Langden Valley.

The perfect calm and sunny day on Wednesday for a wander up the Langden Valley to Sykes Fell.

Langden Brook Towards Sykes Fell. Pete Woodruff.

As I got out of the car, a Siskin obliged by briefly coming onto the branch of a conifer, a Common Sandpiper was soon seen on Langden Brook. Along the loop of this 4 hour walk I noted, a disappointing lone male Stonechat, a moderate count of just 12 Meadow Pipit, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Wren, 2 Grey Wagtail, and a Mistle Thrush. 

Male Ring Ouzel. Jan Larson @ Vingspann

  
A buzz for me kicked in when I saw a distant male Ring Ouzel perched on a post on a ridge above me, the male flew off soon to see a female on the same post, some interaction took place out of my view below the back side of the ridge, with the birds alternating perching on the post, I was observing some behaviour at a nest site.

Insects of note, a Painted Lady was my first this year, 2 Small Heath, the beautiful plain orange upper of which is rarely seen at rest, and a Green Tiger Beetle, a vicious little winged predator which can move at speed up to 60cm per second on bare ground, they build a burrow and ambush ground-living insects such as ants. 

The Sykes Farm House Martin. 

On Friday 3 June 2016, I counted up to 50 House Martin nests at Sykes Farm in Bowland.

Sykes Farm Bowland. Pete Woodruff. 

On Wednesday I paid a return visit to the farm, spoke to the farmer Mr Robinson to remind him of our meeting last year and the nests in the property at the farm, he kindly renewed permission for me to look around. Again I found the House Martin nests and established at least 30 House Martin at 12-15 nests occupied this year, though despite visiting the rear of the building I saw no activity at around 10 nests there.  

On my way back to Lancaster I called in at Stoops Bridge in Abbeystead to find a pair of Spotted Flycatcher, the birds were active with breeding territory behaviour and I took note of the nest hole at the top of a dead tree. Other birds noted, 2 Robin, a Blackbird, Coal Tit, and Blue Tit. 

Many thanks Jan Larsson for the Ring Ouzel, and to Paul Foster for the Wood Warbler header seen recently Moor Piece Nature Reserve