Saturday 14 April 2012

Tree Pipits return to Dalton and more Swallows..

Another Chiffchaff is present in the small copse on the RH side of Dalton Lane, (just before Dalton House) where the footpath on the right hand takes you to Cote Green. This is again a breeder from last year and come back to the same site.

Last couple of days the "dawn chorus" have been more subdued and the lead choristers have gone missing. Also our male from our pair in the garden seems to have been seen far less. But I think what it is, is that the young are now in the nest and he is spending more time flying out to other gardens lawn areas to get small worms and grubs etc for the young birds and he is leaving the easy option fruit in our garden just for his own and the females feed.

A Early frost and a little colder this morning. And so welcome news a couple of Tree Pipits are back to the Crag House side of Plain Quarry Car Park and displaying well. None yet made it back to the Dalton (upper) yet.

Both Chiffchaffs in Dalton could be heard singing, and altogether in the Dalton SE side produced 11 singing Willow Warblers. On the Common near the Trig there was a further two singing, Lancelot and Burton Willows seemed far more subdued in their calling today and instead of their full on "crescendo" call, there was more "hoowhit" contact calls. Even so I did manage to count 9 Willow Warblers in Lancelot and at least 10 birds calling from Burton Fell which did include at least 5 new areas.

Two of the Three Chiffs in Burton Fell were singing away.
Two of the Blackcaps in Lancelot were singing and another new one has moved into another new site which was used last year in Pickles Wood, near to the Cul de Sat (deer gate area), although I am having to reserve confirmation just in case this is one out of the three birds moved from Pickles. Lancelots Chiffs all calling from there fixed territories.

Still odd Meadow Pipits going through including a party of 6N.

1240hrs: A party of 5 Swallow heading North seen over "Whassett" Nr. Milnthorpe.

1600hrs: A pair of Swallows going over Vic Lane, Burton In Kendal towards East.

Walk around Hilderstone and Tarn Lane produced: Two Chiffchaffs - One on railway side near to dogs kennels and another on the Canal side at the bridge Nr. Yealand. Also and Blackcap calling (usual breeder just here), also several Willow Warblers calling from here. Also whilst coming past Morewood School in Burton - Archie the Chiffchaff was singing from one of the front blossom trees.