1988 April to June

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2^nd April
A cloudy day with showers of rain. Despite this the first Primrose flower is out and I saw several Daisy flowers in the fields.

April 3^rd
Beautiful day with warm and sometimes hot sunshine; blue sky with hardly a cloud to be seen. David and I went a walk around a Reservoir at Angelzarke. On the small reservoir at the top of the hill I saw a female Goldeneye. The sun shone down on us as we sat for a while on a grassy bank in the wood. Along the dam, loads of Mayflies and other small flies were swarming. In the woods we saw two wren near the waters edge. On some Ivy on a wall were green berries which were beginning to turn black.

April 4^th
A warm sunny day again but with a cold blustery wind and more clouds. In the fields we saw the first lambs. The Pussy Willow had its catkins on, dusted with yellow pollen. David and I walked up Lead Miner’s Clough with Dusty and Cindy. We had a hot dog and ice cream afterwards.

April 5^th
Me and David went a short walk in Tockholes Woods, looking for Bladderwort plants but found none, though I did collect some Ivy and a Coltsfoot leaf. We heard a female Owl hoo-hooing and a male Owl kiwicking. In the distance Rooks were making a raucous as they came in to roost.

April 7^th
Today it is sunny but the wind is cold. In a ditch in the Tip Field, tiny white Water Crowfoot flowers can be seen. Yesterday evening there was a frost. As we went through the gate this evening we saw a Pied Wagtail on the wall. When we came back we saw two there.

April 8^th
A cool day with overcast sky and showers of rain in the evening. On a post by the gate in the front garden I found a brown moth with jagged wing tips. It had an orange bar on each wing and two tiny white spots with a very visible line across both wings. The legs are black and white and it is without doubt a Herald Moth.

David took us round the reservoir at Tockholes where I found Sweet Dock leaves, Lady’s Mantle leaves, Coltsfoot, Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage and Dog’s Mercury – the last three were flowering. Today along the pavement I found clumps of Ivy-leaved Scurvy Grass with clusters of white flowers with tiny yellow anthers. At quarter to eight at night it was snowing but the ground was to wet for it to stick.

April 10^th
On Thursday I saw a small male Teal on the pond with ginger head and yellow tail patch. Today a pair of Teal flew off the pond. I twice saw a Pied Wagtail pecking for grubs in the mud this afternoon. A pair of Redshanks flew across the Lane Field with their pointed wings and rapid wing beats. About a week ago I saw three Twite on the lane fence.

This afternoon was windy and cloudy with occasional sun. David and I went up the left bank of Wayoh. On the grassy banks Wood Anemone and Lesser Celandines were flowering with Butterbur and Marsh Marigolds. I saw one Great Crested Grebe. Last Friday I saw a pair of Tufted Ducks on our reservoir. It is rare to see those ducks, these days.

April 14^th
For the last four days it has been sunny enough to sit outside. On April 11^th as I came home I saw a pair of Water Voles on the pond. They are about the size of a fat mole with shiny round eyes and blunt noses. Later when I went past the pond there were three. Today in the yard I found a mole that the cats had killed. I don’t know why because they are poisonous, so cannot be eaten.

April 15^th
This evening there was a warm wind blowing with a cloudy sky and occasional showers. David and I went round the big reservoir at Angelzarke. During our walk we watched half a dozen Magpies and on the shore of the reservoir I saw a Sandpiper. It skimmed over the water; gliding, then making a few rapid wing beats.

In the wood the Pussy Willows had yellow catkins, and there were Wood Sorrel flowers, delicate white bells with mauve veins. Groundsel was flowering on the wall. Coming back through Rivington we saw a Jay in the wood: the plumage was a rich Thornton’s chocolate brown.

April 16^th
Walking up past Angelzarke Reservoir I saw a small slender, buff coloured bird with a pale stripe above its eye. I thought it must be some type of warbler. On the path we found a large fat black Dor Beatle. Its edges were bright blue, and it shone bright and navy blue. Underneath loads of tiny brown mites were sticking to its body. I also saw a Wren bobbing about in the Brambles on the bank of the reservoir. I think the warbler we saw was a Chiffchaff.

April 17^th
A sunny day, cloudy at times, with a gentle breeze. I saw a Water Vole on the pond again today. Coming back from Abbey Village we saw a large Short-eared Owl being mobbed by a pair of Lapwing. David says it was after their eggs. In the Willows Den I saw a group of about six Chaffinches, chasing one another. A flock of 13 Woodpigeons flew over the land today.

