2nd February 2026 - Wythenshawe Park, Stockport, G. Manchester - A cycle, a walk around this park with a midway coffee. A cold day but insects recorded were:- 1 * Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia); 5 * Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis); 1 * 2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata); 1 * Ground Beetle (Platyderus depressus) and 1 * Ground Beetle (Leistus fulvibarbis).

Birds counted today were:- 19 * Magpie; 4 * Ring Necked Pararkeet; 4 * Robin; 4 * Wood Pigeon; 39 * Carrion Crow; 2 * Jackdaw; 2 * Blackbird; 2 * Goldcrest; 4 * Feral Pigeon; 1 * Nuthatch; 1 * Great Tit; 1 * Long Tailed Tit; 29 * Common Gull; 5 * Black Headed Gull; 25 * Siskin; 1 * Goldfinch; 2 * Blue Tit; 1 * Song Thrush; 2 * Mallard; 1 * Jay and 1 * Wren;

I also spied 5 * Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus); a Budapest Slug (Tandonia budapestensis); a Variegated Centipede (Lithobius variegatus); a Tramp Slug (Deroceras invadens); a Netted Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) and a Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica).

Groundsel; Daisy and Red Dead Nettle were the only blooms noted.

A few old galls added were:- Andricus foecundatrix; Andricus kollari agg; Andricus aries; Andricus inflator; Andricus lignicola and Taxomyia taxi.

1st February 2026 - Blackleach CP, Salford, G. Manchester - A new month but tired, demotivated and with lots to do. The rain was falling and we just had a terse walk before going for a coffee and to do the shopping. Birds were fed and those recorded were:- 1 * Great Spotted Woodpecker; 6 * Magpie; 2 * Carrion Crow; 3 * Wood Pigeon; 3 * Moorhen; 4 * Blue Tit; 2 * Great Tit; 3 * Blackbird; 3 * Robin; 4 * Dunnock; 27 * Black Headed Gull; 14 * Mute Swan; 5 * Gadwall; 2 * Goosander; 15 * Tufted Duck; 1 * Song Thrush; 3 * Collared Dove; 4 * Starling; 3 * Long Tailed Tit plus plenty of Canada Geese; Mallards and Coots.

Gorse was the only bloom seen and the Lichen (Physcia adscendens) was noted as well as a brace of Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) queens.

26th January 2025 - River Mersey, Stockport, G. Manchester - A cycle into town for some low-sugar chocolate and a coffee and then a walk down the Mersey on a quite day. Birds counted without using the bins were:- 23 * Mallard; 7 * Magpie; 4 * Wood Pigeon; 1 * Goldcrest; 11 * Feral Pigeon; 3 * Grey Wagtail; 2 * Blue Tit; 2 * Kingfisher; 2 * Robin; 2 * Dipper; 1 * Wren; 11 * Long Tailed Tit; 3 * Moorhen; 3 * Goosander; 3 * Cormorant; 1 * Blackbird; 23 * Black Headed Gull; 2 * Great Tit; 7 * Carrion Crow; 47 * Canada Goose and 1 * Grey Heron.

Groundsel was in flower and I recorded the Mosses:- Grimmia pulvinata and Tortula muralis.

19th January 2026 - Ladybrook Cycleway, Stockport, G. Manchester - A few fungi on a very short mooch and 2 * Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus); plenty of Landhoppers (Arcitalitrus dorrieni); 3 * Song Thrush; 1 * Dunnock; 5 * Ring Necked Pararkeet; 1 * Grey Heron; 3 * Robin; 3 * Blackbird; 1 * House Sparrow; 2 * Wood Pigeon; 1 * Blue Tit and 1 * Great Tit.

I also recorded Elegant Bristle Moss (Orthotrichum pulchellum) and Hart's Tongue Fern.

18th January 2026 - Hob Hey Woods, Frodsham, Cheshire - A meet-up with local patcher and top gent Mark O' Sullivan in weather best classed as 'bilge'. Fungi were the main focus but I did record:- Shiny; Rough and Striped Woodlouse and a few bird species, namely:- Reed Bunting; Magpie; Wood Pigeon; House Sparrow; Great Tit; Redwing and Blackbird.

Gorse and Dandelion agg were in flower and the Lichens seen included:- Physcia adscendens; Physcia aipolia; Xanthoria parietina; Parmotrema perlatum and Punctelia subrudecta. 2 old Galls noted were:- Andricus foecundatrix and Andricus lignicola.

Also added was the Springtail (Dicyrtomina ornata).

17th January 2026 - Davyhulme Park, Trafford, G. Manchester - A pre-footy potter after some lunch in a cafe. A small urban park but we did record:- 6 * Moorhen; 1 * Blackbird; 4 * Mallard; 2 * Magpie; 1 * Carrion Crow; 2 * Blue Tit and 1 * Wood Pigeon.

Groundsel and Daisy were in flower, we saw a Grey Squirrel and a few fungi too. It all counts.

13th January 2026 - Abney Hall, Stockport, G. Manchester - A short pootle after getting soaked on the bike. A few fungi and a few Lichens:- Xanthoria parietina; Physcia aipolia; Evernia prunastri and Physcia adscendens.

The only birds I recorded were:- 1 * Bullfinch; 3 * Robin; 4 * Great Tit; 2 * Blue Tit; 1 * Long Tailed Tit; 4 * Blackbird and 3 * Carrion Crow.

I also spied 4 * Leopard Slug (Limax maximus); 1 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 1 * Ground Beetle (Pterostichus niger).

