Osprey over Rivington reservoirs this morning (7.00am) - from BirdGuides.com

Snowy walk up to Anglezarke and beyond from Bagganley Lane this morning. Saw 3 teal and a goosander (f) at the north end of Anglezarke through a blizzard (8.30am), if that's any use for the duck count.

12.30-1.00pm - 8 godwits with the regulars on the main flood. Regulars being pintail (5), lapwing (40), mute swan (juv), shelduck, BH gull (50), LBB gull, goosander (m on Douglas, with several teal\mallard), buzzard (2), kestrel, pied wag, skylark.

12.00-12.30pm - still not the numbers of last week, even with more floodwater. Med gull among the c.100 BH gulls on the flood (before relocating the other side of the Douglas), c.100 lapwing, single curlew, oystercatcher (2), several shelduck, few teal, juvenile mute swan, buzzard, starling flock (c...

The ruff wasn't on the main flood John, but on the small pool in the field to the left of the main flood (when viewed from the bridge) - with the redshank, but apart from the godwits

12.30-1.15pm - plenty of waders on the flood - counted 14 godwits (tried to check if any were bar-tailed but think not), lapwing (80), oystercatcher (2) and singles of curlew, redshank and ruff (f winter). Also teal (100+), pintail (4), shelduck, juvenile mute swan, LLB (2), herring (over), BH gulls...

12.30-1.30pm - 200+ teal on the flood this lunchtime, similar numbers of lapwing and BH gull. Also LBB(3) and single herring gull, shelduck, 6 pintail (4m+2f), corvids (incl rook), oystercatcher(2), buzzard(2), jay, small starling flock, pied wag, skylark in full song, m pipit, reed bunting. Mammal:...

Good place to see jack snipe at the moment is Lower Burgh Meadow - the rough field above the biggest lodge at Birkacre. Flushed one a few days ago near one of the pools amongst the reeds/long grass.

2.00pm - a male mandarin was accompanying the usual mallard, coot and moorhen (little grebes laying low) on a not quite totally frozen over Common Bank. Also a grey wag nr the Chor - Yarrow confluence.

Mandarin takes Chorley species total for the year to 96

Forgot to add a couple of mammals: hare on the Finney and earlier a stoat crossing Dawber's Lane.

8.00-10.30am - teal (60), mute swan (2), redshank, pied wagtail and small mobile flock of fieldfare on the banks of the Douglas. On the Finney - flocks of pigeon and jackdaw, single pink foot (looked ok but prob not fully fit), buzzard (6+), raven (2), kestrel, peregrine, m pipit, skylark, good numb...

Winter Hill is a good bet for a SEO Gary, there was one up near to Two Lads last Sat according to the Manc forum. I was up there, but missed it of course.

8.00am - teal (6), Canada goose (2), heron (5 together), moorhen, BH-herring-LBB gull over, kingfisher, buzzard (2), kestrel, several fieldfare, finch flock (400-500) mainly chaffinch on stubble field, gr-bl-coal-LT, yellowhammer (2).
Also 6 snipe (5 common & 1 jack) on LBM.

2.00-4.00pm - Croston Finney: golden plover (38) amongst the lapwing and starling flocks. Peregrine sent everything up near the depot, but didn't connect. Along the banks of the Douglas to Eyes Lane - oystercatcher (2), goosander (2), teal (10+), linnet, yellowhammer (2), reed bunting (2). At Eyes L...

7.15am - positively arctic atop the hill, even the crows were keeping a low profile. The dip towards the Pike offered some respite from the easterly wind and there were at least 7 grouse there with a kestrel impersonating a merlin. Waited for a hour or so for a SEO or Len's harrier (what a sighting!...