April 24^th
A lovely sunny day when I saw the first Swallow of the year at Angelzarke, flying about at the old barn. A few days ago I saw a dull olive-buff coloured warbler singing in a tree outside Nancy’s. I think it was another Chiffchaff. Yesterday I saw a beautiful pair of Woodpigeons on the lane, with pale pink breasts, white neck bars and grey backs. I saw a large Gull in the Lane Field waiting to scavenge lambs afterbirth. It had a long brilliant white neck and a dark grey back; I think it was a Great Black Backed Gull.

April 27^th
A nice day. David and I went round Wayoh. By the side of the footpath I found some Giant Horsetail, growing much larger than the ones seen at home at the moment.

April 29^th
A sunny day, with Chickweed and Mouse-ear plants flowering on the farm. We went round Entwistle where I picked a sprig of Ground Elder. On the pond we saw two Water voles, a Pied Wagtail and the Egyptian Goose, settled there for the evening. On Entwistle reservoir we saw about a dozen Mallard.

Yesterday David and I went round Tockholes, where the Beech Trees are covered in soft green leaves. David says I got us lost! Bloody cheek. The larches have gentle green, ‘wand like’ branches and the Hawthorns are covered in green tufts.

April 30^th
David and I went round Rivington, a blustery, cloudy and sunny day. In the wood we saw a pair of Jays. There was blossom on the trees and Bluebells beginning to bloom. I also saw a Chiffchaff in a bush.

May 1^st
Tonight I saw a Tawny Owl on the lane fence. I think they are nesting in the tree box.

May 4^th
In the tree in front of Nancy’s back window I saw a slender buff-coloured Willow Warbler with pink legs.

May 2^nd
When David and I set off around Angelzarke Reservoir, the sun was shining, with patches of blue sky and it was quite warm. Then the wind got up, clouds gathered. As we went across the dam, thunder rolled and forks of lightening lashed down on Chorley as it began to rain. A beautiful Meadow on the far side of the reservoir was dotted with pretty pale-lilac Mayflowers. On the dam I found some tiny purple-pink Vetch flowers.

May 6^th
A warm sunny day. At work I saw several Great Tits. On a wall there can be seen the purple flowers of Ivy Leaved Toadflax.

May 7^th
At Tockholes many Marsh Marigolds were flowering. To my delight I heard the first Cuckoo of the year call, and then when I got back home I heard and saw another Cuckoo fly up the back. But no sign of any Swallows yet! At Tockholes there were some rushes flowering by the stream and David picked me a piece of Hairy Bitter Cress.

May 9^th
Walking round Tockholes tonight, I saw a pair of Sandpipers on the reservoir bank. There was also a Mallard with eight Ducklings. The Beeches were covered in soft green leaves and Bluebells carpeted the wood floor. I picked a piece of Vetch. This morning I saw a Short-eared Owl hunting off Longworth Road, and in the evening I saw a Swallow there. Swarms of Midges were about Tockholes and large Black Slugs on the footpaths.

May 10^th
This evening was sunny with blue sky and David took me and the dogs a walk around Rivington. He picked me a bunch of Bluebells and Mayflowers. The Meadow. Buttercups were flowering and the Grass was knee high. It only reaches your ankles at home.

We picked some white “American Alien” growing by a steam, and a sprig of young Oak leaves, which had a curly bent Caterpillar on it. I think it was some sort of moth caterpillar. We saw three Magpies in the woods.

May 11^th
I got up this morning at five o’clock. The sky was clear and the sun had not yet risen. As I walked down the lane mist began to swirl over the pond. On the reservoir I saw several Canada Geese. On the shoreline there was a Redshank some Lapwings and two Dunlin. Yesterday an Oystercatcher flew over the Lane Field, brilling as though it had a nest disturbed. Maybe it was the same bird I saw on the island this morning. On the bank I saw a Small bird with white belly and dark tail. I think it was a Common Sandpiper. There was also a pair of Snipe, very shy birds.

This afternoon the sky continued to be clear blue with sunshine, though rain had been forecast. In the evening David and I walked up the moor. A Swallow flew by and a Skylark limped away from where we had been sat. I suspected it had a nest. Then to my delight I found the most perfect little round nest about two inches across and 1½ deep made from grass. Inside were four perfect dark brown eggs with darker blotches on them. I was sure they must be Skylark eggs but on consulting two egg books I found that the eggs were not as elongated as Skylark eggs and the darker colour more favoured that of Meadow Pipit eggs. So I am left in a quandary!

