Greetings And Good News.

A Very Happy Christmas To Everyone 🎅

To the many followers of B2B - up to 100 every publication - can I offer a sincere thank you for the support which generates the encouragement for me to 'keep up the good work' as I am often told to do.

Also, many thanks to the dedicated photographers - their work is always credited - who take such an interest in the blog, that they regularly supply excellent images to brighten up the pages, always adding interest, colour, and often including some drama.

Excellent News From Cumbria.

I recently read a couple of articles that give hope for the future of our local wildlife, which we are often told is rapidly going down the pan worldwide. I don't think either of these articles could be regarded as spectacular, but they are both positive in nature....Excuse the pun!

Pied Flycatcher. Howard Stockdale.

There has been the best Pied Flycatcher breeding season in a decade in an area of the Lake District National Park, were in early summer a count of 29 singing males was recorded, this number brought about the suggestion that there was a population of up to 60 pairs.

Some habitat management work had been carried out at the Hawsewater RSPB Reserve, involving the clearing of holly that blocks out the light, this also allowed plants, and insects as a food source, to flourish.

Given the Pied Flycatcher returns to breed here in the UK every summer from West Africa, this is a joyful tale of success about one of my personal favourites, along with it's cousin, the Spotted Flycatcher.

Peat Bog Hawsewater. Lee Scholfield.

The other piece of excellent news from Hawsewater, is that a peat bog is to be restored to help wildlife, when a team of thirty soldiers will lend engineering skills and collective strength to re-wet this not easy to access area.

Thanks to Brian Rafferty for the header with a seasonal feel and appropriately suited for a birding blog.