Arrivals & Departure's

A Walk up Widdop/Walshaw/Gorple today produced a pair of Wheatear in fields near the Ridge pub, my first migrant arrivals. The entire walk produced c120 Fieldfare in 4 seperate flocks the biggest c70 birds.

Elsewhere lots of Mipits and Curlew along with min 10 Oystercatcher (seen together) others were seen but could well have been part of this group. 3 pairs of Pied Wagtails, 2 calling Little Owl, 1 seen, 1 heard only - definately seperate birds.

2 pairs of Stonechat, a single Grey Heron, too many Canada Geese, numerous Mallard and a lone male Goldeneye on top Walshaw.

Surprisingly only 1 Skylark was heard all day.

7 Red grouse were also seen as were numerous male pheasants (females nowhere to be seen - sitting on eggs perhaps?)

A Pair of kestrels hunting together clearly indicating no egg laying there just yet, a lone male Sparrowhawk perhaps suggesting the opposite to be true with this species.