Dunsop Bridge - Whitendale Valley - Brennand Valley - Dunsop Bridge. Cool and blustery, misty on some of the tops, brightening up as we left. Out 9.30 to 13.40. Amongst others :-

Buzzard (c.6)
Raven (c.6)
Kestrel (2)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Red Grouse (c.5)
Oystercatcher (25+)
Lapwing (25+)
Red legged Partridge (3)
Dipper (2)
Grey Wagtail
Fieldfare
Redwing

Nice to meet Jonathan Platt at the raptor watchpoint. Hope your wait for the star bird was fruitful!



-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Saturday 8th of March 2014 05:14:12 PM

Had a family day out today with a nice walk up the Dunsop valley. Not really birding as such but took the binoculars anyway. Best birds were two singing Pied Flycatchers by the river giving really nice views. Also had Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the river plus several singing Garden Warblers around the area. Two Cuckoos were calling from the fells on either side of the river too. Other birds of note were good numbers of Willow Warblers, Siskins, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Oystercatchers. A lovely day out in brilliant weather for once.

Circular walk in south west corner of Bowland today. Chipping - Parlick 1417' - Fair Snape Fell 1673' - Home House Fell 1541' - Fiendsdale Head 1476' - Holme House - Bleasdale - Chipping. Extremely cold and blustery on tops otherwise pleasant in the sunshine. Out 9.15 to 13.30

Fairly quiet but birds worthy of note :-

Red Grouse (c.30)
Meadow Pipit
Fieldfare (c.50)
Starling (c.100)
Mistle Thrush
Lapwing
Golden Plover (2)
Treecreeper
Buzzard (c.6)

The area just past the cairn on Fair Snape Fell can be good for Dotterel and Snow Bunting at the right times of year but none of the latter today.

Hi Christopher,

You might be interested - a mate of mine, Jeff Dixon, had a ring ousel in the same spot on Thursday 12th.

Walked up from Dunsop Bridge early this morning, as far as Whitendale. I didn't see any big owls, but did see the following:

1. hen harrier (lovely male)
2. merlin
3. goshawk
4. ring ouzel
5. crossbill
6. blackcap (my first of the year)

Also a dipper catching some surprisingly large fish and bashing them before taking them to a nest.

C.B

Dunsop Valley

Spent the last two mornings in Dunsop Valley. Walked up to Whitendale on Saturday but thick mist prevented us seeing anything up beyond the weir - in fact the only sign of bird-life was a calling meadow pipit! This morning was similar weatherwise so I didn't even bother going beyond the "raptor watchpoint". All the usual raptors one might expect at this time of year at Dunsop were seen over the two days, with the exception of hen harrier. A few crossbills were flying up and down the valley (maximum flock 7), along with siskins - some local birds, some small flocks seemingly on passage. This morning the keepers were out after foxes, the dozen hounds made very effective woodcock-flushers, six birds were seen!

On Saturday morning, between the car park and the first cottages, we flushed what looked like a hawfinch from the top of a tall alder (only seen in flight), unfortunately it didn't call. I've never seen hawfinches at Dunsop before nor, indeed, anywhere in Bowland. I've been watching hawfinches in a small valley in South Cumbria this winter, if I'd seen this bird there I wouldn't have hesitated to call it as a hawfinch. I was also told that a lesser-spotted woodpecker has been seen in this area recently - a couple of birdies to look out for if anyone's up that way in the near future!

Most unexpected bird of the weekend was a coot which turned up this morning on the small pond by the watchpoint!

Hi James welcome to the forum.

We would not openly publish the type of information you have asked for but you may find reference to the following web site a useful starting point http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/ - good luck.

A visit to Dunsop Valley today with Janice & Jim Nisbit produced house Sparrows Bullfinch and lt tits immediatly from the carpark. Staight into the valley we spotted a Peregrine and 3 Buzzard. Two Dippers were showing well on the river, Pheasants galore along the walk and apart from a Kestrel hunting near Eagle Owl site nothing else was noted.

A very pleasant walk despite the very strong winds and brief shower as we returned back near the main road.

Checked out the Great Grey Shrike patch near the Moorcock Inn Waddington for anything moving but not a thing.

A nice excursion today up the Dunsop valley in search of the Eagle Owls. Birds seen as follows: -

1 Hen Harrier (m)
2 Peregrine
2 Kestrel
1 Merlin
4 Buzzard
1 probable Goshawk - didn't get a good look at it but other birders present were sure that it was one.
1 Siskin
1 Red Legged Partridge
3 Grey Wagtail
10 Curlew
3 Oystercatcher
Loads of Swallow, House Martins, Mipits and a few Raven and other mixed corvids.

