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IN PRAISE OF CURLEWS

Eurasian Curlew, Kemple End.

THE LOCAL CURLEWS APPEAR TO HAVE YOUNG NOW judging by the amount of noisy activity over the Birdquest office at the moment. These photos were taken from the car park! This near-threatened bird has declined across its range it is still fairly common in East Lancs for the time being. One wonders for how long though with such early silage cutting in most of the lowland areas? Let's hope that some of the work done by the RSPB can help this special shorebird. They have always been one of my favourite birds, going back to childhood days in Weardale and the countryside would feel empty without them.

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BIRD MIGRATION NEVER STOPS

Common Crossbill (male), Gannow Fell.

MIGRATION CONTINUES. Although most birds are breeding in East Lancs at the moment, either incubating or feeding young in or out of the nest, some are still on the move and today it was crossbills again. I had another eight today in a tight flock that flew east over heather moorland at Gannow Fell. Fortunately they gave me plenty of warning they were coming, with their loud 'chup-chup-chup' calls, so I was ready for them with the camera. Crossbill flocks always potentially have something really rare amongst them but these were all clearly Commons and all appeared to be adults, at least four of them red males like the one last week from the same spot. Bill Aspin tells me that some crossbills have been reported from Darwen Moor lately too. I wonder where they are coming from to be heading east at this time of year? A male siskin and three Lesser Redpolls also flew east over the moorland here. I have even seen a raptor on Gannow Fell now, albeit only a kestrel. Stocks was very quiet part from some breeding activity. A mother Goosander had nine ducklings in tow, there were also at least six juvenile Grey Herons around the reservoir too. The pair of Great Black-backed Gulls fortunately do not appear to have produced youngsters this year and a lone first summer Common Gull was noteworthy. Alston Wetland was also very quiet with no passage migrants. Only a pair of LRPs and six Gadwall of interest on the pool and a Lesser Whitethroat singing from the hedgerow in the field behind the viewing screen. No new birds for the ELOC little year despite some effort, hopefully that will change soon!

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BACK ON THE RIVERBANK

Banded Demoiselle (male), River Ribble.

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE NOW and most birds are settled down to breed, in fact some have almost finished. Today's first prize went to a red male Common Crossbill over Gannow Fell calling this morning, no sight or sound of the cuckoos from Saturday though. A male stonechat was also here alongside the noisy curlews and a singing reed bunting. I'm hoping for a raptor or two from this great vantage point, we will see. Stocks was quiet again with only the drake wigeon on the island of note. Two Red-breasted Mergansers were loafing around in the Hodder Inlet, which looks great for shorebirds now the water level has dropped. The cuckoo opposite the hides was still singing early this morning but there was not much else happening. Alston Wetland also looks great and a new Common Ringed Plover showed that there might still be time for something interesting before the return passage starts later next month. A pair of redshanks have two chicks now and the Gadwall flock reached 18 today. I love walking along the riverbank of the Ribble and in one of my favourite spots there are a lot of Banded Demoiselles at the moment, I also saw a Gadwall actually on the river, the first time I've seen one here. A grumpy Goosander growled at me as it took off, a buzzard and a sparrowhawk flew over, a redshank was on the riverbank and a Linnet was singing from a nearby small ash tree (they are a summer migrant in East Lancs!) on a beautiful sunny day with fluffy white polar maritime clouds across the sky. Wonderful!

Banded Demoiselle (female), Ribble Valley.

Super wren belting out its song at Alston.

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SPRING BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

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.

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