Took a day off yesterday to look for Cuckoo in Bowland.
First stop, Tower Lodge, where somebody told me to look for flycatchers. I couldn't find any but did get Cuckoo singing across the valley, I couldn't see it but it wasn't far away.
Next stop the beautiful Langden Beck.
It was rainng a bit, but not too much to put you off the walk, and I'm glad I did. As soon as was out of the trees, I was accompanied by Wheatears on one side of the path and Stonechat on the other. The Stonechat had young, I think, they look just like baby Robins ?? Willow Warbler in exactly the same tree that I had seen it in last year. I walked as far as the first steep bit, but didn't get any Ring Ousel, however on the way back down, Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper all showed by the water. No Cuckoo here, but it could have been because it was raining ??
Next stop Dunsop Bridge, I hadn't done the walk here before. It was lovely, stopped raining, with the Bluebells in the woods and the lambs in the fields. I had been told Spotted Flycatcher was here, and just at the farm buildings before the second gate, Bingo, a pair of Spotted Flycatcher. I watched them flit about the buildings, bathing in the gutter, and hawking, for about 10 minutes. I hadn't seen Spotted Flycatcher in this country since 1998 !!!! A walk I must do again and go further up the valley to look for the Eagle Owls.
I wanted to look for Moor Piece NT near Bashall Eaves to look for Pied Flycatcher. I eventually found it, but couldn't see any Flycatchers, I heard them all round, confirmed on my phone app. I did see a Blackcap, I'm not sure if I was looking in the right place, but there were plenty of boxes about in the trees.
A lovely day, despite the early rain, I don't go often enough, but I guess that goes for most places !!
First stop, Tower Lodge, where somebody told me to look for flycatchers. I couldn't find any but did get Cuckoo singing across the valley, I couldn't see it but it wasn't far away.
Next stop the beautiful Langden Beck.
It was rainng a bit, but not too much to put you off the walk, and I'm glad I did. As soon as was out of the trees, I was accompanied by Wheatears on one side of the path and Stonechat on the other. The Stonechat had young, I think, they look just like baby Robins ?? Willow Warbler in exactly the same tree that I had seen it in last year. I walked as far as the first steep bit, but didn't get any Ring Ousel, however on the way back down, Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper all showed by the water. No Cuckoo here, but it could have been because it was raining ??
Next stop Dunsop Bridge, I hadn't done the walk here before. It was lovely, stopped raining, with the Bluebells in the woods and the lambs in the fields. I had been told Spotted Flycatcher was here, and just at the farm buildings before the second gate, Bingo, a pair of Spotted Flycatcher. I watched them flit about the buildings, bathing in the gutter, and hawking, for about 10 minutes. I hadn't seen Spotted Flycatcher in this country since 1998 !!!! A walk I must do again and go further up the valley to look for the Eagle Owls.
I wanted to look for Moor Piece NT near Bashall Eaves to look for Pied Flycatcher. I eventually found it, but couldn't see any Flycatchers, I heard them all round, confirmed on my phone app. I did see a Blackcap, I'm not sure if I was looking in the right place, but there were plenty of boxes about in the trees.
A lovely day, despite the early rain, I don't go often enough, but I guess that goes for most places !!
