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Churchtown to Nateby
Saturday 2nd Feb
Sunny but cold and frosty
A party of 8 members set off from the Horns Inn at Churchtown. It was a beautiful frosty cold day so being wrapped up was a priority.
Walked through the Village and turned right at the old cross. Turned left at the main road. Crossed the road to walk up the access to Kirkland Hall Farm. Continued through several fields. There were flocks of Gulls including Black Headed and 3 Common Gulls. 60+ Lapwing and 50+ Starling.
Had a look in an isolated barn for an Owl without success.
Located a solitary Common Buzzard
Walked to Nook Farm House
Continued south down a lane then through the grounds of Popular Grove Farm. This was a large complex. Had lunch here before continuing south along track eventually coming to Hag Wood and Sharples Lane beyond. Turned left. After a few hundred yards came across a large pool on the right where gravel had been extracted. This pit had attracted many flocks of birds to the water including 60+ Mallard. 30+ Wigeon. 2 Shoveller.
Continued along Sharples Lane and watched a Brown Hare lolloping along in front of us.
Turned right at the main road to walk along the road for half a mile to an access on the left. A smallish brown bird off from a post which could have been a Little Owl but didn't get enough time to see it.
Found a path on the right that led to the River Wyre and the Wyre Way. Followed this to the famous footbridge then the Church. Lots of Snowdrops in the churchyard. Walked through the Village to the cross then right to the pub.
Most of the day we had observed a large flock of 200+ noisy Pink Footed Geese flying around just to the west and south. Also some early Lambs in the fields..
All the party relaxed and had a drink in a very busy Horns Inn.
Saturday 2nd Feb
Sunny but cold and frosty
A party of 8 members set off from the Horns Inn at Churchtown. It was a beautiful frosty cold day so being wrapped up was a priority.
Walked through the Village and turned right at the old cross. Turned left at the main road. Crossed the road to walk up the access to Kirkland Hall Farm. Continued through several fields. There were flocks of Gulls including Black Headed and 3 Common Gulls. 60+ Lapwing and 50+ Starling.
Had a look in an isolated barn for an Owl without success.
Located a solitary Common Buzzard
Walked to Nook Farm House
Continued south down a lane then through the grounds of Popular Grove Farm. This was a large complex. Had lunch here before continuing south along track eventually coming to Hag Wood and Sharples Lane beyond. Turned left. After a few hundred yards came across a large pool on the right where gravel had been extracted. This pit had attracted many flocks of birds to the water including 60+ Mallard. 30+ Wigeon. 2 Shoveller.
Continued along Sharples Lane and watched a Brown Hare lolloping along in front of us.
Turned right at the main road to walk along the road for half a mile to an access on the left. A smallish brown bird off from a post which could have been a Little Owl but didn't get enough time to see it.
Found a path on the right that led to the River Wyre and the Wyre Way. Followed this to the famous footbridge then the Church. Lots of Snowdrops in the churchyard. Walked through the Village to the cross then right to the pub.
Most of the day we had observed a large flock of 200+ noisy Pink Footed Geese flying around just to the west and south. Also some early Lambs in the fields..
All the party relaxed and had a drink in a very busy Horns Inn.
| Whooper Swan 1 S Pink Footed Goose 200+ Mallard 60+ S Shoveller 2 S Wigeon 30+ S Grey Heron Com Buzzard 2 Lapwing 40+ Curlew 10+ Com Snipe Blk Hd Gull Com Gull 3+ Lesser Blk Bk Gull Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Carrion Crow | Jackdaw Magpie Rook 1 Blue Tit Grt Tit Coal Tit 3+ h Wren h Starling 50+ Robin Blackbird Mistle Thrush Dunnock h House Sparrow Pied Wagtail Goldfinch Chaffinch Brown Hare S=Sharples Lane Gravel Pit |