Riley Green - Hoghton Bottoms - R Darwen - Hoghton Tower Circular

[Neville Root]

6.30-9.30am - In line with Neil's exhortation to reach less known areas of the Chorley recording area for the Bio Blitz I headed for the far north-eastern corner of the district. Sightings - Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander (pair on R Darwen), Pheasant (plenty being farmed), Grey Heron (calling in flight), Sparrowhawk (soaring female being mobbed by a swallow!), Buzzard (2 nest building), Moorhen, Oystercatcher (3), Lapwing, Curlew (2 in field), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven (kronking near the jackdaw roost in Hoghton Tower grounds), Goldcrest, Swallow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (1m), Nuthatch (2, 1 calling and nest building), Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (2), Chaffinch, Bullfinch (pair), Goldfinch.
Mammals: Grey squirrel, rabbit