Visit by RSPB Project Officer on 16th May 2009

I saw 16 Lapwing in the survey fields at Broadgate on my visit on 16th May. One pair definitely had young in the field near Bleasdale Tower as the adults were alarm calling and dive bombing me. The chicks were too well hidden so I couldn't see how many there were. I couldn't see any chicks with the 7 Lapwing in the field that the hide overlooks but it's possible that they were hidden in amongst the rushes or in the longer grass. The other possibilities are that the cool and very wet weather in the intervening 3 weeks has taken its toll on chicks or, a more optimistic possibility given the fact that there were fewer Lapwing than on the last visit, is that the chicks and parents have wandered off into the non-survey fields. As with many farms in Bowland Lesser Black-backed Gulls are constantly cruising around looking for a meal and 3 flew over the "hide" field whilst I was there.

Other waders seen on the 16th included 4 Snipe, Redshank, Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew.

It's so peaceful at the farm that I could hear a Cuckoo in the distance. Broadgate Wood was alive with birdsong from Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Wren and Woodpigeon. A Buzzard soared over the wood. 4 Sand Martin hunted for insects in the lee of the wood whilst Swallows flew around the farm yard. House Sparrows chattered in the bushes near one of the barns. Birds near the stream included Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron. Other birds on the farm were Goldfinch, Jackdaw and a single Carrion Crow.

I managed to see a Roe Deer this visit. Finally, there were at least 11 Brown Hares. They seem to occur in just about every field!