BBQ.

One or two Bowland Birds of Quality seen yesterday, though there were some blank spells, not least when I walked the length of track from Tower Lodge up by the plantation and back - a thirty minute crawl - and saw not a single bird but heard one Chaffinch, and in the entire 7 hours birding I heard not a solitary Willow Warbler let alone saw one, found no Redstart, and heard no Cuickoo.

But it was good to find 4 Stonechat on Hawthornthwaite Fell, seen as two pair with no evidence of breeding. Up to 12 Sand Martin were flying up and down Hawthornthwaite Greave were I saw a Grey Wagtail, also 6 Meadow Pipit, a Mistle Thrush, and a Wren, a Buzzard with a couple of primaries missing, was the only raptor seen all day. 

Siskin Noushka @ 1000-Pattes 

At Marshaw, a pair of Siskin and 2 Spotted Flycatcher were around the plantation. Birds seen along the length of the Marshaw Wyre to Trough Bridge, 4 Common Sandpiper two of which appeared to be a pair, 6 Grey Wagtail, and a Dipper.

Redpoll. Howard Stockdale. 

In the Tower Lodge area, male Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Redpoll, and a Coal Tit. A female Stonechat seen from the start of the track towards Winfold Fell was the first I've ever seen here in many visits, a Red Admiral and Orange Tip were the only two butterflies seen. 

Many thanks to Noushka and Howard for their excellent Finches, I appreciate them.

The birding bus for a tour around the Lune Estuary leaves in 5 minutes!