Higher Lane Swallows on the ready.....

0945hrs - 1100hrs -Birds: Meadow Pipit (11) 6 of these were blogging the others went straight through.. Goldfinch (7) but would suggest local, Swallow (11) 4 went through NW others South, and also another (15) which were gathering on the telephone lines at Higher Lane and possibly preparing for the "off" (click on photo). Linnet (10) one party 6west. Starling (7) first Starling party South this Autumn...

Flora: Himalayan Balsam, Privet flowerhead (click on photo)

Chaffinch On the Move .... Still Twite party..

yesterday Thursday 28th Aug 2008 .... Rain and absolutely nothing on the move. 0730-0900hrs. Today Friday 29th Aug 2008 0900-1100hrs - Misty and vis down to 500 yards most of the time... Birds: Twite (16) one party feeding between Slate and Radio Mast. Meadow Pipit (5) Chaffinch (22) one party 11, one at 4 all moving directly South...Pied Wagtail (2) one pair heading SE. Swallows (4) all locals, Goldfinch (5), Robin (1), Kestrel (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Black Headed Gull (1). There are no signs of Willow Warblers this week, I think they have set off back... Insects: Green Veined White B (3).. Trees: Rowan, Pedunculate Oak.

Greater Periwinkle - first ever record for SD72

It has now been confirmed by the Recorder that this is the Greater Periwinkle and that until now it has never been recorded before in the Lancashire Area of SD72. I fell upon the plant by pure chance on 2nd May 2007. The site is at the base of a small scotch pine coniferous tree and the tree base leaves of the Pine are sort of acting as a canopy and keeping the plant within the shade. The total area where they are growing covers about 2 metre diameter and in this area they are very sparsley spread. The actual flower has only been seen once (here photographed 2nd May 2007) and it was of a very feeble nature, in fact within a day it had almost withered. You are more than likely to see the glossy leaves which resemble the leaves of a privet bush. I checked it out again this year (2008), yet never saw any actual flowers, although the leaves had spread to a larger area. I checked on the site again yesterday and the undergrowth of various sub-grassess had well grown over the area and covered over the Greater Periwinkle leaves and unless you knew where it was you would never find it, although with parting of the grassess etc, the Periwinkle leaves where to be seen, clear and well.......

Great Spotted Woodpecker.... Curlew... Meadow Pipits blogging

0730hrs-0900hrs. Still quiet on vismig. Meadow Pipits (2) on the move and (10) blogging... also Curlew (1W overhead), Goldfinch (5), Greenfinch (2), Magpie (4), Chaffinch (1), Greater Spotted Woodpecker (1) came in from South East... Willow Warbler (2), Wren (2), Woodpigeon (1). Lots of Black Headed Gulls crossing down below over Martin Croft Farm and heading North West.. at least 70 plus..

Insects: Large White B (1), Green Veined White B (4), Meadow Brown B (1)..

Flora: Field Pansy (Also photo, click on to enlarge)..

Birds of Prey Playground......& Twite..

Wednesday 20th August & today Friday 22nd August 2008. Still very little showing as moving. On Wednesday last we were graced by a Common Gull feeding above Cribden End with some Lesser Black Backs (3). Greenfinch (2W), Goldfinch (1S), Kestrel (2) and one of them seen carrying large sized prey eg: Rat or similar size.. Bullfinch (1), Blue Tit (1), Black Headed Gull (1)

Insects:Green Veined White Butterfly (1) Flora: Common Scurvygrass..

Today... Friday 22nd August 2008. A very large feeding party of Twite (20-30) flying between Slate and Radio Mast, Greenfinch (3), Swallows (6 and local), Wood Pigeon (2), I am sure I heard a trace call from a Willow Warbler (1), Superb close ups of 2 Peregrines (one adult and one juvenile) at times the Juvenile was closing in on the adult and rollovers where seen. Also whilst watching the Peregrines I noticed there was at least four Kestrels in the bigger picture. Blue Tits (family party), Wren (2), Chaffinch (a family party), Raven (2 headed NE-SW), Magpie 2, A large party (80 approx) of mixed LBBG/Herring Gulls, Goldfinch (2).

Insects: Large White B (1), Meadow Brown B (1), Green Veined White B (8) - Flora: White Campion. (photo: White Campion - click on to enlarge)

Little Vismig - Red Bartsia...

0730hrs-0900hrs - Raining: Only birds on visible migration where: Meadow Pipit (2), Linnet (1) and Goldfinch (1). Other birds: Linnet party of 6 at Slate Farm, Woodpigeon (1N), Pied Wagtail (1S), Wren (1), Bullfinch (1), Willow Warbler (1), Reed Bunting (1NE), 1 LBBG heading South.

