White Coppice - 31st May 2010

For the second week runnig we decided to make a trip up to the White Coppice and the surrounding area in search of a few local lifers. Last week we managed to finally see a Cuckoo after hearing them on several occasions but failing to locate them.
This week we went back with the hope of seeing a Spotted Flycatcher which has been reported in the area for the second week running but again we missed out. In the words of Arnie Swartzenager 'I'll be back!'
We parked up near to the Wartermans Cottage and searched around the surrounding  wooded area finding the nest boxes full of Blue and Great Tits and Grey Wagtail feeding on the Goit.

ABOVE ADULT GREY WAGTAIL BELOW JUVENILE

Taking the path from the Watermans Cottage and heading for White Coppice cricket ground we heard the Green Woodpecker we had seen last week and saw Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Black headed Gull, Jay, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Whitethroat, Redpoll and Reed Bunting.

MALE CHAFFINCH TAKING A BATH

We stopped for some lunch at the cricket club cafe and  I tucked into a fine beef and onion barm with Reece going for a bacon barm, (a barm is a bun, tea cake, cob, muffin for those not of Lancastrian persuasion). Anyway as our food was called and I was filling Reeces barm full of HP sauce a Cuckoo decided to fly across the cricket ground calling and disapeared over the trees as upon my return, I'll be sending Reece on our next visit!!
Whilst tucking in we met a fellow birder from Lostock Hall, just down the road from Bamber Bridge who told us he had seen both a Garden Warbler (on our list of 10 Warblers to photograph) and a Redstart on his walk up.

GARDEN WARBLER

The Garden Warbler was calling within 50 yards of the cricket ground on our walk back, but with the light being fairly poor we struggled for a decent photo. The Redstart we picked up on a distant wall about half way back, we'd picked it up by its call then located it and getting a few distant shots before it disapeared.

DISTANT REDSTART

On top of this weeks sightings last week we added Oystercatcher, Meadow Pipit, Raven, Kestrel, Treecreeper, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and the usual subjets.