On a fine Autumn morning, 14 of us set off from the car park in Marles Wood to the sound of woodland birds calling in the treetops above us. Upon reaching the 'Sale Wheel' bend in the River Ribble we saw a Grey Heron braving the flow of the river in search of his breakfast, whilst Black-headed Gulls and Carrion Crows occupied the fields beyond. A calling Buzzard had us all searching above the treeline with us all getting great views of the bird. Carrying on along the River Ribble, the views of the autumnal colours in the trees were fantastic. Both Pied and Grey wagtails were spotted hunting together along the rocky edge of the river, blending in very well. 
A highlight of the walk was the many female Goosanders that we saw congregating together, a very nice bird to have seen. We had lunch at Dinkley Bridge, watching  a Jay fly between trees across the river, before retracing our steps back to the car park. A Kingfisher was briefly seen and heard at the Sale Wheel but unfortunately had flown on before many of us had gotten to see it. A full list of species seen can be found below:

​Mallard 10+
Goosander 4+ (female)
Grey Heron
Common Buzzard
Moorhen
Black Headed Gull
Herring Gull 2
Wood Pigeon 5+
Kingfisher 1
Carrion Crow 30+
Jackdaw 30+
Rook 10+
Magpie 2
Jay 1
Blue Tit h
Nuthatch h
Wren h
Robin h
Blackbird 1
Pied Wagtail 4+
Grey Wagtail 1
Chaffinch h
Grey Squirrel 1
Red Admiral 1
h=heard only

Six of us gathered on a lovely, sunny autumnal day. Knowing that bearded tits had been regularly seen over the last couple of weeks, we made our way first to the causeway. Alas, despite waiting patiently we didn’t see any! We carried on into the hide, where we saw plenty of shoveler, gadwall & coots. We also had cracking views of both male and female marsh harrier as they flew over the hide. We then made our way back to the Lillian hide where we saw more waterfowl. Most of us had our lunch there, as we sat surveying the peaceful scene. From there we went to the Grizedale hide, stopping on the way at another clearing for bearded tits – but again, none were seen. Just after we entered the hide a female marsh harrier flew over, flushing out about 10 common snipe which flew round twice before settling down into the greenery out of sight. From the Tim Jackson hide we had good views of 5 red deer lying down in the grass enjoying the sunshine and both great white egret and little egret almost side by side. We then drove down to the estuary hides and saw many waders, though the sun in the west sometimes made viewing difficult.
We had a flock of about 30 common snipe, some in the open quite close to the hide, greenshank, and one green sandpiper, amongst many others. A most enjoyable day – despite the lack of bearded tits!
​
Species: Marsh Harrier, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Black-headed
Gull, Teal, Mallard, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Lesser Black-back, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Robin,
Pheasant, Common Snipe, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Avocet, Lapwing, Starling, Green Sandpiper,
Redshank, Red Breasted Merganser, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Greenshank
Red Deer

Bretherton Moss. Twenty Acre Lane. Doles Lane. Boundary Farm. Manor House. Moss Lane.
4.5 miles. 4.15 hours
Damp. Mild. Sunny later.

Parked at Ridley Lane then a party of 9 set off by walking over Cocker Bar Bridge then right along track. At Left Hand Bend, ignore and continue straight on. Path on the left next to a footbridge. Follow the edge of the field to the left to stile. Continue through several fields. This became a wide area between two hedges. This was Twenty Acre Lane. Just before Doles Lane, went left to earth bridge then across a field to track leading to Doles Lane. (see pic)

Had lunch here before continuing to Boundary Farm. Through the yard then found a path to Manor House. Through the yard. Used their access "Moss Lane" to track on the left. Looked for the Tawny Owl in the large hole in a tree but the bird wasn't home. (see pic)
Followed this track back to Cocker Bar Bridge and the cars.
Some of the party retired to The Dunkirk Hall PH after a longer and harder underfoot than the usual walk.