Flora: Red Bartsia (photo Red Bartsia - click to enlarge)

Swift & Collard Dove moving straight through and South

0800-1000hrs Tried an hour or so of vismig (visible migration) this morning, but had hardly anything. There still little on the move... Birds: Swift (1), House Martin (6) and local, Swallow (6) and local, Linnet (5), Woodpigeon (2), LBBG (35S), Goldfinch (4) and local, Meadow Pipit (6) straight through. Kestrel (1) and probably local, Collared Dove (1S) Straight through South, Robin (1), Wren (1), Bullfinch (1) and calling, Willow Warbler (2) and calling, Chaffinch (1), Greenfinch (3), also one Willow Warbler calling from Higher Lane. Insects: Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (1) on Ragwort, Large White Butterflies (4), Green Veined Butterfly (18), Meadow Brown Butterfly (3)

Willow Warblers (2) still present and found Meadowsweet

1300-1400hrs Very quiet. Birding: Willow Warbler (2 only calling today), Pied Wagtail (1), Swallow (6) local, Meadow Pipit (6W), Blue Tits (4 -2 were juv), Robin (1), Linnet (2), Kestrel (1) probably local, Sparrowhawk (1 near Slate Farm), Lesser Black Backed Gulls (39 mainly South & Local). Insects: Meadow Brown Butterfly, pictured moth with Ragwort as yet unidentified. (1). Flora: Meadowsweet

Small Heath Butterfly & Chicory,Red Campion etc..

Birds: Linnet one party of (12 S), also a single. Chaffinch (4), Still 3 Willow Warblers singing a couple in full song. 3 Goldfinch, about 30 Swallows low to the ground weaving in and out between the Ragwort in nearby field - probably local collection birds. Greenfinch (2) Sparrowhawk disturbed, Woodpigeon (2). Also a Willow Warbler between Slate Farm and Duckworth Clough...

Insects: Small Heath Butterfly, (1 and photographed here), Meadow Brown Butterfly (6), Green Veined White Butterfly (10), Large White Butterfly (2).

Flora: Hybrid of Red Campion.... and photo of Chicory recently introduced to Slate..

Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell, Curlew, Raven..

Yesterday (Thursday August 7th 2008): Willow Warbler at least 5 calling, also another one on way up at Pitt Heads. Most Swifts (18approx) vacated area on Tuesday, just 2 left yesterday and today. Curlew heading West and calling. Swallow (2) local, Linnet (2W), Magpie, Robin, Chaffinch (2), Greenfinch (3). at least 50 plus LBBG heading either South or North. Insects: Large White Butterfly (3), Green White Butterfly (2), Meadow Brown (3). Today (Friday August 8th 2008): Raven above Slate being haressed by LBBG and watched doing rollovers to evade attack... Willow Warbler (3) 2 of which where in full song. Greenfinch (1), Chaffinch (2), Swallow (2 local), NO SWIFTS ALL GONE NOW (locals), Meadow Pipit (1), also 1 Willow Warbler calling from Pitt Head and 1 calling from Slate Farm.. Insects: Small Tortoiseshell (1 at Pitt Head on way up and only the 2nd I have seen this year!!), Red Admiral (1 at Pitt Head on way up - and first seen this year!!), Large White Butterflies (5), Green Veined Butterfly (15), Small Skipper (2) Meadow Brown Butterfly (6), Common Darter Dragonfly (1)...

A Pair of Stonechats on the Walls......

A pair of Stonechat on the approach walls was todays highlight. Still 3 calling Willow Warblers, Linnet (5), Robin (2), Blackbird (1 male), Woodpigeon (2), approx 70 LBBG most going South to forage the refuge tips and perhaps 6 going North. Carrion Crow (7)....

Click on image to supersize (Drone Fly)

Common Buzzard the highlight.....at 1100hrs

Today we had a Common Buzzard high above Slate heading South, at times there was a Sparrowhawk closeby the Buzzard... All Meadow Pipits had cleared from the Walls but there where a single party of 8 birds moved directly South and another single bird which was going on the Westerley route... Linnets (7), Willow Warbler (4), Greenfinch (4), Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tits, Magpies.. Swift just one which went directly through South. Also had a immature Robin near to Slate Farm...

Insects: Meadow Brown Butterfly (5), Small White Butterfly (1), Green Veined Butterfly (1), Brown Darter Dragonfly.

Large-Flowered Evening Primrose

Birds: 3 Willow Warblers calling from various parts of the Slate, Swallow several local, and 4 moving South, Linnet 5, Greenfinch 2, Kestrel 1, Meadow Pipit (20 blogging), Magpie 2, LBBG at least 20 overhead South.

Insects: Green Veined White Butterfly, Meadow Brown Butterfly (5). (Click on photos for supersize)

Meadow Pipit numbers starting to build up......

Yesterday we had 2 Willow Warblers and 1 was in full song, but today there was none singing or no evidence of any still on site...Meadow Pipits are now building up on the walls and there was at least 40 present.... Linnet 4 (2 pairs), Chaffinch (1), Greenfinch (5), Swallows (4), Blackbird (1 male), Stock Dove (1), Robin (1), Goldfinch (1), approx 50 LBBG went over South.

Insects: Green Veined White Butterfly (1), Meadow Brown Butterfly (4), Drone Fly.

Flowers: 2 separate versions of Wild Pansy, Lesser Trefoil, Greater Burdock, Heather, Scented Mayweed, Large Flowered Evening Primrose.