We always have a trip out early in the New Year and with the shorter hours of daylight usually choose to stay fairly local. With Bob K at the wheel, myself, Steve & Chris B we left a cold Rochdale at 8am. Some Waxwings in Chorley was to be our first stop, unfortunately, after a bit of searching they were not found. At Clifton Marsh lots of wildfowl were present along with some Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew. Nice to watch on a crisp sunny morning, next stop was at Warton Bank near British Aerospace. We met a very knowledgeable local birder who told us that a male Hen Harrier would be putting in an appearance, if we waited long enough. Three Buzzards were seen initially then after 15 minutes the male Hen Harrier showed really well for around 10 minutes before catching a prey item and going to ground, great way to start the New Year(not for the prey item though) We searched in vain for the reported Water Pipits but could only find Meadow Pipits.
We headed for Lytham Crematorium to maybe catch up with the local Ring Necked Parakeets, no joy there either. A trip up to the Glasson Dock area is always good in the winter months and the presence of a first winter male Scaup in the basin and three Egyptian Geese on the soon to be modified pool at Glasson made the trip worthwhile. We began the search in the Thurnham area for Whooper and Bewick`s Swans, we had to look very carefully to find the Bewick`s and only 6 or so were found, lots of Whooper`s though. We called in at Fluke Hall near Pilling and located a flock of Red Legged Partridge and as we watched them a Barn Owl began flying about hunting. What a good bird to watch. It was going dark as we headed up to Eagland Hill in the forlorn hope that we might see some sparrows or finches but they had all gone to roost. We headed home to do the same, we managed to see 62 species.
