PIED FLYCATCHERS IS ONE OF OUR EARLIER RETURNING TRANS-SAHARAN MIGRANTS and is back on its territory in East Lancashire by mid April. I spent a few hours over the last couple of days watching one deliver its jaunty song in between scrapping with every other bird that came anywhere near its chosen nest box. Even a poor little Goldcrest was sent on its way. Of course Great Tits came in for the worst treatment and it may come as a surprise that such a cute little bird is so feisty when it comes to protecting its chosen nest site. The pretty wooded valleys of Bowland are one of its strongholds and, once you learn its song, Pied Flycatchers are easy to find in early spring. However, when the leafy canopy of the woodland develops they become much more difficult to track down.
Viewing entries in
Birding
THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, WHICH JOHN METCALF FOUND LAST WEEKEND REELING in a bed of rushes at the foot of Pendle was the highlight of another lovely walk on the hill. There were a few migrants around including at least 10 Northern Wheatears, 10 golden plovers and we also heard two redpolls flying north over the summit this morning. John had another four Ring Ouzels as he went up the steps early this morning but they were not present later, however, four stonechats were very welcome - two males and a pair below the 'long wall'. We also found the remains of a lapwing here, presumably taken by a fox?
River Ribble at Ribchester looking towards Pendle Hill
SPRING IS NOW WELL UNDERWAY ALONG THE RIVERBANK and today I added Blackcap and Stock Dove to the Ribchester year list, my walks this weekend and last totalling 49 and 40 species respectively, the former my highest so far, boosted by the summer migrants. There is now a pair of kingfishers along the Old Park Wood bank, which I hope will stay to breed and a Linnet was singing from the wire fence near Osbaldston Hall. Cormorants are few now and the winter thrushes have gone (although I did see a Fieldfare near Todmorden today during a futile attempt to see the hoopoe there). The Rib year list now stands at 68, with a few more easy ones still missing so I think somewhere between 80-90 is possible if I keep at it.
Two female Adders tangled together on a bed of bracken in Bowland.
ALTHOUGH MOST PREDATORS APPEAR TO VANISHED FROM THE BOWLAND FELLS a pair of beautiful tangled adders was a wonderful highlight of a spin around my former local patch with Alan McBride. The snakes were presumably freshly emerged from hibernation, one still had mud on its eyes, and they flattened their bodies as much as possible to absorb the warmth of the sun's rays on another chilly spring day of occasional hail showers and sunny intervals. I love the way the patterning on the snake's spine mimics the leaves of bracken. Ironically I spotted a buzzard in the valley en route to Bowland. 'Should I stop?" said Alan. 'Nah'. It was the only one we saw all day. There may be some raptors bigger than a kestrel left in Bowland but if there are we did not see them today. Where there used to be Hen Harriers, Peregrines, buzzards and ravens there was nothing. We were also a little early for the wheatears and Ring Ouzels, which will surely return within a few days. Nevertheless, the sound of curlews and lapwings on the upland pastures was a delight, as always and it is an ill wind that at least they will benefit from, following the illegal eradication of raptors that has surely been going on in this region. After all, the absence of raptors in suitable habitat is regarded by many as a strong indication of persecution. This is one of the reasons I have stayed away for the last couple of years. Bowland feels empty to me without them.
The Lancashire Witches 400 marker in Croasdale with the dark shadow of Pendle in the background.
We also had a look at the new Lancashire Witches marker in Croasdale, which bears a poem by Poet Laureat, Carol Ann Duffy:
"The Lancashire Witches
1. One voice for ten dragged this way once by superstition, ignorance.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
2. Witch: female, cunning, manless, old, daughter of such, of evil faith; in the murk of Pendle Hill, a crone.
3. Here, heavy storm-clouds, ill-will brewed, over fields, fells, farms, blighted woods. On the wind’s breath, curse of crow and rook.
4. From poverty, no poetry but weird spells, half-prayer, half-threat; sharp pins in the little dolls of death.
5. At daylights gate, the things we fear darken and form. That tree, that rock, a slattern’s shape with the devil’s dog.
6. Something upholds us in its palm – landscape, history, place amd time – and above, the same old witness moon
7. Below which Demdike, Chattox, shrieked like hags, unloved, an underclass, badly fed, unwell. Their eyes were red.
8. But that was then – when difference made ghouls of neighbours, child beggars, feral, filthy, threatened in their cowls.
9. Grim skies, the grey remorse of rain; sunset’s crimson shame; four seasons, centuries, turning in Lancashire.
10. Away from Castle, jury, judge, huge crowd, rough rope, short drop, no grave, only future tourists who might grieve.
CAROL ANN DUFFY"
2012 marked the 400 years anniversary of the trial and execution of the Pendle Witches and a group of local artists and historians started a fascinating project Lancashire Witches 400 to commemorate the event as well as to highlight the modern day issue of the persecution of witches. I also learned about Lancaster charity Stepping Stones Nigeria, who defend children's rights in the Niger Delta, where children are still labelled as witches and blamed for all manner of things including affliction by HIV/AIDS. It is remarkable that in the 21st century stuff like this is still going on.