Huge birding news broke on the 8th November when local birder who was fishing George Shannon had a Belted Kingfisher fly past him on the Redscar bend of the Ribble.

George said: “I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“I just stared at the bird through my binoculars running every possible scenario through my head of if it was an escapee or had I definitely got the ID correct; there really isn’t anything else it could be but I knew how rare it was.

“I started uncontrollably shaking and fumbling to get my phone from my pocket to get some pics and that’s what caused the bird to fly some 50 metres further upstream.

The above image is from a video that George managed to take.

The Belted Kingfisher was reported again on the 13th November but has remained elusive along the Ribble where access is limited. There have only been a handful of records of the large North American kingfisher in the UK and Ireland although one bird did over winter in Cornwall in 1979/80, so there is some hope the bird will stick around.

Good views of the normally elusive Cetti's Warbler from the Lookout recently.

The winter thrush and finch passage has increased with one day producing 600 Fieldfare, 1500 Redwing (image below), 6 Brambling and 23 Siskin moving North West over the reserve.

Twenty one Whooper Swan flew over the reserve during the week. Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler are all present.

Look out for Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Stonechat as well as Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

If you are visiting Brockholes and would like to know what's about or have any sightings to report feel free to call in at the Lookout and we can point you in the right direction.