Highlights of the day were, a Barn Owl that we disturbed, that flew down Twenty Acre Lane in front of us. Also hundreds of Geese flying around, plus hundreds of Crows and Jackdaws flocks.
​
Canada/Greylag Goose 200+
Pink Footed Goose?
Mallard 10+
Pheasant 1
Common Buzzard 1
Kestrel (female) 1
Swallow 10+
Black Headed Gull 1
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
Wood Pigeon 20+
Collared Dove 20+ (Manor House farm)
Stock Dove 1
Barn Owl 1
Carrion Crow 50+
Jackdaw 150+
Magpie 3
Blue Tit h
Great Tit 2
Skylark 5+
Chiff Chaff h?
Wren h
Starling 6
Robin 1
Blackbird 2
Pied Wagtail 1
Meadow Pipit 5+
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 20+
Bulfinch h
Yellow Hammer 3
Brown Hare 3+
Comma 1
Red Admiral 1
Dragonfly?
h=heard only

​Tocholes. Crookfield Road. Hollinshead Hall
Monday 12th August
Warm Sunny
19.00 to 20.30
1.5 miles
Parked on Brookfield Road then a party of 13 set off by walking up a path to the corner. Crossed the road and onto a track. (Witton Weavers Way)
Path on left after a few yards to follow a grassy track up on a slope that came back to the road and crossed and followed a path to Hollinshead Hall.
Had a look at the famous Well House then retraced our steps.
Some of the party retired to The Hare & Hounds in Abbey Village after a lovely summer's evening's walk.
A Barn Owl was seen on the hill plus one flew over the car while driving to Abbey Village.
Canada Goose 4 (Abbey Village)
Kestrel (young female)
Common Buzzard (very pale juv?)
Black Headed Gull 10+
Wood Pigeon 15+
Barn Owl 2
Carrion Crow 10+
Blue Tit h
Wren 1
Blackbird h
Goldfinch 3
Roe Deer 1
Brown Hare 1
h=heard only

​Bretherton Moss. Tattersall's Farm
Monday 5th August
Damp. Light Rain
19.00 to 21.30
2.5 miles
Parked at the top of Ridley Lane then a party of 12 set off by walking over Cockerham Bar bridge then right along track. At a junction, continued to the left following an overgrown track (Moss Lane)
Just after a bend, had a look at a tree with a large hole to see if the Tawny Owl was in residence, without success.
Returned and followed a path from the corner that led to Tattersalls Farm. This section was very overgrown and there wasn't a stile into the yard. The house had been boarded up and a gate and concrete blocks blocked the access from Green Lane.
There were a couple of Pig Styles in the yard. A reflection of an older-less complicated way of life sadly no longer with us.
Walked down Green Lane then crossed a section of wet waist high grasses to a stile on a corner of Cocker Bar Road. Followed this back to the cars.
As it was going dark and we were all wet, it was decided to give the pub a miss after a wet difficult walk without many birds.
The highlight of a damp evening was a lone Yellow Hammer singing from the top of a small tree.
Not a patch on last week's walk but I think the night's weather had a bearing on the results.
Kestrel 2 (A box in a barn. Tattersall's Farm) Swallow 4+
Black Headed Gull 10+
Wood Pigeon 15+
Carrion Crow 10+
Jackdaw 300+ (moving south)
Magpie h
Chiff Chaff h
Blue Tit h
Wren h
Blackbird h
Chaffinch h?
Yellow Hammer 1+
h=heard only

