Harrisend And Lady's Day.

It's over nine weeks since I went on Harrisend Fell 22 April to find no Stonechat. Prior to the April visit I had been on Harrisend on 9 August last year, since when my upland birding has been drastically curtailed for reasons beyond my control. But never mind all that....  

On my latest visit last week, I had just stepped on to the track when I heard two distant clicking pebbles, and soon locked on to a nice male Stonechat. It was a sign of things to come, if only because four more birds followed later, not a remarkable result for three hours, but....mustn't grumble.

I didn't make a count, but at least 30 Meadow Pipit seen, also 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackbird, 3 Mistle Thrush, and a Buzzard. Butterflies seen, 14 Painted Lady and 9 Small Heath.

Broad-bodied Chaser Birk Bank. Pete Woodruff.

The plan now was to go to Hawthornthwaite, but a road closure put an end to that idea, so off I went to Birk Bank on a dragonfly hunt....Not a roaring success, but almost one hour staring at the bog - no jokes please - had at least one Broad-bodied Chaser, and a Four-spotted Chaser. Birds seen, a singing male and a female Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, a Song Thrush, and juvenile Robin. Butterflies seen, 4 Painted Lady and a Red Admiral, and by a coincidence later in our garden, the same number of 4 Painted Lady and a Red Admiral.

Painted Lady. Cheryl Woodruff.

My tally to date stands at 34 Painted Lady butterflies since the first one seen on 16 June, the influx gathers pace. No apologies for the third image in a row, this one on our garden Hebe....Thanks Cheryl.