NOW that autumn is advancing, roe deer seem to be recorded in several places and sika deer are in evidence in the area between Bolton by Bowland and Gisburn.

Roe deer are native to Britain but the sika deer is an Asian species which is like a smaller version of our native red deer and on occasions the two will interbreed.

In the 19th century Lord Ribblesdale had a captive herd of sika deer at his Gisburn estate which is now Gisburne Park hospital. It is very confusing to see that in the old days Gisburne had an extra 'e' on it.

The male sika deer has less impressive antlers than the red deer and there are patches of white on the rump and the inside of the hind leg of both species.

Records this week have been compiled with the help of Heather Harrison, Jeff Entwistle, Joyce Postlethwaite, Norman Coward, Bernard Lee and Jack Pope.

Sightings in Rossendale, Burnley, Nelson and Colne

BIRDS -- Mandarin duck, ruddy duck, both rare species in East Lancashire, heron, pochard, lapwing, golden plover (Foulridge); treecreeper, sparrowhawk, siskin, dipper, grey wagtail (Roughlee); kingfisher, skylark, pheasant (Cliviger).

MAMMALS -- Brown hare, stoat (Laneshawbridge); hedgehog, wood mouse, roe deer (Towneley).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Small tortoishell butterfly, common wasp, oak apple gall wasp, whirligig beetle, hog louse, dragonfly larvae, caddis fly larvae (in and around Pendle Water, Roughlee).

PLANTS -- Nipplewort, groundsell, honeysuckle in flower and berry, daisy, red campion, yarrow, self heal (Roughlee).

Sightings in Darwen, Blackburn and Accrington BIRDS -- Buzzard, goosander, heron, golden plover (Walton le Dale); greenfinch, bullfinch feeding on honeysuckle berries, long tailed tit (Pleasington).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Honey bee, red admiral butterfly, seven spot ladybird (Hoghton Bottoms); elephant hawk moth larva (Foxhill Bank).

PLANTS -- Pineapple mayweed, scarlet pimpernel, groundsel (Sunnyhurst Wood); orange spot fungus, russala, bootlace fungus (Witton Park).

Sightings in the Ribble Valley

BIRDS -- Reed bunting, goldeneye, goosander, dipper (West Bradford); coal tit, goldfinch, bullfinch, long tailed tit (Chatburn); sparrowhawk, collared dove, pheasant, jay (Spring Wood).

MAMMALS -- Badger (crossing the road on the Clitheroe by pass), roe deer, brown hare (Cliviger) otter (Sawley).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Red admiral butterfly, garden snail, banded snail, blue dragonfly, small tortoishell butterfly (Chatburn).

PLANTS -- Harebell, yarrow, ragwort, self heal, chickweed, bramble (in flower), alder (in catkin), red campion (Chatburn).