman Road and on to Hornby Road on Croasdale Fell which resulted in a disappointing no Stonechat or Whinchat seen in an almost four hour search. It's experiences like this which have me come to realise first hand just how much some of our birds have seriously declined, particularly as in this case of the Whinchat.

Redstart Jan Larsson

On the pleasant walk from Slaidburn through the lanes and fields towards the fells, all started well with 3 Redstart, two seen in a wooded area at Procters Farm, and a third male singing close by. Also of note on this outward and inward section of the walk, a Nuthatch, Willow Warbler, 3 Wren including one carrying food, 3 Dunnock, and 2 Song Thrush, Swallows were in and out of the farm buildings and Swift seen.

On the fell, I noted at least 25 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Linnet, and a Raven high over the ridge. Raptors were represented by 3 Buzzard, a Kestrel, and a Peregrine Falcon which was distant and perched on a shooting butt....a little irony there I thought. The only butterfly of note all day was a Green-veined White.

Ring Ouzel Brian Rafferty  

A decision to return home via Cross of Greet was an excellent idea and brought about a Grand Finale when a pair of Ring Ouzel were seen as viewed from the cattle grid at White Greet, also an excellent group of 6 Stonechat were seen as two male and four female/juvenile, two seen a few minutes later were not necessarily of the same group of six, but some movement by all these birds made it difficult to be sure. Also 2 Wheatear seen in the 15 minutes spent at this location.

Many thanks to Jan and Brian for the excellent photographs in this post, and to Gary for the equally excellent new header, all very much appreciated. 

The Moth.  

Moth. Pete Woodruff.

This daytime flying moth flew into our kitchen yesterday. I released it back outside immediately I had taken a shot of it, but I'm afraid it's ID is outside my comfort zone....anyone?