Cuerden Valley Park - Easter Weekend

On the Friday I headed up to see the Dipper at 7am and after waiting for 15 minutes it appeared preaning on a rock sticking above the water line of the river lostock. It wasn't even disturbed by a local bin wagon that was emptying local skips, it just continued to preen and dip on the rock before flying down river and beyon sight.

There was the usual woodland birds on several early morning walks over the weekend including many Chiffchaff calling but the other warblers have either passed through or are staying quiet at the moment especially on Stags Lodge where Blackcap and Willow Warbler have been seen this year but not in the past week. Another missing warbler is the Whitethroat which bred successfully last year but there's time yet. The local Buzzard past over yesterday along with 6 Oystercatchers which are local to home but I've never seen them on the patch before. Butterflies are starting to emerge with Orange Tip, Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in evidence in various numbers.

Dipper @ Cuerden Valley Park - 9th April 2011

I finally took the advice of some of the blog readers and visited Kem Mill at 7 this morning with hope of finding the Dipper. I wasn’t disappointed as it appeared within seconds of my arrival so I took the opportunity to take plenty of photos at close range as it hunted along the river lostock. It wasn’t until I checked through my photos as I awaited its return that I realised I hadn’t turned the image stabiliser on so some very poor results. I watched the stretch for about 45 minutes and early on it kept flying in and out so there is a possibility it could be rearing young close by. Other sightings included Chiffchaff, Wren, Great & Blue Tit, Mallard and a Treecreeper ( IS turned on!)

ABOVE DIPPER BELOW TREECREEPER 

After my brief visit to Kem Mill I headed up to Stags Lodge with the dogs where on the previous evening I’d seen my first Willow Warbler on the patch. It was still calling in the morning on the bank of the river lostock where a male Black Cap was also calling again the first on the patch for the year. Other sightings included Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Magpie, Blue and Great Tit.


I also spotted a Blue Tit entering one of the traffic lights at the A49/A6 crossroad, one nested there last year so with any look it will again this year and I’ll try for some photos.

The feeders have been busy and Great and Blue Tits have now returned after not being around for several weeks after the tree was cut down. It also looks like we have a pair of Dunnock in a conifer hedge at the other side of the ginnel, the male has spent most of the day calling its alarm call due to our cat lazing in the sun on top of our shed.

DUNNOCK