Langden Valley in Bowland, Lancs April 2009.It's been a funny week one way or another. My "all dayer" in Bowland started by chatting to a few locals as I unloaded my car, ready for a day on the fells. One couple told me how easy it used to be to see Ring Ouzels in the area: "Commoner than Blackbirds 30 years ago, easy from the car". The other conversation was a little more strange.
A gentleman approached me to ask about the history of the area and confessing my ignorance I informed him that I was looking for moorland birds. Making polite conversation I commented on the quality of the weather of late.
"Not as good as back home for you I dare say", he replied.
Explaining that I'd travelled no further than from Preston, the gentleman commented on my "language".
"You mean my accent?" I enquired.
"Yes - New Zealand, Australia, South Africa?"
"I'm originally from London"
"There you go, that's what I mean"
Oh well, should be alright for a bar job in Earls Court then ....
Anyway, back to Lancashire. Another busy week trudging around the fells and moors in east Lancs, but very rewarding all the same. Migrants continue to trickle in (apart from Willow Warblers that seem to have flooded in!) with a few Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts on territory in the wooded areas.
Obviously in this heather habitat I'm seeing plenty of Red Grouse and Curlew in the boggy areas, it's infested with Meadow Pipits but most surprising is the large numbers of Wrens I'm seeing in every available patch of cover.
Highlights this week include Peregrines, a couple of Hen Harriers (one male "sky dancing over the fells), Dipper and best of all a male Ring Ouzel. The plight of the Ring Ouzel is looking pretty bleak nationally, reflected in the lack of local sightings this year (on breeding grounds at least). Sadly this attractive upland thrush is now red-listed. See the BTO website for details of their decline in the UK.
2 comments:
Thanks for the 'tour' of the parts of Bowland you visited Colin including the strange conversation with the person obviously not good at identifying accent's. I was a little concerned you didn't record Stonechat which is developing into something of a concern to me this summer so far, though my gloom was given an uplift by the sight of certainly eight and possibly ten at Barbondale on Wednesday plus a pair of the 'scarce' Whinchat, but you've seen all this on my blog......haven't you Colin?
Regards
Pete.
Hi Pete,
Yep, been keeping up with your birding excursions and noted you'd had a Whinchat at Barbondale. It's another worrying species with its decline and I've been looking hard this past week but none so far on suitable territory. They may be a bit late so hopefully I'll pick some up on my second "sweep" of the tetrads?
I have recorded Stonechats though and you're right to highlight this. I'll include them on my "round-ups" from now on.
Regards,
Colin
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