08:00-15:00, Four teams, each containing two people enetered the annual winter birdrace where as many different species as possible are looked for within the Rossendale boundary. The results were as follows:
Team A = 45 species. Team B = 47 species. Team C = 51 species. Team D = 51 species.
Total number of species = 60, the same as last year and the second highest in 18 years of winter birdraces. No new species were seen for the winter birdrace but the highlights were:
Cormorant, 2/3, Grane & Irwell Valley, Mute Swan, pair at Wallbank Lodge, Tufted Duck, 2 males & 2 females at Cowm, Goldeneye, 2 at Cowm, Goosander, many at several waters, Clowbridge with c18 the highest count, Peregrine, 2, Great Black Backed Gull, adult and immature at Clowbridge Res, Stock Dove, 2 on mucked field at Loveclough amongst others, Tawny Owl, 1 at roost in Waterfoot, Kingfisher, 2, one of which was on the Irwell at Townsendfold, Nuthatch, at least 2, one in Stubbylea Park and one at Irwell Vale, Treecreeper, 1 at Irwell Vale, Raven, pair at Haslingden, Brambling, at least 3 on feeders at Edgeside, Redpoll, 3 at Helmshore, Crossbill, 9 at Cowm in conifers.
