A SUDDEN knock on my door revealed a very excited friend. Bernard Lee has been a regular observer of East Lancashire's wildlife. He was strolling past my house near Clitheroe when he saw a very rare bird.
Together we watched a white stork flying overhead and circling around. It then flew off in the direction of Chatburn where I guess it would follow the meander of the River Ribble.
The nearest breeding area of the species is in Holland but in Britain (especially in the North West) is very rare indeed. Its black and white plumage plus red bill and long trailing red legs were obvious as was its slow wing beats, interspersed with occasional graceful glides.
The text books describe the white stork as a very rare vagrant but seen more often between March and May. Seen mainly in Eastern England.
Looking up my diaries I have only seen the white stork only once in Lancashire. I saw the bird flying over Paythorne near Gisburn on April 10, 1982.
I wonder if anyone else has seen a white stork in Lancashire.
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