Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Gorpley Res. Sunday 14th June

Finally found a twite nest in my RSPB Twite Recovery Project squares.
Didn't see the nest-cup but a pair emerged from a typical nest site. They flew north towards Clough Foot area on Bacup road, possibly further, returning 25 minutes later.

The res. embankment had just been mown and there must have been a glut of caterpillars, as there was a very confiding little owl feeding continually. Also at least two pairs of wheatears feeding young ( one brood flying with them, ) plus grey wagtails, meadow pipits and a possible nuthatch from the nearby Gorpley Clough. Dippers nesting somewhere in the clough; I waded around the second waterfall by the tufa spring, but couldn't find it.

Others seen from Inchfield Pasture were a pair of stonechats, a pair of curlew, skylarks, kestrel and a peregrine passed over twice. One lapwing in Ramsden Clough. Heron and 30 Canada geese on the res. No little ringed plovers or sandpipers.

Seven small heath butterflies and 2 toads in different places.

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