Hesketh Out Marsh

I visited Hesketh Out Marsh with Chorley NATS this morning. Although it's not far from where I live, I've never been there before. One of the advantages of joining a local group is that you find out about such places and another is that there are more people to notice sightings.

This morning's highlight was a stunning male hen harrier quartering low over the marsh. We also saw a merlin and managed quite a close look as we walked along the embankment. We also saw a small group of golden plover, a brown hare, redshanks and way in the distance huge flocks of lapwings. It was interesting to compare the herons and egrets fishing at fast flowing inlets; the herons poised still, the egrets plodding around.

The hedgerows were also worth exploring and rewarding with 20 fieldfare, long tailed tits and other common species. Although I wished I'd worn my thermals, the wildlife seemed out of synch with the cold; we saw a painted lady butterfly, the larks were singing and dandelions along with red and white clovers were in bloom.

Reading at The Preston Society

I'm looking forward to speaking to the Preston Society (Bird Watching and Natural History) on Mon 16th Nov 7.30pm at St Mary's Church Hall, Cop Lane, Penwortham. I'll be reading from from the field book, talking about wildlife poetry and have a couple of surprises too - hope everyone likes them....

A delayed start to my walk today due to the weather. I went to Croston Finney. Not a lot to see at first, probably much of the wildlife had moved or was keeping a low profile due to there being a clay pigeon shoot. Once the noise ceased, sightings improved. Amongst other speacies, I saw 50+ fieldfare, a buzzard,corn bunting, tree sparrows (not in their usually territory), greater spotted woodpecker, cormorant, pheasants, meadow pipits and other common species.