Pinched this from the PA Wires last night - hopefully some of the Hen Harriers will head our way.
Tracking a year or two back revealed that young birds will come as far down as the Dee estuary on day-trips in late summer, returning to Bowland in the evening.
Worth keeping an eye out for....
(Pix by Owen Humphreys/PA Wire).
Anyway, here's the PA story....
Harriers tagged in Bowland
Hen Harrier chicks have been fitted with satellite and radio tags today as part of a long running conservation project to monitor the rare bird of prey.
Conservation agency Natural England introduced the scheme at Bowland Fells, Lancashire, following fears that the harrier may be lost as a breeding bird in England.
There are just 12 nests in Bowland which, according to Natural England ornithologist Stephen Murphy who was tagging the birds, is something of a sanctuary for the Hen Harrier.
Elsewhere in England the bird of prey is subject to illegal persecution and the loss of its habitat - and there are only two nests across the rest of the country.
Two years ago Natural England tracked a young Hen Harrier, nicknamed Olivia, and this year ornithologists are tagging her offspring.
Mr Murphy said birds in the area which have previously had the lightweight devices fitted were âÂÂdoing fineâÂ? and the system gave excellent data on them.
He said one male chick was fitted with a radio tag which allows volunteers to track the bird at close range and another with a solar-powered satellite device which could trace it to within 150 metres anywhere in the world.
In addition to location, the device measures the birdâÂÂs temperature, how active it is, can help identify where it is roosting and will even tell the experts monitoring it when the bird dies.
âÂÂThe birds are so mobile, covering 60 miles in a day, for us to glean any knowledge from them we need the radio and satellite devices.
âÂÂThe birds are so rare and we need to know why,âÂ? he said.
While the hen harrier is not threatened with persecution at Bowland Fells, elsewhere it is one of the factors affecting the bird.
âÂÂIn times gone by, the hen harrier was a very common species from the lowlands to the uplands, but another thing which threatens them is habitat loss and change,âÂ? Mr Murphy added.
While it was easy to protect breeding sites, he said that once the birds left those areas they were susceptible to persecution.
Last month the Government announced moves to boost protection of the Hen Harrier in England through its inclusion on the list of species and habitats for conservation in the country.
While the bird of prey is extremely rare in England, it is not on the UKâÂÂs Biodiversity Action Plan list because it is more widespread in Scotland.
Now that those "wicked" Eagle Owls have been culled, they may stand an even better chance...hmm, still not too sure about that one.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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6 Monarch Butterflies in the local park in Benalmadena near Torremolinos during a recent holiday!
Also White Rumped and Little Swifts in Sierra de la Plata, and Mongoose.
White Headed Duck and Marbled Teal, Bee-eater and Roller in Almeria.
I live by the canal, close to Liverpool City Centre
The other day I had a Sparrowhawk land in my garden taking a sparrow in its clutches.
A rare sight for us living in the city.
I hope they are safe!
Singing Icky Warbler near Oswaldtwistle. Been there three weeks.
JD: For updates, check premium rate Birdline Ted (09068 700 249)
20/06: Seawatch, Formby Point, 10.30am-1.15pm:
Great Crested Grebe 3
Gannet 71
Manx Shearwater 4
Guillemot 3
Common Scoter 3
Arctic Skua 1
Sandwich Tern 5
Quiet session.