Mawdesley and Croston Moss

[Neville Root]

8.30-11.30 from Wood Lane end: 70 pink foots in ploughed field next to bench, little egret on pool nr Alma Wood, several buzzard and kestrel, cormorant, surprised a gr heron in a ditch, raven, large number of corvids, grey and RL partridge (heard), woodpigeon, collared dove, GSW, c snipe (3), fieldfare, redwing, pied wagtail, skylark, chaffinch and linnet flocks, bullfinch (pr), goldfinch, yellowhammer (12 together off Sumner's Lane). Disappointing to see small areas of previous set aside land turned over to agriculture and several trees chopped down - which provided perching for corn buntings etc.

Grey partridge and yellowhammer take Chorley species total to 78

[Neil Southworth]

Have you had RL Partridge before, Neville?

[Neville Root]

Good spot Neil, no it was my first of the year, so up to 79. Overall I was a bit surprised at how few birds there were on the mosses considering I covered 7 miles, although I guess we are in that quiet pre-spring period.