
Lovely shots of Short Eared Owl from Andy Bate today - he ventured over the Ribble into the Fylde to visit Pilling on Monday, and came back with these great shots.
Always a risky business striking across the water to the north, I've heard dragons live there.

Over to Andy then, for his adventure into the heart of darkness....
PILLING IN A H-OWLING WIND
Hi John
Had a trip over to Pilling on Monday (1.12.08) as I had heard reports of some SEOs about the place.
Called into Preston on the way to get a Waxwing tick! But no photos, hailstones don't do the camera any good!
Having never been over that way birding before I didn't know what to expect, but what a place...
7,000 Pink Feet in the fields
50 Golden Plover
50+ Fieldfare/Redwing mixed flock
20+ Curlew
Lapwing galore
Kestrel
Shelduck
Stonechat
3 Short Eared Owl



Great shots - thanks Andy!
Link to Andy's site is on the right.
Not much else to report today - two Grey Wags in Formby Village this afternoon and a Greater Pecker nearby.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Andy - Glad you liked it up 'north'. Do pop by again.
Dave
Hi John,
Often read about your bird sightings on your way to work on the Formby by-pass.
I had a similar experience late this afternoon on the way home from work, waiting at the traffic lights in the centre of Preston I noticed what I thought was a flock of Starlings flying low towards me.
They in fact turned out to be approx. 30-40 Waxwing and landed on a single small berry tree in front of a Blockbuster shop.
Things ya see when you ain't got yer bins!
Then again don`t suppose you're allowed to drive whilst using yer bins!
Hilbre Island, second half of November - 2 Snow Bunting, Peregrine, Little Egret (in rock pool), 120 Brent Geese, plus Starling, Fieldfare and finches going through.
Late bloomers in the Kirkby Moss area were Kidney Vetch, Bush Vetch, Tufted Vetch, Woodsage, autumnal Hawkbit and Hogweed.
John,
Dave Bryant editor/compiler of the Eric Hardy book has been trying to track you down (he is not a computer person).
The book is a great read and a great Christmas gift as long as people know about it before Christmas.
Flock of 18 Waxwings calling over main Preston campus, UCLAN at 1340 today, flew off to west