'Tear Drops

Dan here.

Seems to have been quite a good drop of Wheatears in N. Lancs this morning.

Mr. Carter had twenty at FAUNA, and I made a somewhat late visit to the marsh where a flock of seven were feeding in the lee of the walled meadow.

Just over the river from Aldcliffe at Snatchems, 12 Wheatears were in the field between the somewhat scruffy farm and the traveller's site, with two Sedge Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat all singing near the phragmites-lined pool there.

I confess to being tempted to the dark side of the Lune for a bit of migrant searching at Sunderland Point first thing. It was fun, with at least 22 Wheatears, including ten dropping steeply from on high to land on bushes and posts very close by.

Other migrants found there were three Redstarts-- a pretty female and two glorious adult males-- one of which was singing continuously. Continuing my run of luck with Yellow Wags-- one went over N (as well as a few mipits, two Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin) and two White Wagtails were on the deck.

A Chiffchaff skulking in a small bush at the very tip of the point was clearly a newly-arrived night migrant, as I suspect were the 8 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser and single Common Whitethroats. Seven Whimbrels were feeding near the new sea defences.

Back at the slightly neglected Aldcliffe, my first Large White butterfly of the year was on the wing and two Whitethroats and Snipes were noted.

Nearby at Willow Lane, at least four House Martins were nest prospecting and two highly vocal Whimbrels flew east.

DH.