This morning, field to west of "Barking Dog Farm" on road above Sunnyhurst. Three, possibly four female Ring Ouzel and a stonking mzle!

Back on the old patch for six hours today from 9am. Weather cold with a slight wind but pleasant at times in the sun. Walked up to Stepback, via Higher Sunnyhurst Reservoir, Lyons Den, Bury Fold, the Tower and back down to Sunnyhurst. Then drove to the southern edge of Roddlesworth Woods for the last hour. Amongst others :-

Buzzard (6)
Red Grouse (9)
Little Ringed Plover (2)
Lapwing (c.20)
Curlew (5)
Cuckoo (1)
Swallow (c.10)
Tree Pipit (1)
Stonechat (3)
Wheatear (4)
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Nuthatch (1)
Raven (2)
Siskin (1)
Lesser Redpoll (c.8)

Nice views of a Cuckoo above Lyons Den, perched on a shooting box, then flying. Tried for Grasshopper Warbler at four previously known sites without luck. Very few Wheatear around which was strange. Also out of luck with Redstart and Pied Flycatcher in Roddlesworth, possibly a little early but both species barely hanging on. A Tree Pipit was seen in the southern most trees of Roddlesworth but not at the traditional spot half a mile away.

Back on the old patch for a couple of hours or so from mid day. Walked from Sunnyhurst, up to the tower, Aggie's Staircase, Stepback, Wenshead and back to Sunnyhurst via Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Cool and cloudy. Amongst others :-

Red Grouse (5)
Skylark (1)
Raven (2)
Buzzard (2)
Fieldfare (c.25)
Curlew (1)
Oystercatcher (1)
Lapwing (3)
Grey Wagtail (1)
Stonechat (1)

Later spent half an hour at India Mill Chimney. This is a well publicised Peregrine nest site so should be OK to report here. The female was perched almost at the top of the 300ft high chimney, preening and observing. After 20 minutes the male flew in and for a few minutes circled the chimney several times, calling loudly as he did so. Great to see.

Amble up to Stepback Wood via Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir and Higher Wenshead. Reeling Grasshopper Warbler near the res with a few Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting nearby. Single Ringed Plover at the res, Nuthatch at Stepback and both Little Owl and four Oystercatcher in the Wenshead area.

Darwen Tower - Bury Fold - Lords Hall - Lyons Den - Cartridge Hill - Roddlesworth Woods - Royal - Earnsdale Res - Home. Out from 6.25 for 4 hours, cool and dull, warmed up later. Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (7)
Red Grouse (4)
Lapwing
Curlew
Oystercatcher
Raven (1)
Grasshopper Warbler (1)
Cuckoo (1)
Nuthatch
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Redstart (1m)
Pied Flycatcher (1m)
Wheatear (1)

Let's hope the latter two find mates and breed.

-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 05:40:49 PM

Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir - Higher Wenshead - Stepback - Lions Den - Southern End Roddlesworth Woods - Slipper Lowe - Northern End Roddlesworth Woods - Fine Peter's - Sunnyhurst Woods - Home. Sunny and pleasant, out 9.45 to 15.30. Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (c.6)
Raven (3)
Lapwing
Curlew (c.6)
Redstart (1)
Willow Warbler
Wood Warbler (1)
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Tawny Owl
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Jay
Dipper (1)
Great Crested Grebe
Lesser Redpoll
Linnet

No sign of Tree Pipit at Slipper Lowe which is/has been a regular spot althouth good to hear Wood Warbler in middle section of Roddlesworth Woods on north east slope up from the top reservoir. I met a birder friend of mine who had earlier had another Wood Warbler in a more southerly area. Certain spots look 'nailed on' for Pied Flycatcher (probably 1-2 pairs used to breed a few years back) but I suspect disturbance has caused their disappearance. I was surprised at just how many dog walkers were around bearing in mind that the woods are in the middle of nowhere and it was mid week.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Lords Hall - Lions Den - John Smith's Farm - Higher Wenshead - Home. Sunny & fine, cold wind, out 8.30 to 10.45 Amongst others :

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (c.6)
Red Grouse (3)
Curlew (1)
Lapwing (c.15)
Wheatear (14)
Stonechat (Pr)
Willow Warbler (c.50)
Blackcap (2)
Grasshopper Warbler (1)
Kestrel (1)
Little Owl (1)

Grasshopper Warbler this morning, reeling at usual spot beyond south east corner of Higher Sunnyhurst Reservoir.

