A brilliant calm sunny day on Thursday had me off to Bowland for a better day than my last visit here just over a month ago on 20 January when all I chalked up was a measly seven bird species in 4.5 hours - yes, seven species in 4.5 hours - on the very same trundle as today when I took notes of a slightly better 18 species, this time in 5 hours. So, if you have a good memory, you don't really need pen and paper to write down your sightings on a birding trip to Bowland.
But my day on Thursday started off in fine style when, as I got to the access track to Hawthornthwaite, a bird whizzed across my path to perch on a fence post, it was a smart male Stonechat about two minutes into my day. As I wandered of up the track I was muttering to myself about wanting to find another one, and about three quarters to the summit, another smart male Stonechat, so two winter Stonechat on Hawthornthwaite....nice.
Three Red Grouse and a Pheasant were the only other birds I saw on Hawthornthwaite to add to the list of 18 for the day.
As I started off from Marshaw to Tower Lodge, one of the two Song Thrush I saw was in excellent voice, the brilliant songster can just be seen as a dot atop of this tall tree and was a delight to hear. The Lapwings are on territory in fields by Marshaw Farm, and a Buzzard was overhead, 6 Mistle Thrush were seen along the way, and 18 Fieldfare were a pleasant surprise. Up the track from Tower Lodge, as seen, a Nuthatch, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, and a Robin.
But the day went downhill from here, on the weather scene the day went cloudy and dull, and on the bird scene a wander north from Tower Lodge to Trough Bridge and on towards the track to Winfold Fell unbelievably produced not a single bird in two hours save 6 Red Grouse seen at a distance on the fell.
Bringing up the rear for the 18 species on the day....Chaffinch, Starling, and Wood Pigeon, with 6 Mallard on the Marshaw Wyre. Like I said....no pen and paper needed on upland birding.
Thanks for the Pheasant Noushka, and to Warren for the Song Thrush header, both excellent and much appreciated.
But my day on Thursday started off in fine style when, as I got to the access track to Hawthornthwaite, a bird whizzed across my path to perch on a fence post, it was a smart male Stonechat about two minutes into my day. As I wandered of up the track I was muttering to myself about wanting to find another one, and about three quarters to the summit, another smart male Stonechat, so two winter Stonechat on Hawthornthwaite....nice.
Pheasant. Noushka Dufort @ 1000-Pattes
Three Red Grouse and a Pheasant were the only other birds I saw on Hawthornthwaite to add to the list of 18 for the day.
But the day went downhill from here, on the weather scene the day went cloudy and dull, and on the bird scene a wander north from Tower Lodge to Trough Bridge and on towards the track to Winfold Fell unbelievably produced not a single bird in two hours save 6 Red Grouse seen at a distance on the fell.
Bringing up the rear for the 18 species on the day....Chaffinch, Starling, and Wood Pigeon, with 6 Mallard on the Marshaw Wyre. Like I said....no pen and paper needed on upland birding.
Thanks for the Pheasant Noushka, and to Warren for the Song Thrush header, both excellent and much appreciated.
18 species ! Very sad reflection on the state of the uplands Pete :-(
ReplyDeleteThought there might have been Coal Tit,Dipper,Pied and Grey Wagtail Pete.
ReplyDeleteWarren....The last couple of hours up here which I mentioned in the post, not a single bird heard nor seen. Think about that, its a two mile distance in the same number of hours to add to the previous two hours spent in this area, during which I shouldn't have failed to connect with the four species Martin mentions, plus at least another four species I really should have seen, quite unbelievable but true, first hand experience of birds which are 'missing'.
ReplyDeleteMartin....See above with thanks.