Lovely riverside meadows in the Ribble Valley at Alston.
THE LAST SPRING MIGRANTS CONTINUED TO TRICKLE THROUGH East Lancashire this weekend so it's almost time to start turning my attention to other things. An early morning spin on Saturday resulted in a Dunlin at Stocks, which is not particularly unusual, however, a drake Eurasian Wigeon was very late indeed, a bit like the pintail at Alston last weekend. May is a good month for strange duck records. A flock of 13 Gadwall was my highest so far at Alston, no doubt just on a day trip from Grimsargh, which is positively overflowing with them. Three cuckoos in the air at Gannow Fell was a wonderful sight. A pair had come to investigate a singing bird, with a couple of Meadow Pipits in tow and all three sped off east over the fell towards the insane dog kennels. In the evening two Spotted Flycatchers were by the river at Alston Old Hall. The riverbank was very quiet but there were a lot of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies patrolling the nettle beds there, many rustling with the equally numerous Banded Demoiselle dragonflies. Mmmm there must be a hobby here somewhere, I'll keep trying. No ELOC year list additions this week.