Glovershaw 28-08-2006

David,

A walk around the Glovershaw area this morning showed that there had been a significant clear out following the strong winds and heavy rain of the past 24 hours. A gentle north-westerly with clearing skies was in marked contrast to last week when there was certainly more birds about. I was giving up hope of anything after a half mile of no birds at all, but then, I noticed some movement in the fields below the moorland fringes and there much to my delight were some Wheatears and Stonechats. More Wheatears were seen along the wall as I marched towards the Golf Course. At this point, two Whinchats were flitting amongst the tall grasses, wall and fence posts. I made my way back across the fields where the Wheatears had been seen and on closer inspection it was clear that the two groups I'd seen on the outward walk had come together. A count showed that nine birds were thereand two Stonechats were making use of the walls. As I arrived back at my car on the Glen Road, a maleYellowhammer obligingly sat on the bracken.

In short : 9 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 2 Whinchat, 8Meadow Pipt, 1 Yellowhammer.

Cheers,
Paul King.