Good look round local woods and river most of the day, east north east breeze all day, temp around 12 but felt like 6, overcast.
Insect life airborne and leaf cover is not bad considering the cool Spring.
Not a lot of song even early on today, but good numbers of Willow Warbler several low in undergrowth probably nesting. Stubbins to Irwell Vale along the valley I would estimate 10/12 pairs.
Chiffchaff in the same area were not as abundant, probably around 6 pair, if you take into account the large bramble beds around Porritt lodge where there are at least 3 pair breeding these are not bad numbers.
Blackcap, in April these looked like they were going to be more than last year, I have found five definite sites with nesting activity, could be more of course, four of these sites are within yards of where they nested last year.
One pair of Garden Warbler showing nesting activity more or less in the same area as 2014, very difficult to locate now leaf cover has grown.
Up to this date no records of Wood Warbler, Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher, still time for the latter to appear.
Sand Martins were always going to be my savour this year and they have not disappointed, as it stands now there are 27 nest holes in use with at least 5 more being excavated, there is also a small colony down stream of Stubbins road bridge, with about 5 nest holes, this site could be Rossendale or GMC but the birds don't care.
The first nests were completed around 10 days ago, with 37 days to incubate and fledge it is possible, weather permitting, first young could be on the wing second week of June which would allow a second brood.
Forty plus Swift up and down the river at Irwell Vale, I am not aware of any breeding sites on my patch.
The first Swallows have started flying in and out of two lots of stables, will check for young in a few weeks, around 20 were active along the river near Lumb.
Only seen half a dozen House Martin today mostly with the Sand Martins, I am told there are a couple of nests under construction in Edenfield at traditional sites, still poor numbers though.
