I was fortunate enough to be working in the Rufford, Bank, Mere Brow, Tarleton areas of West Lancashire in January and February this year.  Highlight included seeing a Great Egret flying over a property, Grey Partridges in a field near a house in a field, Barn Owl hunting the fields and a Sparrowhawk.  The best 2 garden but not actually my garden sightings were a small flock of Cattle Egrets in the Mere Brow/Tarleton area and a Short eared Owl from a house.  The householders thought it was a Tawny Owl but shockingly I told them it was a Short Eared Owl and a very good garden/property/land tick.    

First I twice attempted to see the American Wigeon on the Ribble near Penwortham but failed.  The drake American Wigeon is a beautiful bird with a bottle green mask and a creamy golden cap.  However, it seemed to evade me.  I walked up and down along the Ribble but no luck.  I have seen this species before near Long Preston in 2024?   

I managed to make a number of trips to Southport Marine Lake to photograph the first winter male Smew, the same bird I had seen back in December but the days I were visiting it seemed to disappear.  It moved to Marshside and would often come out of the water onto land.  However, the 2  times I visited Marshside and it disappeared.  There were the usual suspects around and one of the main interesting sightings was a pair of great Black Backed Gulls spooking Lapwings and ducks.  The warden said they would often hunt ducks.  Flocks of Golden Plover were also in the distance.  I talked to a volunteer at Marshside and we discussed the Cattle Egrets which first arrived here just under 10 years ago.  They seemed to have moved to Martin Mere because oft he Long horn Cattle spending the winter outside there.  Hen Harriers, Peregrines and Merlins were seen by other observers at Marshside.   A Snow Goose of dubious origin because of it's company was also around

Martin Mere on the other hand did deliver.  The most interesting day was when a local pointed out 2 Barnacle Geese with Pink Footed Geese.  They were with a good carrier species!  At the Ron Barker hide we watched and watched and then a minimum of 14 Cattle Egrets flew in and then the Glossy Ibis which has been mentioned on a previous visit by me.  The Glossy Ibis joined the Cattle Egrets and has started associating with them.  Fifty Cattle Egrets have been counted on some days at Martin Mere which is a huge winter count.  Whilst watching these Mediterranean species 7 Russian White Fronted Geese flew close to the hide, which is what I was hoping for.  This winter has seen an influx of this species into the UK and they are quite a striking and smart bird.  A Water Rail had also crossed the path.  I missed the Kingfisher, Barn Owl and Stoat seen by others earlier but we can't have everything.  The drake Ring Necked Duck was still present but would move around to the other Hides.  

Like Anthon I did also see the Birch Polypore fungus and a Snowdrop carpet at Martin Mere