May 18^th
The sun shone from a blue sky this morning with cotton-wool clouds, but the wind was quite cool. This evening while driving down the lane I saw a bird on the fence I have not seen before. Its shape and size were characteristic of those of a Warbler. The breast was quite orangey coloured, with black legs, pale strip over the eye and a brown-streaked back. I believe it was a Sedge-Warbler.

May 19^th
A sunny day with a nice evening when we walked round Wayoh. David took me down Hob Lane which is in the doomsday book. The Holly Trees there are supposed to have been planted by Lancashire Witches. We saw a Great Crested Grebe on the reservoir and a female Blackbird in the wood. Growing by the banking was a white flower very similar in shape and size to the Mayflower but with larger Cress-like leaves. I found this plant also growing at Tockholes yesterday.

This afternoon David thought he saw a Chaffinch in the back garden. When I looked I knew the bird was unmistakeably a male Redstart. I have never seen one before. It had a most noticeable black chin, orange breast and tail with black legs. I could see the back was lighter, but had to consult a bird book to confirm it was a sort of greyish blue. A beautiful bird, it was a joy to see it.

May 20^th
A pleasant day. We walked round Entwistle but met with five Rotweilles so had to keep climbing the wall to avoid them. A pond by the footpath was quite dried up. On the surface I could see loads of black shiny Whirligig Beetles swirling round and two large Water boatmen, as big as a 10p piece. Every so often a large Lizard-like creature would come to the surface for air and I could see its long wriggling tail disappear. I think it must have been a newt, but it looked as long as my hand!

May 23^rd
David took me to the Trough of Bowland today. We walked up a track onto the moor where we heard Grouse and a Cuckoo. David says he saw a Buzzard. We saw several birds of prey, one was sat on a telephone wire, and it had a grey back and pale breast. I thought perhaps it was a female Sparrow Hawk. Flying about near the water were four Grey-headed Wagtails, their lovely yellow bellies, blue backs, and long tails identified them.

On the moor was a lot of insect life; I was quite surprised. Flies, Moths, and I found two Millipedes. One was black, quite thick, with two orange stripes down its back. The other was longer (about two inches) and very thin. Near the ice-cream van, about five female Chaffinches and two males were pecking about - they seemed very tame.

In the wooded parts Wild Garlic was carpeting the floor and in flower. On one wall I found a lovely pink Fairy Foxglove in flower. The sky was overcast at one but the sun did shine through. But by quarter past four the skies opened, and it poured with rain well into the night. At half past nine we called at Nancy’s and had a film show of the Canadian Rockies.

May 24^th
Today David and I went down Longworth Clough. We had great difficulty finding our way, but it was a nice walk. I found Violets flowering, Bugle and Bush Vetch, and a yellow kind of Cress growing near the Paper mill. Red Campion and Herb Robert flowers could be seen all over. I picked a piece of Sedge growing by a water channel; it had a triangular three sided stem with sword like edges. I’ve never seen it before; though it was similar to other sedges it was much larger.

In the evening David took me a drive, and near Roach Road as it meets the motorway on a grassy banking there were loads of magnificent Northern Marsh Orchids. I picked one and am hoping to preserve it. In a field down Longworth Clough I found a Toad.

May 25^th
We went to Southport today. I saw lots of Plantain among the Dune Grass, and Ox Eye Daisies were flowering all along the sides of the fields. By one field I saw a single Poppy flower; if there had been more, I would have picked one. Later we collected Sphagnum Moss from Stone’s Bank. In the marshy areas Bog Violets were flowering.

May 26^th
When I woke up this morning the first thing I noticed was that I thought was the shape of an Owl through my bedroom window. Sure enough perched on top of the wall at the top of the back garden was a young Tawny Owl. It still had down on, but must have been able to fly as later it disappeared. David and I went up Hill Top at half past six in the morning as light rain fell. In the long grassy Buttercup-laden meadows we saw twelve Rabbits in all, and three Hares.

May 28^th
Walking round Wayoh tonight I found Wild Strawberries flowering in the bank, and the yellow stars of the Wood Pimpernel. On the hillside and in the Willows Den, Germander Speedwell is starting to flower, and the lane ditch is full with tiny azure blue dots of Brooklime flowers.