Osprey over Ribchester (collage, photos by Phil Larkin)
AT LAST! After so many hours spent sky gazing this spring an Osprey finally flew over Ribchester riverside. We had done the short version of our usual walk along Shorton Lane without much to show for our efforts in the gusty westerly wind. A couple of swallows were battling into it, their numbers way down and I suspect some will have perished in the frosts and windchill of the last couple of days, and we were well pleased to see a drake Red-breasted Merganser fly downstream past Churchgates! This is a rare bird this far down in the valley even though it breeds in several places not far away in Bowland. Phil suggested we try watching from the benches for a while before we packed in, ‘hoping for a double ?’ I joked. I rang Bill Aspin to order some merganser factoids and just as I was moaning that Stocks was getting yet more osprey action (and we still hadn’t managed to see one this spring)...’OSPREY!’ I yelled into the mobile as one swung into view right in front of us only just above rooftop level. It crossed the river and headed north over the allotments (and therefore Phil’s house). Wow! That was exciting! Another ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a _____’ moment. A couple of other Rib lane-walking regulars managed to see it before it flew north out of sight. Looking at Phil’s photos it looks like an adult with a dark tail band and solid black greater coverts. Phil had one do almost exactly the same thing on 6 April last year and it is ironic that the factoid request revealed that Red-breasted Merganser is actually a much rarer bird on the lower Ribble than Osprey! There have only been four records at Brockholes! Oh and sorry to deafen you Bill.