Sunshine and showers, 10/14 degrees, 0700 to 1100 hrs.
These are highlights only.
Garden Warbler seen and heard at Alderbottom.
Male Whitethroat in full song near Ewood bridge.
Wood Warbler singing in Lumb Vale ( part of this land has been sold and felled, planning has not yet been posted, no private land notices have been erected).
A pair of Spotted Flycatchers are on territory in Strongstry.
Good numbers of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps on route.
Common Sandpiper looking at home on am shingle bank of the Irwell near Irwell Vale.
At least 12 pairs of Sand Martins are excavating nests on the riverbank in Strongstry.
Four Swifts, 10 Swallow, 7 House Martin over.
There is a lot of engineering work around the cycle track, let's hope all of the above are not too affected, going back out with camera to try and locate Wood warbler.
The quick answer to your question is yes, but it is slightly complicated so bear with me. I was heading for Wales for a few days on Tuesday, so went to Stubbins vale on Tuesday morning first light and found a breeding adult in the same area as Monday there was no song. This was a positive identification and managed a record photograph.
I did not return home until late Friday night so visited the site first thing this morning but did not find or hear the bird, unfortunately this area is now private land and by 0800 trees were being cut, there is an ongoing planning dispute concerning this site.
Every year since I have been here this species has appeared around 10th May in Strongstry wood and moved down into Stubbins vale where I have watched and photographed them displaying, for this reason I believe this is a breeding area but I cannot prove that, sorry to go on but it is a shame that this habitat is now being destroyed.
