Back to Brockholes

Another walk round Brockholes to familiarise myself with the site. We started off to the sound of a skylark interrupted by a single redshank calling and flying nearby. As we reached the river we heard the chattering of sand martins and then saw about half a dozen over the river.Walking through the plantation one of our party spotted a song thrush anvil with several snail shells scattered by it. On to the Ribble Way where amongst the chaffinch we heard and saw a tree sparrow. One added flower in bloom compared to last week was opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage. The chiffchaff said hello and in reply another first time song - blackcap. Through the woods and on to Nook pond where a Barnacle Goose had joined the Canada Geese. It was a beautiful sunny day which brought out a few Peacock Butterflies

On arrival back at the offices I also spotted another first flowering plant. Ivy leaved Toadflax

First day of spring

I started off looking for dipper at Kem Mill on Cuerden and was delighted to find them.Then to CVP HQ where we inspected the sheep. New lambs everywhere including this newborn
Then to Brockholes for a look round. Chaffinch, Colt's foot,skylark and reed bunting were spotted fairly soon and then when we entered the woods we saw wood sorrel and wood anemone. There was also some hairy bittercress and then the unmistakeable song of the chiffchaff. Great spotted woodpecker and long-tailed tits were also seen in this area. As we arrived at the open water we heard and saw Canada geese, coot and mallard. Further out still were goldeneye, lapwing, gadwall great crested grebe, cormorant, tufted duck and whooper swans. In some of the quieter edges we saw lots of frog spawn

Sunny Bleasedale

I went to Bleasedale village Hall for a brown hare training course. Driving up the road towards the school, I had to slow down to avoid some red legged partridge. The feeding station by the hall was packed with blue tits, coal tits, chaffinch and the occasional greenfinch.

 After some instruction about hares we set off on a walk to Fairsnape Farm and back. The early spring sunshine made it an ideal day for observing any wildlife.A few pairs of lapwing were displaying and a flock of about 80 starlings kept flying over. We saw several hares, most were running but two or three were squatting down which made it difficult to see them. We had lunch at Fairsnape as well as being interviewed by Stephen Lowe of Radio Lancashire. As we set off after lunch a sparrowhawk flashed past, but we didn't see what it was after. More lapwing and a pair of redshank kept us alert but the walk ended without any more new sightings.

March begins

2nd March I had a walk round the lake to see if there was any progress with arrivals. Two great Crested Grebe were having a courtship dance, but keeping away from the Canada geese, the mallards and the coots. On the trees surrounding the lake, long tailed tits, mistle thrush and nuthatch were very audible

3rd March another walk round Kem Mill. The dippers were busy nest building and the male grey wagtail was displaying so much, it seemed his chest would burst. Other birds in the area song thrush, great spotted woodpecker drumming, lots of wrens, and several blackbirds

Feb 22 and 28 at Kem Mill

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Early morning check at Kem Mill revealed little river activity until I saw the mink on the opposite bank of the Lostock. On the lodge there were a few mallard, moorhen and coot. Generally around I saw pheasant,wren, goldfinch, mallard, sparrowhawk, mistle thrush singing and long tailed tit. A goldcrest, bravely drinking at the river edge was a joy to watch

At Woodend there were still the 20+ bramblings, some bullfinch and a few siskin

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I started doing some litter picking and noted colt's foot out in flower. Continuing down stream I heard the unmistakable piping of a kingfisher and was excited to hear another kingfisher respond. I stayed as still as I could and was rewarded by seeing both birds fly upstream together. A little further on were a pair of grey wagtail and near where I had parked my car two dippers

Mink and Merlin

I did my regular walk in the Kem Mill area of Cuerden and the first thing I saw was a mink on the west bank. I continued down stream and heard pheasant, several wrens, goldfinch, mallard, greenfinch, and blackbird. A sparrowhawk soon caused alarm amongst all the other birds with Jays and blackbirds making most of the noise. Moorhen, magpie and long-tailed tits were present but the dog mercury for which I was searching was still not in flower. There was however a daffodill just exposing its trumpet to announce spring. A dipper was also on the river. At Woodend there were several siskin and at least 20 bramblings.
Later in the day I visited RSPB Hesketh Outmarsh. Shelduck were the overwhelming bird species present with a few mallard, curlew, linnet and wigeon. Raptors seen were Marsh Harrier, merlin and a kestrel by the car park. Large clouds of waders were too distant to recognise except for the lapwing flock, ( I still do not have my scope). The cold was just getting to my bones when I was delighted to see the bird I had come to find - tyto alba

Biodiversity

I have just been to Northampton for the A Rocha UK 10th anniversary conference. We did take a break and had a walk in the nearby Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Mainly birds but someone did see a fox and the inevitable grey squirrel. Collared dove, goldfinch, greenfinch and scores of crows and woodpigeon were our first group of avian observation. We passed a field with several yellow meadow ant mounds, so were not surprised to hear the unmistakeable yaffle of the green woodpecker. A flock gulls nearby on the field contained common and black headed, some of which had their heads just starting to change to dark chocolate brown. As we were scanning the higher trees for a successful view of a great spotted woodpecker a lesser black backed gull passed in front of our binoculars. A song thrush was getting in some good practice and a goldcrest tested our patience by being elusive. Signs of spring were also evident botanically with snowdrops and lesser celandine being observed. Our break passed too quickly and we returned to our venue for a hot cup of tea. .