Scorchio

The Safari is just a little more than miffed with a capital M - why? Well, even before 10.00 this morning it was sunnier, warmer, drier and less windy than it was in Thassos for almost all of last week!

Nothing for it but to get out on safari. We headed east with a couple of target birds to aim at located at two sites not too far apart.

Can you see any Hen Harriers on the hills beyond the trees? No? You and us both! Looks like the vested interests have had the last ones in England 'done in' as it is unlikely there will be any successful  breeding in the Counrty this year. If you haven't already please sign the petition and share it with your family & friends and on FB. Somehow there are still fewer than 10,000 signatories; 100,000 are needed to bring it before Parliament - where is every one? Do we not care???

Hen Harrier-free Zone

The big question is (or the big questions are) will the Forest of Bowland AONB have to change its logo? And where are the authorities DEFRA, NE, the Police and it's about time the RSPB became the People's SPB and dumped the R's...but not before we've got a little extra holiday out of them next week - hope that Montague's Harrier that's been up this way doesn't venture over there and there's a case a 'mistaken' identity.

Rant over on with the days business - - first stop was up the hill and round the corner looking for Tree Pipits. The weather was good but therre was a stiff breeze up there which was keeping the birds low. We heard Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches in abundance. Frank got bored and found the only puddle for miles as is often the case.

Eventually we heard a Tree Pipit (191) singing in the distance and tracked it down to a small spinney of young Birches near the summit cairn...job done!

Next stop was the lovely woodland not far away. There used to be Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here, are there still? Nothing seems to have changed in the habitat to my eye and it links to other woodlands to make a larger 'package' so where have they gone and why?

We didn't get much here, a Goldcrest was probably pick of the bunch but the Curlews bubbling away from the fields across the valley ran it a very second - what a great sound.

Frank found Bluebells.

Not many minutes afterwards he disobeyed the 'we're going back now' command and shot off down the hill at breakneck speed and straight in to the river.

Then it was off downstream to another part of the river - - where it was double busy with the retired dog walking brigade, not a good sign.

Pied Flycatchers were the target here but none were found, not entirely sure there are any here this year. A pair of Robins were doing a fantastic impression of flycatchers over the river grabbing huge beakfuls of Mayflies to take back to their gutsy brood.

Dippers and Grey Wagtails avoided the lens ably assisted by the huge numbers of flippin dogs in the river - except, unusually, one - he wasn't allowed in the river here.

With Piedy Flys not making it onto the list we decided to try another favoured haunt a little further away.

Another river! Yes we allowed a hot Frank a little paddle this time. Again no Piedy Flys but great views of a pair of Nuthatches as they searched for food for their nestlings in the bole of an Alder tree on the far bank.

Two of the Fylde stalwarts turned up out of the blue and after they too were unsuccessful in the Pied Fly department. They suggested another site a coupla three miles away. Nothing for it but to follow them down the lane. Here we had success at a site where birders had put up some boxes. It took a little bit of finding while it was singing but then a cracking male Pied Flycatcher (192) appeared at one of the boxes...result!

A Spotted Flycatcher was nearby too...pulled back from the 'Greece only' list.

MJ wanted to look for Redstarts and Redpolls so we headed off up the track. A difficult gate was opened by the shepherd who arrived to round up his sheep. From the field we failed to see any Redstarts along thee edge of the wood but the Curlews were on fine form and better still a Cuckoo (193) sang from the woods a bit higher up the hill. We didn't get a glimpse of it though as it wandered back and forth through the wood.

Frank even helped the collie round up the sheep - he stood up just at the right time!

The dodgy gate took some negotiating this time but we managed it open it between the three of us (and a dog).

On the way down we found MJ his Redpolls and great scope views were had by all.

Time to take a very tired dog home.

Where to next? A lunchtime BBQ tomorrow and another safari, this time ooop north! This holiday mularky is rock on!

In the meantime let us know if you had a good day too.