Local patch

Lostock Park 

It was a warmer night and the thaw started in earnest though there were still treacherous patches of ice lurking underfoot for the unwary, particularly in the shade of cars parked on the pavement. I had a quick wander round the local patch to see what was about.

Barton Clough 

The park was, naturally, busy on a Sunday afternoon but there were still more birds about than I was expecting. The small flock of redwings in the trees were very fidgety and it was difficult to get an accurate count of them. The robins were being very quiet, I suspect most of them were in deep cover or else in the gardens by the park where the snowbound pickings would be easier. A small flock of goldfinches was a relief, it was good to see the first greenfinches of the year in the hawthorns and a great spotted woodpecker made a cameo appearance.

• Blackbird 6 
• Blue tit 1
• Carrion crow 5
• Feral pigeon 4 overhead
• Goldfinch 8
• Great spotted woodpecker 1
• Great tit 4
• Greenfinch 2
• Herring gull 1 overhead
• Lesser black-back 3 overhead 
• Magpie 16
• Redwing 5
• Robin 1
• Starling 3
• Woodpigeon 3

Barton Clough