Peregrine Falcon (juvenile), flying north over Ribchester 11 October (Mike Watson)
ANOTHER PEREGRINE SIGHTING during my efforts to watch some bird migration over Ribchester today brightened up a weekend that started off very damp on Saturday morning. When the sun finally came out some of the last hirundines were on the move with small parties of swallows and House Martins heading south over the river. At the same time the first of the winter thrushes have now arrived. A single Redwing was eating hawthorn berries at Red Bank on Saturday and a flock of 30 Fieldfares flew west over the village on Sunday. Skylarks appeared over the fields along the lane to Boat House on both days and there are some Meadow Pipits in the fields at the moment. The recently ploughed field beyond Lower Barn Farm is attracting double figures of Pied Wagtails at the moment, always good to check them for something else and Pink-footed Geese were also on the move, with two flocks totalling almost 200 birds flying east up the valley on Sunday. Happily Phil could also get on them from his back door! There were still a couple of Chiffchaffs around but most of our summer visitors have now gone. Little Egret and several kingfishers were along the river and a single Goosander was seen on Sunday, otherwise waterbirds were scarce, owing to the high water level following the rain last week. The Peregrine was a young bird of the year, with a rusty nape and heavily streaked underparts. It powered north low over the village and I managed to get a few frames of it before it went behind one of the big willows along the riverbank. I wonder where it was going? They always seem to have a purpose, tearing around.