LANCS: Late afternoon on the bay.

The Bowland hills from Pilling Lane Ends, Lancashire 6 December 2008.

Mrs. B. and I enjoyed a spot of lunch at Garstang today on another crisp sunny winter's afternoon. We just happened to have the birding gear in the back of the car so what better way to end than the short drive out to the Pilling area? Plenty going on as usual near Bradshaw Lane and we saw 3 Short-eared Owls as soon as we pulled up. Of course there were Pink-footed Geese everywhere, most seemed to be heading to roost somewhere out near the Wyre Estuary, but "Billy No Mates" was left in the stubble.

A flock of wild swans seen in flight just over the hedges must have been Whoopers I'd guess and there was 30+ Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer at the feeding station too.

Lots of waders pushed into the fields just inland of Pilling Marsh by the tide as we passed at dusk. Most were Lapwings and Curlew but there were 50+ Golden Plovers and 75+ Redshanks there.

Nice afternoon indeed.