Out and about

[Leonard Poxon]

Eyes Lane late morning - very windswept and water everywhere, very few birds on the flood with just a small group of Mallard, 3 Shelduck and 4 Mute Swan including a juvenile, Great White Egret on marshy land at back of floods, Pheasant, Carrion Crow; on the River were a few Mallard and 1 feral goose; in the field to the west of the river was a flock of around 36 Starling and a separate group of 4 Fieldfare. No raptors seen.

Croston Moss (Great Hanging Bridge area) late morning - no waterfowl or waders on the flooded fields, a small of flock of Chaffinch and Goldfinch were in the trees around the depot and another flock landed in the hedges along Meadow Lane.

Heskin Hall lunchtime - 2 Fieldfare seen.

Great Knowley early afternoon - 3 Common Buzzard and 1 hunting Kestrel.

Astley Park late afternoon - plenty of Hornbeam seeds on the trees and on the ground below them but no Hawfinch to be seen, Goldfinch, Great Tit & Nuthatch seen, Cormorant in flight above the lake, 2 adult Mute Swan and a juvenile, 40 plus finches (mainly Chaffinch) in trees in the Astley Hall car park area.

White Coppice very late afternoon - went in search of Woodcock but none seen; anectdotal report of several being flushed recently and also of a hunting Long Eared Owl on the moors above Stronstey Bank, Kestrel seen. Several waxcap fungi seen on the cricket field including Golden and Heath Waxcaps.