Local patch

The old freight line by Barton Clough 

I'd had a couple of long days and spent yesterday catching up with my sleep. I didn't fancy spending much of today on trains, only remembering too late that the local bus strike starts today, I was walking to the bus stop when the penny dropped. I still wasn't for playing with trains so I had a wander round my local patch. I've been walking through it quite often lately but not really stopping long as it's been so quiet. It was just as quiet when I took the time to linger, one of those days when the most conspicuous small bird is a treecreeper quietly working its way up the trunk of a poplar.

Lostock Park 

The complete absence of any finches at all is a concern. The thistles, goldenrod and willowherbs all looked worked out though there were plenty enough blackberries gone to seed for any greenfinches that would have been about. The usual mistle thrushes haven't returned from their usual August holiday and there was a significant lack of blackbirds. Perhaps there's so much plenty in the fields and woods of the Mersey Valley they're fattening up there while the going's good.

• Black-headed gull 3
• Blackbird 1
• Blue tit 1
• Carrion crow 2
• Great spotted woodpecker 1
• Great tit 2
• Lesser black-back 2
• Long-tailed tit 1
• Magpie 11
• Robin 4
• Song thrush 1
• Treecreeper 1
• Woodpigeon 21
• Wren 3