​Carr House Green Common. Inskip
Monday 22nd July
Sunny warm
2 miles
Parked at The Derby Arms (with permission) then a party of 16 walked down through the village to the common. Turned left following a ditch to Woods Lane. Left along the road to Stavens Pool Bridge.
Returned via an overgrown embankment opposite the bridge that skirted the north edge of the common then through Green Farm. Right along the road back to the pub.
Visited The Sitting Goose PH at Catforth for a well earned drink after a beautiful summer's evening walk.
Canada Goose 15+
Mallard 1
Pheasant 1
Common Buzzard 1
Lapwing 2+ 2 juvs
Curlew 2
Swallow 5+
Black Headed Gull 5+
Lesser Black Backed Gull 5+
Wood Pigeon 5+
Collared Dove 2
Carrion Crow 10+
Jackdaw 100+
Magpie h
Blue Tit h
Long Tailed Tit 13+
Willow/Chiff h (call note)
Blackcap 1
Sedge Warbler h
Wren h
Starling 10+
Blackbird h
Song Thrush h
Goldfinch 1
Linnet (male)
Red Bunting h
Brown Hare 3
h=heard only

Please find below the full list of species found at our Moth event for 2024. Thank you to all that attended what was a very enjoyable event.

​Abbey Village. Dole Lane. Track by Quarry. A675. Roddlesworth Lane. Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir. Rake Brook Reservoir.
Monday 15th July
Light Rain
19.00 to 20.45
2.5 miles 240 feet climb
Parked on Dole Lane then 6 brave members set off by walking to the top of Doles Lane. Left along a track by a Quarry.
Turned right at the A675 then up Roddlesworth Lane. Left through Lower Roddlesworth Farm.
Entered a wood then found a new path that followed the side of Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir.
Over a footbridge to view the top edge of the reservoir.
Returned via a path to Rake Brook Reservoir and back to Abbey Village.
Because of the weather I had decided follow a more sheltered route.
The landlady of the Hare & Hounds had kindly stayed open for us.
Most of the birds have stopped singing now but a loud Song Thrush serenaded us in Roddlesworth Wood.
Canada Goose 20+ R
Mallard 8 R
Oystercatcher 2
Black Headed Gull 2
Wood Pigeon
House Martin 2
Swallow 15+
Swift 2
Carrion Crow 10+
Jay 1
Magpie 1
Great Tit 1 + juv
Starling 2
Robin 1
Blackbird 1
Song Thrush 3
Dunnock h
Pied Wagtail (female)
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch h
Rabbit 2
h=heard only
R=Rake Brook Reservoir

​Rufford. Mawdesley Moss
Monday 8th July
Sunny warm
2 miles
2 hours 10 mins
Parked at the east end of Church Road, Rufford, then a party of 14 walked over the Canal and Railway to White Bridge over the River Douglas. Right along the B6246 for a few 100 yards to a path on the left inside a new fence and alongside a ditch that led to a gate. A new fence had been erected but had forgotten about a stile in a corner. Thats why we had to follow inside this fence.
Followed a rough track consisting of rubble to a collection of farm buildings just north of Home Farm.
Followed an overgrown path on an embankment with New Reed Brook on the right.
Eventually came to Gales Lane. Right then right again just before a LH corner and over a ditch.
Followed a path south along the side of a large field then into a copse with a stream on the left ending up at Black Moor Road.
We had left 2 cars on Sandy Lane earlier so with 5 in each car, drove back to Rufford to pick the cars up while the others (4) walked into Mawdesley and the Red Lion PH for a well earned drink after a beautiful summer's evening walk.
Mallard pair
Pheasant 1
Red Legged Partridge 1
Kestrel (seen from the car later)
Oystercatcher h
Lapwing 10+
Swallow 5+
House Martin h (Mawdesley Village)
Black Headed Gull 20+
Herring Gull 5+ (with above)
Lesser Black Backed Gull 5+ (with above)
Wood Pigeon 5+
Collared Dove 2
Feral Pigeon (several)
Carrion Crow 40+
Jackdaw 20+
Magpie 5+
Chiff Chaff h
Skylark 3+
Wren h
Starling 10+
Dunnock h
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush h
Mistle Thrush 1
Pied Wagtail 2 (female/juv)
Goldfinch h
Greenfinch 1 (male)
Yellow Hammer 2 (male)
Rabbit 1
h=heard only