Saturday 26 June 2010

Barden Moor
Surprisingly late pair of Cuckoo: male calling from around lower reservoir, female seen 10 minutes later near Upper Reservoir: only her head was sticking out of heather (laying?) as she was being fiercely attacked by a pair of Meadow Pipits, who pursued her as she flew off.
Male Stonechat singing near lower reservoir; also 1 Linnet in same area.
Pair of Common Sandpipers at Upper Reservoir
Good numbers of Meadow Pipits with lots of evidence of breeding but only 2 Grouse seen/heard on circular walk past reservoirs and back via Halton Height.
3 intrepid young Lapwing in Upper Reservoir overflow in an atmosphere with masses of screaming Black-headed Gulls overhead and countless, no doubt ravenously-hungry gull-chicks on the shore – lets hope they make it!
John F
Sparrowhawk 3 Kestrel, 2 close Raven, Stonechat and Whinchat at same site.
Alan T