First Willow Warblers in now with (4) this morning. A further (4) Wheatear this evening with Redshank (2) over.

Wheatear (9) today plus Red Grouse (2).

Wheatear (3), Ring Ouzel (1) and Little Owl (1) seen by David Pack earlier in the day at Stepback Wood.

Couple of hours this morning in nearby Sunnyhurst Woods. Amongst others ;-

Great spotted Woodpecker (1)
Nuthatch (c.10)
Long tailed tit
Jay (3)
Dipper (Pr)
Goosander (3)

At the top end of the woods on Earnsdale Reservoir were Goosander (5), Cormorant (3) and Grey Heron (1) with Little Owl (1) at its favoured spot beyond Donkey Brow.

Tower - Lords Hall - Fingerpost - Conyries Plantation - Cartridge Hill - Lions Den - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Out three hours from 9 am. Sunny, cool and clear. Amongst others :-

Red Grouse (9)
Raven (2)
Stonechat (1)
Siskin (7)
Jack Snipe (1)
Jay
Redwing
Kestrel (2)

Almost stepped on the Jack Snipe on the (extremely wet) plateau section south of Lords Hall en route to the Fingerpost. The Siskin flew out of Conyries Plantation.

Originally posted this evening by J Buckley:

Great White Egret seen at 17.40 at Earnsdale Reservoir. Observed for 20 mins.

Great White Egret at Earnsdale Reservoir early evening 17.55 hrs, observed from up at Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Could now well be an Earnsdale/Grane/Wayoh Egret.

Sarfraz Hayat wrote:

---

Interesting the GWEgret was spotted on Sunday morning at Grane near Haslingden on 14th? I went to check 7pm to see if it roosts with Cormorants that day but it was not there. I wondered if it roosted in Darwen? The Herons really hated it! It is a very big bird, very beautiful.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 29th of September 2014 06:08:10 AM

---

Great White Egret at Earnsdale Reservoir around 18.00 hrs. Observed from Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Can't check whereabouts during the day as I'm at work but the roosting theory seems to add up Sarfraz and I'd be very surprised if it was not the same bird.

Great White Egret at nearby Earnsdale Reservoir tonight 18.20 hrs.

Pink footed Goose (22) over south east 7.15 am.

Single Wheatear at Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir tonight. Nothing else to report other than 25-35 Lapwing on the mud at any given time.

Butterfly additions since last report, Comma and Peacock. A good variety out today including Green veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and the first two mentioned.

Peregrine (2) high above Sough Road, Darwen early Wednesday evening with (3) in same location the following day. No bins so assuming latter sighting was a pair plus juvenile. Common knowledge that they've bred on 300 ft high India Mill chimney on and off over the last 25 years.

Reeling Grasshopper Warbler (2) this morning adjacent to Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. The ongoing drainage of the res is now creating two small mud scrapes and this evening there were Common Sandpiper (2), Oystercatcher (2) and Little Ringed Plover (1).

Eventually the water will disappear altogether with the exception of a pool area that will be created at the western end. The main body of the res will be allowed to return to its natural state. I am told there will be no in filling so it remains to be seen what the end product will look like.

Butterfly additions this week, Small Skipper and Ringlet. A few Large Skipper, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown about today.

Greylag Goose (4) over, west this morning. Unusual here. All other suspects about, Skylark, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, Lapwing, Linnet, etc etc.

Jack Snipe tonight flushed from stream/ditch on south side of Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Zig zagged for 10 yards and back down. Couple of more sightings of Cuckoo since the 29th will have been the same bird, Wheatear still coming through but in much lower numbers.

Reeling Grasshopper Warbler this morning near corner of Sunnyhurst Hey Res. Whitethroat (2) nearby. Wheatear (6) in three areas tonight.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Out 8.00 until 10.15. Cool and murky to start with, warmed up a bit later. Of note :-

Wheatear (8)
Raven (2)
Red Grouse (4)
Skylark (c.5)
Stonechat (1f)
Sparrowhawk (pr)

Plus usuals, Lapwing, Curlew, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, etc.