Nature Watch with Ron Freethy

THIS week's records have been compiled with the assistance of Simon Walker, eight year old Mark Richards, Audrey Knight, Bernard Lee, John Neilds, Vera Kitchen, Lilian Parker and Reg Higgin.

The main points of interest have been the sighting of a very late swallow. This was on November 11 crossing over the M65 motorway between Blackburn and Accrington.

Records are likely to show that the year 2000 has been the wettest on record. As I write these notes the Environment Agency is still on alert but the river most in danger in our area is the River Aire in the area around Skipton.

Sightings in Rossendale, Burnley, Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick areas

BIRDS -- Little owl, dipper, heron, grey wagtail, common partridge (Roughlee); twite, linnet, merlin (Gorple reservoir); kingfisher, pied wagtail (Rawtenstall).

MAMMALS -- Red fox, badger, grey squirrel (Rossendale); mink (Ramsbottom).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Garden snail, red admiral butterfly (Roughlee).

PLANTS -- Lawyer's wig fungus, monkey flower, himalayan balsam, spleenwort, yarrow, red campion (Roughlee); herb robert, groundsel, daisy, shepherd's purse, white deadnettle (Rawtenstall). Sightings in Darwen, Blackburn and Accrington areas

BIRDS -- Dipper, heron, goosander, tufted duck (Roddlesworth); goldfinch, greenfinch, tawny owl, wood pigeon, greater spotted woodpecker (Sunnyhurst Woods); green woodpecker, treecreeper, bullfinch, coaltit, little owl (Witton Park).

MAMMALS -- Pipistrelle bat, rabbit, hedgehog, mole (Pleasington); water vole, bank vole, grey squirrel (Hoghton Bottoms).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Large white butterfly, seven spot ladybird, common wasp, large brown dragonfly (Roddlesworth); toad (Pleasington).

PLANTS -- Wall rue, enchanters nightshade in fruit, Robin's pincushion gall, honey tuft fungus, jew's ear fungus (Roddlesworth).

Sightings in the Ribble Valley

BIRDS -- Kingfisher, goosander, goldeneye, dipper, common partridge, rook, buzzard (Chatburn); red grouse, meadow pipit, short eared owl, skylark, linnet, reed bunting (Pendleton).

MAMMALS -- Sika deer, hedgehog, roe deer, brown hare (Bolton by Bowland); mink (Whalley); rabbit, bank vole (Chatburn).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Peacock, red admiral, meadow brown butterflies, banded snail (Chatburn).

PLANTS -- Enchanters nightshade, groundsel, daisy, robin's pincushion gall, fly agaric, orange spot fungus (Brungerley); hedge woundwort, harts tongue fern, wall rue, common polypody (Worston); bracket fungus, jew's ear fungus, lawyer's wig fungus (Whalley).