A full team met on a rather gloomy January morning in Newhey, our plans were to see as many species in the Lancashire area. We began at a small flooded area near Heversham, where a Little Stint had been seen the previous day. An albino Carrion Crow turned out to be the best we could muster there though with lots of Dunlin around and a solitary Golden Plover. On our way towards Leighton Moss we all managed to see a male Fallow Deer with just one antler, he didn`t hang around as people tried to get their cameras out! Leighton Moss was fairly quiet and not one Marsh Harrier was seen, a flying past Great White Egret was nice though. We had a break at Warton Crag and enjoyed the Ravens and lots of Jackdaw`s.
A Black Throated Diver had been around at Blea Tarn Reservoir so, we headed along to enjoy this rather unusual visitor to the west coast of Lancashire. As with most divers it stayed underwater for a while and re-surfaced a fair distance away. We all enjoyed watching this winter plumaged bird, we moved onto Heysham Harbour north wall. This harbour mouth could be walked up to the end until about a year ago, but now as it has been fenced off and even the fishermen have been moved on. We did manage to see an Iceland Gull and a small flock of Twite that used to be fed here.
We called in at Conder Green & Cockersands, but the tide was out, again with not many birds around. The surrounding fields held a few Whooper Swans and a small flock of Pink footed Geese, but not in the large quantities that we normally see in this area. Pilling Lane ends & Fluke Hall were visited with just the regular Red legged Partridges being seen. At Knott End a small flock of Twite, a dead Razorbill and a few Eiders being observed. Eagland Hill feeding stations had lots of Tree Sparrows but no sign of any Yellowhammer or Corn Bunting that used to be quite numerous around there. Our last stop was to be at a rather gloomy Lytham Moss were we managed to locate a few Bewick`s Swans in amongst the Whooper Swan`s. They all looked rather dirty as they had been feeding in a muddy field. Time to head for home in the gloom!
