​Ridley Lane. Ulnes Walton Depot
Very Warm
19.00 to 20.55
2 miles
Parked on Ridley Lane, just to the side of Cocker Bar Bridge then a party of 13 set off by walking south to a junction. Turned left with Garth Prison on the right and private fishing pools on the left. Walked to a junction overlooking the Depot then retraced steps.
It was a lovely summer's evening but the midges were biting.
Some of the party retired to The Dunkirk Hall PH for a well deserved drink.
Mallard 1
Pheasant 1
Kestrel 1
Common Buzzard 1
Oystercatcher 3
Lapwing 1
Swallow 5+
Black Headed Gull 5+
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
Wood Pigeon 20+
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Carrion Crow 20+
Jackdaw 40+
Magpie 2
Chiff Chaff h
Blackcap h
Whitethroat 1
Wren h
Starling 30+
Robin 1 juv
Blackbird h
Song Thrush h
Dunnock 1
Chaffinch h
Goldfinch h
Tree Sparrow 2
Reed Bunting h
Yellow Hammer h
Fallow (pale)Deer 4
Brown Hare1
h=heard only

Samlesbury. Potters Lane
Monday 17th June
Warm Sunny
19.00 to 21.15
2.25 miles 150 feet climb
Parked at The Samlesbury Hotel then a party of 16 followed a path that started just below the Hotel car park. Followed a hedge on the right to a gap. Left through gap then followed left hand hedge to a stile into field. Crossed field with hedge on the right. This became a definite track with boundaries on either side. This was the Medieval route into Preston. Descended to a Chapel. The right of way through a gate was padlocked so we used the Chapel's access to the main road then followed this to Potters Lane.
Looked at the Coaching House on the corner with a bell High in a gable. When the Coach was seen coming from Preston, the bell was rung thus indicating to the travellers to come out and get on the coach.
Walked along Potters Lane then right up a track and ascended the gravelled surface to a top gate. Followed a left hand hedge back to the outward route and retraced steps back to the cars.
Some of the party had a drink inside the Hotel bar.
Thanks Hazel for some of the images.
Canada Goose 20+
Mallard 5+
Grey Heron 1
Kestrel 1
Oystercatcher 2
Swallow 5+
Swift 4
Black Headed Gull 2 +
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
Wood Pigeon 5+
Great Spotted Woodpecker h
Carrion Crow 20+
Jackdaw 10+
Magpie 2
Blue Tit 1
Great Tit 3
Long Tailed Tit 10+
Chiff Chaff h
Wren h
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush 2
Mistle Thrush h
Dunnock 1
House Sparrow h
Chaffinch h
Roe Deer 1
Brown Hare 1
h=heard only

​Hoole Marsh. River Douglas.
Monday 10th June
Fine. Breezy
2.5 miles
19.00 to 20.50

Parked at the bottom of Station Road then a party of 12 followed the River Douglas south as far as Haunders Lane. Had a break then retraced steps.
Some of the party retired to Ego's for a well deserved drink after an enjoyable but breezy walk.

Watched 4 young Swallows being fed before setting off. Also 2 Swift flew over.

Thanks to Ian for the young Swallow image.

Greylag Goose/Domestic Goose 20+
Emperor Goose (with above)
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 5+
Shelduck 10+
Pheasant (male)
Little Egret 1
Water Rail h?
Oystercatcher 1
Redshank 3
Lapwing 3+
Swallow 5+ (4 juvs)
Swift 2
Black Headed Gull 5+
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2+
Wood Pigeon 1
Carrion Crow 5+
Jackdaw 5+
Magpie 2+
Wren h
Starling 5+
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush h
Pied Wagtail 1
Chaffinch 1
Reed Bunting (male)

Brown Hare 3

h=heard only

Broughton-Barton
Sunny warm
1.6 miles
19.00 to 20.40
Parked at The Broughton Inn, then a party of 10 set off by walking up Whittingham Lane to the east.
Crossed the bypass then found a quiet lane on the left before a point where the M6 crossed Whittingham Lane.
Walked up this beautiful old lane slowly as we had plenty of time. Found a path on the left that crossed several fields and eventually back to the bypass.
Retraced steps back down Whittingham Lane to the Pub.
Some of the group retired to the pub for a well deserved drink after a beautiful summer's evening walk.
The highlight of the evening were columns of midges rising high above a tree indicating how warm it was.
Thank you Hazel for some of the images.
Mallard 5+
Pheasant h
Oystercatcher 1
Lapwing 1
Swallow 2+
Black Headed Gull 5+
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
Wood Pigeon 5+
Collared Dove 2
Carrion Crow 10+
Jackdaw 5+
Magpie 2+
Blue Tit 1
Chiff Chaff h
Wren h
Robin h
Starling 5+
Blackbird h
Song Thrush 5+ h
Chaffinch h
Greenfinch 1
Rabbit 1 black
h=heard only