Out and about 7/2

[John Frankland]

What a glorious morning it was so I decided to start up in the snow on Winter Hill with perfect conditions for seeing and hearing.

Red Grouse 2 heard on the Manchester side on the walk up. A surprise to me was an early calling * Curlew on the Chorley side. Closely followed by a calling * Red Grouse which was then seen well in flight, this time on the Chorley side. Apart from a few Crows on the Manchester side, nothing else seen or heard on either side apart from stunning views and weather !!

Eyes Lane
Whooper Swan 21 on the frozen pylon flood
Mute Swan 2
BH Gulls down to c50 including 1 Herring and 2 LBB
Lapwing an increase from recently c250
Buzzard 1
Corn Bunting 9
Goosander 1m and 1f (separately)
Bonus birds of the day were a flock of 20-25 * Golden Plover. Initially seen in flight on the Bretherton side of the river with the Lapwing. Then picked out on the Sollom side of the Douglas towards the canal. At least 14 were seen on the ground (by scope) including a couple of summer plumage ones. Then as I pulled in on the Sollom side by the muck heap, the flock took flight heading south and lost to view.

Croston Finney
Little Egret 1 in ditches and actually on Finney Lane too at one stage !
Skylark 50
Snipe 1
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1 pair
Chaffinch 20
Goldfinch 3
Linnet 50

* 3 new ones takes me to 98 species for the year