Widdop/Gorple/Blake Dean/Crags

A trip upto to Widdop Res and a walk back produced some highlights and some lows

Widdop Res

Willow Warbler singing 11
Reed Bunting 4 males 2 Females
Common Sandpiper 2
Whinchat singing Male and a female
Greylag Goose 4

Low point NO Stonechats last year I had 3 pairs which all raised young.

Up and Over to Upper Gorple on the way had 2 Skylarks (the only ones seen anywhere).

Upper Gorple - nothing other than some fly through LBB Gulls, the top plantation produced 3 singing Willow Warblers, the middle plantation produced a further 2.

Lower Gorple

Willow Warbler singing 4
Tufted Duck 3 males 2 females
Curlew 4
Lapwing 6
Red grouse 1
Siskin 2 males 1 female
Common Sandpiper 1
Redpoll 1
Wheatear 1 female

Blake Dean

Tree Pipit 2 still singing from the telegraph wires
Willow Warbler min 3

Hardcastle Crags

Grey Wagtail 1
Dipper 2 Adult birds and 3 Hatchlings still in the nest and being fed.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 heard
Goldcrest 1
Willow Warblers (at this point I lost count - no problems with these birds at the moment)
Spotted Flycatcher 1 approx 100m from the wood shed
Nuthatch 1

No sign or sound of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart though it was 3.30/4pm by the time I got there and very busy.

Only raptor seen all afternoon was a single Kestrel.