Got to where the Eagle Owls usually are and one bird was quickly found with the help of a lady birder who was already present (sorry didn't get your name). The bird was resting when I arrived but after about 30 minutes it woke and flew down to the edge of the river for a short while before disappearing somewhere underneath the nearside banking. Apparently, according to a few of the other birders present there have been 4 chicks raised this year and they were seen only a few days ago.

This was my first time up this valley but I'll definately be returning as its a really beautiful place and the walk is very easy - tarmac road all the way.

Ha ha Simon, yes hopefully my money and Peter's time and effort isn't being wasted Despite strong (breeze Simon ?? ) winds l had a good day. Virtually no-one there either today, l think we only saw three couples Great birds Great company Great day

Eagle owl back in usual place.

-- Edited by Anne Wilkinson on Tuesday 22nd of March 2011 08:16:59 AM

hareden valley sunday 5/09/10

2 dippers
3 kestrel
2 chaffinch
10 stonechat
2 jays
2 linnet
6 meadowpipits

Family day out so only a few birds of note .

A nice KINGFISHER by Ribchester bridge which our little niece (aged 3 start um young)was amazed at the colours.We watched it fishing for a while until a heron flew in to see what was making the splashes on the riverbank.bye bye kingfisher.
Two hundred mallards at Dunsop bridge kept the little one amused but cost me a bob or two in duck food and try feeding them without laughing they dont half tickle the palms of your hands.Also 1000 yellow ducks on the river well it was the charity duck race
A grey wagtail braved the eager crowds under the dunsop bridge and a great spotted woodpecker flew from the near by trees.A few siskins made an appearance in the cafe garden and 2 buzzards flew overhead.

24/4/10 (pm)

Roeburndale (South of Wray)

This site is not actually in the Trough, but falls within the Forest of Bowland AONB..

A walk from Barkin Bridge up the river Roeburn to Outhwaite Wood:

1 Peregrine
2 Wheatear
6 Raven
2 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
40+ Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
2 Red-legged Partridge
5+ Lapwing
several Willow Warblers

Just a bit too early for the woodland specialities, but a good afternoon nevertheless....

Mealy redpoll are present with the Lessers at the moment too Gary. I notice that so far no-one has reported a Common sandpiper in the valley this year and only one pair of Stonechat.

Btw, did the lady in the snack van tell you about the Eagle owl supposedly sitting opposite the Hareden water intake (the next one towards Dunsop Bridge) every morning? Like a fool I believed her and went looking but could not even see anywhere that an owl could sit. Afterwards I found out that this could have been a ploy to drum up extra business for the van!!

Hi Ian me and Mary had a golden eagle fly through last sunday being harrased away by 2 buzzards great place

lots of meadow pipits moving through and siskin still around the langden scram van.
dippers on the river and several buzzards and kestrel in the air.
culew calling everywhere and the red grouse and pheasant also very vocal.

Thats brilliant. Thanks. Will give it a whirl.

Whats access to Waddington Fell like? I think I know the main road that runs past but not sure if theres parking or footpaths up there or anything like that? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

WADDINGTON FELL

Arrived at the fell just as the sun was coming up and was immediately on to the Great Grey Shrike sitting right on the top of the tallest tree around. To start with it was in silhouette but it obligingly moved and I was able to see it more clearly. It was preening and singing away - from the field guide not sure but given the fact it was singing presumably a male.

A wigganers day trip to Dunsop Valley,myself,both mr thorpes,mr higson ,mr meadows and mr woosey,we took a good long walk from the car park up to whitedale farm over middle knoll down past brennand farm and returning to the car park.

3 dipper 1 hen harrier
6 buzzard 1 peregrine
1 green wood pecker 12+oystercatchers
20+ curlew 6 siskins
2 sparrowhawk 2+ raven
20 fieldfare kestrel,jackdaw,lapwing,meadow pipet, quite few gulls over


On the way there and back we stopped off to admire the great grey shrike that has been resident for some time.
The hill climb from whitedale farm,is only for the brave
Cheers geoff




-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Sunday 21st of March 2010 08:04:35 PM

langden

4 red grouse
2 crows
1 kestrel
1 peregrine
30+ siskin
blue and great tits
no signs of the dipper today

Hi Dennis,

If you are interested in Eagle Owls and Hen Harriers and other raptors in the Bowland area or anywhere else for that matter you will find the web site "raptorpolitics.org.uk" of interest.

Alan

langden is a different valley from where the owls nested just off the actual trough, where you can drive your car through as opposed to dunsop valley where cars are banned unless you have a permit.