BIRD REPORT

April

Arrival dates for summer visitors obviously coincide with when observers are out in the field, which in turn will coincide very often with weekends. Consequently, first dates reported may be a couple of days later than the actual. Nevertheless, many first dates this year were a little later than usual.

Swift	25^th April	(27^th April)	Croston Moss
Swallow	1^st April	(31^st March)	Eccleston
House Martin	17^th April	(18^th April)	Lower Healey
Sand Martin	29^th March	(25^th March)	Eccleston
Wheatear	23^rd March	(11^th March)	Grey Heights
Whinchat	No record	(No record)
Ring Ousel	16^th April	(3^rd April)	Stronstrey Bank
Chiffchaff	19^th March	(16^th March)	Euxton
Willow Warbler	4^th April	(3^rd April)	Wheelton
Garden Warbler	24^th April	(No record)	Birkacre
Blackcap	3^rd April	(11^th April)	Birkacre
Wood Warbler	No record	(No record)
Sedge Warbler	25^th April	(19^th April)	Lower Burgh Meadow
Reed Warbler	No record	(30^th April)	Bretherton
Grasshopper Warbler	No record	(19^th April)	Birkacre
Whitethroat	24^th April	(18^th April)	Chorley
Lesser Whitethroat	No record	(No record)
Cuckoo	19^th April	(26^th April)	White Coppice
Tree Pipit	20^th April	(3^rd May)	Roddlesworth
Redstart	25^th April	(13^th April)	Roddlesworth
Pied Flycatcher	21^st April	(16^th April)	Anglezarke
Spotted Flycatcher	No record	(No record)
Whimbrel	24^th April	(29^th April)	Withnell Fold Flash
Common Sandpiper	18^th April	(No record)	Belmont
Little Ringed Plover	No record	(8^th April)

In addition to the above, a Ring Ousel was at White Coppice on the 25^th, and a noticeable passage of Wheatear took place with birds at Stronstrey Bank (2^nd), Lower Burgh Meadow (3^rd, 11^th & 18^th) and at Withnell Fold (4^th).

Fieldfares were still present in the first half of the month with separate flocks of 30 and 40 birds seen around Eccleston (8^th), with the last record being of 8 at Ulnes Walton on the 12^th. Siskins were in Euxton and Eccleston gardens at the beginning of the month. The over-wintering Green Sandpiper was at Eccleston until the 24^th. Goosander remained at Birkacre with 14 there on the 9^th and two still there on the 18^th.

Other wildfowl records of note included Shoveler - a scarce species for our area - at Lower Rivington (14^th) and E-shaped pond (18^th). A pair of Ruddy Ducks was at the latter site (also 18^th). Four Shelduck had returned to Withnell Fold Flash by the 4^th. At the same site there was a herd of 11 Pink-footed Geese which seem likely to have been genuine wild birds. Three Mute Swans on Eccleston Mill Lodge were new for the site. A pair was on Lower Rivington Reservoir (14^th) and two pairs were resident at Lower Healey Lodges.

Waders at Withnell Fold Flash included 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Redshank and 12 Lapwing (4^th) and 12 Curlew (9^th). The big event, however, was a large passage of Whimbrel at the end of the month with 74 (24^th), 77 (25^th) and 80 (27^th) being counted by various observers.

Other records of interest included Buzzards at Euxton (5^th), Stronstrey Bank (7^th), Eccleston (11^th), Whittle (18^th) and Hoghton (25^th). A pair of Peregrines were in dispute above Stronstrey Bank (19^th). A Barn Owl was noted on Croston Moss (16^th).

May

The later summer arrivals were represented by Lesser Whitethroat (Brindle 2^nd), Grasshopper Warbler (3 at Lower Burgh Meadow 3^rd), Wood Warbler (Heather Lea Wood 7^th), Reed Warbler (Lock Lane 10^th), and Spotted Flycatcher (Anglezarke 23^rd).

Whimbrel passage at Withnell Fold continued into May with 12 there on the 2^nd and 40 on the 5^th. Elsewhere 12 were in a field at Eccleston on the 3^rd, and one was at Belmont (15^th), when there were also four Black-tailed Godwit.

Most of the rest of May's records related to breeding attempts. Swift returned to their Cowling breeding site from the 3^rd. At Eccleston, it was noted that only three pairs of Sand Martin were at a traditional site along the River Yarrow. At Withnell Fold, 9 pairs of Lapwing were on territory, two pairs of Redshank, two pairs of Oystercatcher and a pair of Shelduck. A Snipe was seen displaying on the 19^th. Lower Burgh Meadow held 6 singing Sedge Warblers, double figures of Reed Bunting and several Skylark on the 9^th, as well as Garden Warbler and Whitethroat around the perimeter. In the east of the area Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts were occupying four nest boxes each, and a pair of Redstarts was also noted at a natural site. Wood Warblers were noted at the terraced gardens (15^th) and at Grey Heights (27^th). A Merlin was on territory on Withnell moor until the 10^th, but apparently did not stay.

Breeding success included Kingfisher seen feeding four young at a site in the area, Tawny Owl feeding young at Withnell Fold (8^th), and Grey Wagtail feeding young at Heapey Lodges (23^rd). On the water, Great Crested Grebe had two young at Birkacre (5^th), Coot had three chicks at the same site (9^th) and at White Coppice (23^rd). Mallard had 9 chicks at Withnell Fold (9^th). A pair of Stonechat was noted with juveniles at White Coppice (23^rd). Lots of groups of young Starlings were evident throughout the area by the 22^nd.

Green Woodpeckers were seen at several sites in the Rivington area, and were also seen at Birkacre and Ellerbeck. No record was received, however, from its White Coppice stronghold. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were noted near Heskin Hall (16^th), and on the Eccleston / Heskin border (27^th).

Buzzard sightings continued with birds over Croston (25^th) and Brindle (31^st). Four were seen together over Eccleston (30^th) - a family group perhaps?

June

Further evidence of breeding success included the following:-

· Whitethroat feeding young at Lower Burgh Meadow (6^th)

· Pair Little Grebe feeding 4 young on a pond at Heath Charnock (16^th)

· Treecreeper feeding young at Ecceston (23^rd)

· Swift feeding young at Cowling (25^th)

· Spotted Flycatcher feeding young at Anglezarke (27^th)

· Family party of four Twite in the east of the area

A Barn Owl was noted at a nest site in the Eccleston area (13th) and another at Withnell at the end of the month. Several pairs of Stonechat on Withnell and Anglezarke moors provided evidence of the spectacular expansion of this species in recent years. At least one of the pairs was on its second brood. The flash at Withnell Fold, however, dried up in early June, probably frustrating the breeding attempts of one or two species.

Bird sensation of the month, however, was a Stone Curlew, which was found near Solomon's Temple on Withnell Moor on the 29^th by Ian Cameron and Harry Sumner. Several observers had seen it by nightfall, and it was found again early the next morning, but it then flew off in the direction of White Coppice. It was last seen at around 2.30 p.m. in the same area on the 30^th, when it again flew off in the direction of White Coppice. There was, however, a record of a Stone Curlew in Dumfries and Galloway a couple of days later. Maybe it was the same bird still heading in the wrong direction!

Thanks to the following for submitting records without which the compilation of this report would be impossible:-

W.Aspin, D.Beattie, D.Beevers, W.Berry, R.Hoyle, C.Johnson, C.Jones, G.Lilley, B.Makinson, A.Porter, C.Rae, P.Ross, J.Sharples, C.Smith, N.Southworth, A.Stott, N.West, and to Jean Southworth for her original drawings.

Please continue to submit your records to the editor.

Neil Southworth