Browsholme Hall..main car park + grounds Spotted Flycatcher city! At least 3 family groups with well fledged chicks, some still being fed and others catching their own, and also some feeding on the floor. Hard to count because they were in and out of the trees, back and forth from one fence post to another, then another appeared where that 1 flew down. Approx 5 birds in each group.
Other birds of note:
1 Willow Warbler and a Robin (mimicking the Flycatchers) Buzzard (2 circling) Raven (2 over) Goldcrest 2 Nuthatch Meadow Pipit Swallows in abundance Woodpecker- thought Lesser Spotted but inconclusive from photo as I've not caught much of the bird and it flew off
No sign of the Two-Barred Crossbill since Sunday
Quick drive to Bowland. Only bird of note was a Bird of Prey that flew out of the coniferous woodland and landed in a tree on the hill opposite to where I was parked on the country lane but it is too far away to conclude anything from the photos!
Great bird to get, I guess I got lucky today as it was sowing tremendously well when I arrived at after work, it was seen on the feeders and on top of the cottage, I would like to say thanks to the the guy who owns the, he was very polite and kind to let us all stand in his yard!
I have taken a few pictures if anyone wants to have a look http://austinmorley.blogspot.co.uk/
With so many people stood so relatively close to the feeder, it really put me off, and I wasn't very optimistic about the bird showing again under those circumstances. But it just goes to show how wrong I was !
John, good to see you again but you should have stayed!!
Although I agree, things were a bit busy late morning, I took the decision to stay in the hope things would quieten down a bit in the afternoon.
With the bird being reported at 7am, I still felt it was worthwhile hanging around as I had a good feeling that it would return at some point, even if it did mean a bit of patience would be needed. At 2.10pm I decided to head back to my car and grab my coat and sandwiches and then stick it out until 5pm.
I got halfway towards the car park when the owner of the cottage, drove past and wound his window down to say "the Two barred-Crossbill is back again!".
"Typical" I thought and then made a "rather quick dash" back to the cottage garden and got great views through the 'scope as it fed on Sunflower hearts in the seed tray.
Hopefully the bird stays longer (been present 3 days now) and further access will be announced for other birders to enjoy.
A great bird for the area and in fact first record for Lancashire.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 4th of August 2013 06:25:04 PM
Had a run out to try and see the Two-barred Crossbill today. It hadn't been reported since 7am this morning and seeing perhaps 100 people stood around 12-15 yds from the farm house feeder on arrival at 11am, I could understand why. I turned around and went back home.
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 4th of August 2013 01:16:42 PM
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 4th of August 2013 03:29:18 PM
