RIBCHESTER GREENLAND WHITEFRONT

Greenland White-fronted Goose (very extensive and boldly blotched belly, generally dark plumage, narrow white tail tip, long bill - it looks pink rather than orange-pink but Bill tells me his photos are more orange - all look good for flavirostris)

THE CALLS OF PINK-FOOTED GEESE FLYING OVER THE VILLAGE WOKE ME UP at 0645 and after yesterday’s passage I decided to have a walk along the riverbank. The hard overnight frost was making it difficult for the Canada geese (222) to graze the grass on the flood plain opposite the school and amongst them were single Pink-footed and Greylag Geese. I saw a single pinkfoot in this flock in 2010 and I wonder if it could be the same bird? Before long the first of several skeins of pinkfeet flew downstream, calling loudly, totalling around 350 birds. I also had an unidentified small white egret fly west but unfortunately if was rear-end-on by the time I picked it up and by the time I had switched the camera to servo mode it was out of sight. A Eurasian Tree Sparrow by the river at Lower Alston Farm was most welcome but the best sighting by far was East Lancashire’s fifth Greenland White-fronted Goose (the fourth record though), which flew downstream at Osbaldeston Hall Farm. I heard it call and was looking for a skein but was surprised to see a lone dark goose heading down the valley towards me with a large white forehead blaze. Wow! Luckily I managed to fire off a few frames to give a chance to confirm its identity later and even better still, I had time to phone Bill Aspin, who was watching the goose migration from Brockholes, and he saw it pass to the north of there a mere six minutes later. This will keep the brand new local patch effort going for a while. I have always enjoyed birding on foot from home. Also today: Trumpeter Swan (the long-staying and very friendly bird was begging food from a couple of fishermen); Mute Swan (a pair drifted downstream, the first I have seen here I think); Mallard; Goosander (one young drake up and down); Great Cormorant (three all west); Grey Heron (one); Common Oystercatcher; Northern Lapwing (44 upstream); Common Buzzard (one disturbed from a fresh pheasant kill by the river); Common Kestrel (two); Eurasian Sparrowhawk (a male hunting the lanes just west of the church); Herring (seven), Common and Black-headed Gulls; Common Wood Pigeon; Eurasian Collared Dove; Pied Wagtail (three); European Robin; Mistle Thrush (two); Winter Wren; Great, Blue and Coal Tits; Common Magpie; Western Jackdaw; Western Rook; Carrion Crow; Common Starling; House Sparrow; Common Chaffinch; European Goldfinch and European Greenfinch. I still have to think about whether to set a local patch boundary and where that will be. The habitat around the village is not very inspiring, mostly short-grazed pasture, hedgerows and some riverside woodland as well as the river itself. However, its position is the best thing about it and it should be good for visible migration as today’s experience suggests. I could claim all sorts of nonsense flying over here with little fear of contradiction but I am hoping to be able to have the camera ready as proof!