Redstart & Pied Fly.

Bit of "off-patch" birding this morning took me to the Brock Valley on the edge of Bowland. Parked the car and straight away the strident song of a male Redstart could be heard. A stroll down the path produced another target bird in the form of a male Pied Flycatcher in dispute over a nest box with a Great Tit. The Redstart took a bit of locating as it sang from the top of the trees but finally gave itself up. Dipper on the river was my first for some time. Another visit in a couple of weeks should produce Spotted Flycatchers.

Quarry's been OK this week. A couple of Garden Warblers that have taken up residence at the M6 end of the site have been popular. Infact this should be renamed "Sylvia Corner" as you can notch up Whitethroat, Blackcap and at times Lesser Whitethroat here too (usually early mornings though!). Water level's too high for wader passage this Spring - at least for them to stick around anyhow - and the Groppers seemed to have moved on. Marsh Harrier over the site the other day - shame I wasn't there too.