13/02/2026 Lightshaw Flash, Abram, Wigan

Russian White-fronted Goose: A great local bird to catch up with, down the road from me and close rto where my old house is, these Russian whitefronts spent a few days on the banks of Lightshaw Flash SSSI. 

These are great birds, who doesn't love a rare goose? These small geese feature a white forehead (the "white-front"), pinkish-orange bills (distinguishing them from the orange-billed Greenland subspecies), and, when mature, bold black barring on the belly.

 

They come to the UK to flee the freezing Arctic tundra of Russia to spend the winter in the warmer British climate. And they favour wetland and farmland habitats, with major wintering populations often located in Norfolk, the Thames Estuary, and southern England.

Unlike the Greenland white-fronted goose (flavirostris), which winters mostly in the west and north, the Russian race is found in eastern and southern England. And this winter is shaping up to be a bit of an eruption yaer for white-fronted geese. 

There over 30n birds feeding on the grass in the feild along with 60 pink-footed and dozens of Canada and greylag geese. A real mix. 

15/02/2026 Mow Cop, Cheshire-Staffordshire Border

Shore Lark: This smart little beaut has been frequently spotted in a muddy field directly in front of the Old Man o' Mow rock face. This is an exceptional inland sighting

 

Shore lark are slightly smaller than a the more familiar skylark, with a bold yellow face, black eye mask, and a black breast band. Breeding males display prominent black feather tufts ("horns") on their heads and are one of my favourite British birds.

They are a scarce winter visitor to the UK and  most frequently spotted on the east coast, particularly in East Anglia and eastern Scotland, though they can appear elsewhere. Som to get one in on the edge of the Cheshire-Staffordshire border is a rare thing indeed. 

At the time of me writing this the bird is still being observed here so go, go tomorrow, go this weekend. If you do go, the area has been described as very muddy and exposed to wind and rain, so appropriate footwear and waterproof clothing are essential.