Yarrow Valley Park:- juvenile Water Rail showing well on the edge of the reed bed on Top Lodge, appearing to be doing quite a bit of flycatching. Also Grey Heron, Pr GC Grebes and juvenile, Nuthatch, Jay and LT Tit. The adult Mute Swan was again chasing the young swan around Big Lodge. White Coppic...

Just one Snipe on view this morning, and no sign of Water Rail or Green Sandpiper. There were also two Grey Heron in the trees behind Top Lodge plus a Kingfisher flying around. The sub-adult Mute Swan, which has been on Top Lodge for some time, had found its way onto Big Lodge, where it was being ch...

When I arrived at White Coppice there was lots of activity around the car park with a tit flock passing through, Nuthatches calling and a couple of GS Peckers chasing each other around. Several Swallows and House Martins were flying over and Jays were making their presence known. However, once acros...

Paid a quick visit this morning - the car park barrier and machine were actually working! - and although there were plenty of birds on the pools, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Sightings:- Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, GC Grebe, Coot, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzar...

Re the ladder on the chimney, it has been suggested that now might be a good time to install a nesting tray up there. Has anybody got any views on the subject?

Yes I agree with Len, it is a Water Rail - a pretty dishevelled looking specimen. Maybe a juvenile moulting into adult plumage? Why didn't you find it yesterday Carol when we were down there?
Whatever, a good find and an instant result from lowering the water level!

Birkacre:- Mute Swan 4, GC Grebe 3, Mallard 26, Coot 9, Moorhen 2, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, BH Gull 8, plus Swallow, Jay Nuthatch, Chiffchaff and LT Tit Heapey Lodges:- GC Grebe 2, Hybrid Goose 2, Mallard 30, Coot 2, Moorhen 3, BH Gull 7, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin 10, Swallow, Chiffcha...

12/09 Pink-footed Geese.........Chorley 8/10 Red-throated Diver........Belmont Reservoir 9/10 Redwing.......................Chorley 13/10 Fieldfare.......................White Coppice / Eccleston / Cuerden 13/10 Whooper Swan..............Euxton 16/10 Pochard........................Anglezarke Reservo...

Four hardy souls braved the sometimes torrential downpours and took advantage of a few intermittent dry spells to benefit from Joyce's expertise in the mycological field. Well over 20 species were found, despite the conditions, making it all worthwhile. I'll leave Joyce to enter the species found, b...

Common frog on the drive this afternoon. I don't know if it came down in the storm!

Our next Field Trip will be a Fungal foray at White Coppice on Saturday next, 17th September, starting at 10.00 am Meet at the cricket pitch car park, although it may be necessary to park along the lane leading to the cricket pitch, as there is apparently a cricket match on Saturday, and the gate to...

Very quiet at White Coppice this morning. A few Robins and Chiffchaff singing were the only birds breaking the silence. A Raven passed over flying east. Good numbers of Swallow were flying over but at considerable height. There were also 20+ on wires near the former Railway Hotel at Heapey. A small ...

Still two Little Grebe on the lake plus the usual Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen and Mallard
Butterflies in the walled garden on sedum were 10 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Red Admiral

I take it that it's a garden escape then? And perhaps the next big pest - pretty though it is?

Two fine specimens of Lawyers Wig / Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus) at a regular site in Queensgate this morning. A species that even I can identify!