White Coppice *Grey Heron 1 *Treecreeper 1 *Dipper 2 Goldcrest 1 Redwing 4 Long-tailed Tit 6 *Little Egret 1 (about 3/4 of a mile upstream from cricket pitch) *Coal Tit 2 ** Redpoll 8 (feeding in trees behind holly bushes 1/4 mile from cricket pitch) *Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Morrisons Tower *Pere...

7/1 *Tawny Owl 1 sat on post on Runshaw Lane about 7pm. 8/1 Croston Moss including Finney and Meadow Lane *Pheasant 1 *Greenfinch 3 *Wren 2 Linnet 150-200 Chaffinch 40 Goldfinch 5 Fieldfare 20 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 2 Goosander 3 Lapwing 30 Skylark 50+ *Red-legged Partridge 2 *Bullfinch 1f (twin hedge) *...

Late afternoon circular stroll around Croston Finney/Moss *Goldfinch 3 Chaffinch 10 Linnet 30 *Pink-footed Goose 30-40 towards Mawdesley Skylark 100-150 *Reed Bunting 5 * Yellowhammer 1 *Corn Bunting 4 *Pied Wagtail 2 *Song Thrush 1 *Mistle Thrush 1 Buzzard 1 Lapwing 100 Cormornant 3 Also, *Jay 2 on...

Managed a bit of a scout round this morning Heapey Lodge No 3 Goldeneye 1m Tufted Duck 7 (5m, 2f) Mallard 4 Lodge facing when leaving White Coppice Mute Swan 2 Canada Goose 1 Kingfisher 1 Coot 2 Anglezarke north end Pochard 1m (it was active for a change, diving) Nuthatch 1 Yarrow Reservoir Goosande...

Managed a mile in Chorley on the A49 on my way home from hospital today so that I could register a score !!

Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Moorhen, Magpie and Black-headed Gull take me to the dizzy heights of 5 species for the year

Firstly, congratulations to Gary for leading the way in 2017 with a record 142 species (assuming that there isn’t a late NYE surge !!) Whilst it wouldn’t have made a difference to the overall result, my challenge was curtailed towards the end of November after being admitted to hospital. Unfortunate...

Same as Gary.

No mention of the calling "green sandpiper" Gary ? !!

Think I need to WD40 that squeak on my tripod.

Thanks Gary. I almost missed it too as I was scanning the other side of the river and higher ! It's distinctive silhouette shape passed into my field of vision only just over the height of the hedge about half distance to Syd Brook. Don't think I've seen one in winter before - usually been spring ro...

Decided to chance my luck on Syd Brook this evening and was duly rewarded with a single Woodcock (454pm) in flight as viewed from Larkfield.

Couple of small bats seen too.

The Woodcock takes me to 140 species for the year.

Afternoon before and during the shooting. GWE seen before it moved from the shooting area over the Douglas. Goosander 1f Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1f Kingfisher and Corn Bunting (same as Gary) together with 1 Yellowhammer. Shooters did flush one Woodcock but not seen by me - only Pheasant, partridge spe...

Quick call in this morning.

Dunlin 3
Ruff 1
Buzzard 2
Lapwing 125
Black-headed Gull 50
Fieldfare 20

Went on an "afternoon after the night before" walk round Upper Rivington 3-4pm to clear our heads.

Quite quiet with highlights being:
GBB Gull 2
LBB Gull 1
Treecreeper 1
Cormorant 3
Mute Swan 3 juveniles on Lower Rivington

White Coppice Very little vismig this morning apart from 2 Meadow Pipit S and 1 Redpoll S Highlight though was something I can't say I've seen before - a big female Peregrine attacking a Cormorant in flight ! The Cormorant escaped and so the Peregrine turned its attention to a Carrion Crow but with ...

I think you're right with Green Sandpiper - probably explains why I've not seen it 2 out of 3 times I've heard it recently as I would have had my back to the river ! The wings do look long but I think it's just the angle of the wings in the straight vertical position which makes them look longer. I ...

Finney Even more Geese and Swans than yesterday. Pink-footed Goose c2500 to 3000 estimate Canada Goose c300 Greylag Goose c100 Barnacle Goose 2 Whooper Swan 175 Mute Swan 2 Herring Gull 10 Black-headed Gull 50 Buzzard 1 One possible Merlin but distant. Eyes Lane Great White Egret 1 Grey Heron 3 Shov...