Watching Woodcock

I went to White Coppice & Stronstrey Bank last night. Spotted a pair of dippers, two swallows and loads of willow warblers - they really are the sound of summer. Lots of other common species too. My dawdle to dusk was rewarded by seeing two roe deer, 6 silhouetted woodcock and hearing a tawny owl. What a way to end the day...
Image from www.ghettodriveby.com/images/woodcock.jpg

Getting it out there

I've signed up for public lending rights:
http://www.plr.uk.com
A few friends from different parts of the country have agreed to request from the field book from their local libraries - thanks. I don't expect to make more than a few pennies but the important issue is that it makes the book more accessible to the general public.
I've also sent a copy to the Poetry Library, London. Hope someone there enjoys it.

from the field book will soon be in the local libraries

Yes, from the field book will soon be in the local libraries. I left a copy at Chorley Central Library for the attention of the lady on the selection panel. I'm pleased they said, 'Yes.'
Now how to get copies into libraries further afield...?

Day 2 (final) of The Bird Race

I learn my lessons so today dressed like an onion in thermal trousers, ski-vest, T-shirt, jumper, fleece, windproof layer etc.... So cold even the birds were keeping a low profiles. I have to admire the resilience of the gulls that seem to thrive on biting winds. And not forgetting the lapwings who continue with their buffetting displays, their broad wings mastering the wind.
Our score, without much thanks to me, was 77 species (down on last year's 89).

Photo by Amos T Fairchild

Day 1 of the Bird Race

Great fun visiting places with scopes and binoculars looking for as many different bird species as we could find in Chorley borough. Quite a challenging day with the windy weather but we managed over 60 species. The best moment for me today was watching the eerie silhouettes of woodcock flying into the dusk at Roddlesworth.

6am start tomorrow - hmmm!

Everyday try something new....

I enjoyed reading last night and Colin Smith's accompanying photos were excellent - wish I could take photos like that!

I once read it's good to do something different everyday: a new recipe, going home a different way etc. So I decided to explore all the local footpaths - and there's plenty to go at. Yesterday I planned a short circular from Botany Bay (Chorley) to The Nab (a great Lancashire name, that...). The 1st path was barbwired off but I'd have to have swum through mud to follow it anyway.... so I resorted to plan B (always have a plan B). A pleasant walk with more paths leading off to explore on another day. I'll keep going until I know them all. Not a lot of birds yesterday but I expect come the winter those fields will be full of redwing and fieldfare flocks.

The photo is one of mine. It shows Botany Bay and the Leeds Liverpool Canal

Reading

Thank goodness the migraine is going because tonight I will be reading at the Members' Evening for Chorley and District Natural History Society. I'll be presenting the cover photographer, Chris Rae, with a complimentary signed copy of from the field book and Colin Smith, a really good photographer, is providing some slides to accompany the reading. I've never read with slides before - should be interesting.