Ladywalk

Curlew

Migrant Hawker

Common Blue

Common Blue

Peregrine

Tuesday 11th August 2009

Well the eardrums have stopped throbbing after the weekend so with a drop of fine weather I felt I should risk it and venture out. Not ready for Staffs yet but Ladywalk seemed a safe bet. From the car park a scan of the pylons produced a Peregrine but there were very few passerines about on the walk to hide B. A few birds were moving in the reeds in front of hide B including a family party of Reed warblers and a single Cetti's warbler. A Great spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders in the Birch wood but again very few other birds were seen on the walk round to Riverwalk hide. From the hide 4 Common Snipe were seen on the far bank. Cormorant, Grey Heron, Stock dove, Gadwall and 2 Ruddy duck were noted with the more regular birds. 8 Curlew came flying in mid afternoon. Hobby had been seen just prior to my visit but unfotunately did not reappear.

Came across a blog on Raptors in Lancashire or rather the destruction of raptors in Lancashire on Surfbirds http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/ . I thought back to the Hen Harrier that wintered in the Tame valley last year and how much pleasure and interest its presence created. You just feel so helpless. If massive organisations like English Nature or the RSPB can't or wont do anything then whats the point in me getting upset about it.