I decided to head up to the Horwich Moors this Morning, or the South Pennine Moors to be precise, to try to see Red Grouse. Its one of the few resident species in Greater Manchester that I haven't seen, and I'm desperate to get to 200 on my GM list.
It started off a beautiful day, and the view across Bolton and Wigan from where I parked the car was excellent. My plan was to follow Mast road which, unsurprisingly, leads to the mast on Winter Hill. It was a pretty ordinary outing to be honest. Lots of Mipits, Skylarks aplenty, the odd Curlew, Kestrel and Raven but significantly NO RED GROUSE. Not sure what I have to do to add this species to my GM list!!
In fairness its not the 'best' habitat. Its still a lovely place, and normally in scenery like this I'd be in the Cumbrian Fells, but there's not as much heather as I'd like for Grouse and it doesn't surprise me that they are not as easy as in other moorland spots I've been to. Still it was a stunning morning, and the air was literally filled with the song of Skylarks and Meadow Pipit. I do think the latter is very underrated as a songster. Its a sound I associate as much with summer as that of Willow Warbler and Skylark.
I spent a bit of time chasing some Lepidoptera! An orangey butterfly was giving me a bit of a run-around, and its powerful, direct flight fooled me at first into believing it was a moth. I eventually pinned one down though and it was a Small Heath butterfly. Unfortunately every one was very easily spooked and I couldn't get within 5ft to get a photo. I also spent quite a bit of time chasing what turned out to be another 'heath'. A moth this time, the Common Heath.
The Common Heath was slightly less jumpy, but the breeze, the fact I was handholding the camera on the highest zoom and the fact I was at least four feet away meant I still struggled to get a decent shot. This one is about the best of 20 or so! I actually enjoyed the moth and butterflies more than the birds today. Think I need to get the moth trap out again!
The local patch was really quiet this morning as far as birdlife was concerned. But for the first time this year there was a real 'buzz' around the place as far as insects were concerned. There were numerous Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing, plus Small Tortoiseshells, andLarge and Small Whites. There were plenty moths as well, but without a net to catch them I find most of them impossible. Unfortunately I didn't see many bees, which is, I suppose, a common theme these days. On the positive side though I never cease to be amazed by the ways wildlife will adapt to exploit any opportunity. This unattractive looking stream (below) is actually little more than a field drain. Upstream it is ocherous, where the cattle get in its just silted up and almost stagnant. But today there was a stunning pair of Black-tailed Skimmers on it. First I've ever seen on this site!
I was struck by the behaviour of Bumblebees around a neighbours plum tree this weekend, and its carried on this evening.
There have been literally dozens of them, at least three species, seemingly feeding on the surface of the leaves. I can only presume that there is some sugary solution being produced by the tree - similar to that which Sycamore produces that attracts so many aphids - but I cant actually see, feel or smell anything. Still, the bees obviously can because I've just looked again now and they're all over the tree. I cant find anything with a quick websearch so I guess its answers on a postcard!
OK, so its about time I resurrected this Blog. I can't (or won't) promise to post regularly because unfortunately my life is not that ordered, and to be honest, I sometimes struggle for time! But, we'll see how it goes.
So, for starters I thought I'd start with a nice easy post about a pleasant days birding at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve in Yorkshire.
I've been meaning to visit this site for years, but after watching a BBC short film with Gordon Buchanan filming seabirds, my daughter announced that she would really like to see a Puffin. That was about all the excuse I needed - I did cheat a bit and tell her that we might see porpoises as well - so all four of us headed off to East Yorkshire last Thursday.
After 2 1/2 hrs we arrived at a colder than expected Bempton Cliffs. Not something that bothers me but not great with kids. Nevertheless we enjoyed a good couple of hours birding (well I did) seeing all the expected species and a cracking scope filling view of a Puffin before the stiff and decidedly chilly south easterly got too much and we headed back to the small shop.
As we were waiting for a coffee a middle aged couple came to the entrance. The volunteer on the entrance asked if they were members and the bloke replied that they weren't so she told him that it would be five pounds for the parking. He sounded shocked, his partner was incredulous - the guy appeased her by making it sound like it was ok because they didn't have to pay an entry fee! It never ceases to amaze me that people often visit places like this with the expectation that its free. That they have a right to be able to visit these places. I can sort of understand the argument. It is after all 'countryside', and you don't pay to go to the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales. But these same people would (probably) not hesitate to put the coins in at the pay and display parking in their local town centre (and if Bridlington is anything to go by, it aint cheap in Yorkshire), or pay double that for a couple of coffee's at any of the well known coffee chains. It is, in my opinion, one of the main problems we face where nature conservation is concerned. Loads of people say they're 'green' and concerned about biodiversity and global warming etc etc. But, the bottom line is people either do not understand that someone has to pay to protect our wildlife and special places, they don't understand why, or they just think someone else should do it.