9th January 2026 - Fletcher Moss, Didsbury, G. Manchester - A dreary time of year and due to many factors, the motivation has dipped. Whilst heading home I did note a Blue Tit; Great Tit; Jay, Magpie and Carrion Crow plus a few Robins; 2 * Ring Necked Parakeet; 8 * Long Tailed Tit and 10 * Goldfinch.

Lesser Celandine was in flower and under a few logs I noted:- 8 * Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus); 1 * Leopard Slug (Limax maximus); 3 * Netted Slug (Deroceras reticulatum); Budapest Slug (Tandonia budapestensis); a White Legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger) and a big fat Common Toad (Bufo bufo).

Also seen was the Ground Beetle (Pterostichus nigrita/rhaeticus agg) and the Rove Beetle (Ocypus brunnipes).

5th January 2026 - Abney Hall, Stockport, G. Manchester - After popping for some veg and a coffee I set off back home through this local area. A chat with a lovely lady feeding the birds, a short wander and I saw:- 2 * Chaffinch; 1 * Jay; 1 * Great Spotted Woodpecker; 2 * Carrion Crow; 2 * Wood Pigeon; 2 * Robin; 1 * Long Tailed Tit; 1 * Blue Tit; 2 * Great Tit; 2 * Blackbird; 1 * Nuthatch; 1 * Coal Tit; 1 * Song Thrush; 2 * Magpie; 2 * Dunnock; 6 * Mallard; 5 * Coot and 13 * Moorhen.

I also saw a Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) and 3 * Budapest Slug (Tandonia budapestensis).

4th January 2026 - Greenway Bank, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - A good circular walk, around the upper areas and The Serpentine we saw a few birds:- Jackdaw; Pied Wagtail; Black Headed Gull; Carrion Crow; Redwing; Treecreeper; Robin; Wood Pigeon; Coal Tit; Goldcrest; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Goldfinch; Blackbird; House Sparrow; Robin; Wood Pigeon; Nuthatch and 3 * Little Egret.

We also saw a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and the LIchen (Punctelia subrudecta).

Around Knypersley Reservoir we clocked up more bird species:- plenty of Coots; Black Headed Gulls; Cormorants and Mallards plus 30 * Tufted Duck; 7 * Coal Tit; 10 * Goosander; 1 * Treecreeper; 1 * Dunnock; 1 * Wren; 1 * Marsh Tit and fair numbers of Blue Tit; Moorhen; Blackbird; Wood Pigeon; Robin as well as the odd Nuthatch; Canada Goose and Lesser Black Backed Gull. A couple of strange Muscovy Ducks were also in the mix.

3rd January 2026 - Hookgate NR, Market Drayton, Shropshire - No footy so a quick look at this area and then to the local charity shops were I picked up a great 'Pulp Fiction' collection of retro stories. In this tiny frosted area the few birds noted were:- 1 * Blackbird; 5 * Jackdaw; 1 * Wood Pigeon; 1 * Common Redpoll; 1 * Robin; 1 * Blue Tit; 1 * Dunnock; 1 * Wren and a few Mallard and Starling.

Gorse was in flower and a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) was stupidly braving the cold.

3rd January 2026 - Telford Park, Shropshire - An early morning walk before some shopping and then finding out all local football matches were off. The snow had fallen, it was an icy affair, bird species noted were:- Buzzard; Blackbird; Robin; Magpie; Great Tit; Carrion Crow; Goldfinch; Feral Pigeon; Black Headed Gull; Coot; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Moorhen; Mallard; Redwing; Dunnock; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Song Thrush; Tufted Duck; Grey Heron; Jay; Goldcrest and Pied Wagtail.

The only other things noted were a few fungi, a grey Squirrel and Hart's Tongue Fern.

2nd January 2026 - River Mersey, Stockport, G. Manchester - Heading homeward, a check of a few logs revealed:- Budapest Slug (Tandonia budapestensis); Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum); Tramp Slug (Deroceras invadens); Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella); Plaited Door Snail (Cochlodina laminata); Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus) and a Variegated Centipede (Lithobius variegatus).

I also saw a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); the Ground Beetle (Nebria brevicollis); the Harvestman (Paroligolophus agrestis); 2 * Magpie; 2 * Goosander; 3 * Carrion Crow; 82 * Black Headed Gull; 22 * Canada Goose; 1 * Blue Tit; 1 * Robin and Lesser Celandine and Hazel in flower.

2nd January 2026 - Chorlton Water Park, G. Manchester - A quick circle of the main body of water and home, it was too cold to dawdle. Birds recorded were:- 19 * Tufted Duck; 8 * Long Tailed Tit; 2 * Mute Swan; 3 * Goosander plus Cormorant; Mallard; Canada Goose; Coot; Black Headed Gull; Feral Pigeon; Magpie; Carrion Crow; Moorhen; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Blackbird; House Sparrow and Starling.

I see the feeding station is no longer used and the area left to go to pot - another area with folk showing little interest it seems.

The only other addition was Shepherd's Purse in flower.

1st January 2025 - Pennington Flash, Leigh, G. Manchester - A catch up with my brother at an area that isn't really a nature reserve any more. I mean, what reserve for wildlife sees it swamped with people who are not interested, dogs running wild and the water filled with boats. Around the cafe area was horribly busy, people dressed in their finery and as clean as you can imagine. Hey ho, we came off grubby after a good yomp and saw a few nice things.

Mini-beasts were few, it was mighty cool, but we did see:- 2 * 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata); 1 * Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); 1 * Leafhopper (Zygina flammigera); 1 * Ground Beetle (Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides agg); several Shiny Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus); Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum); Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) as well as the Harvestman (Nemastoma bimaculatum) and the Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica).

4 * Common Frog (Rana temporaria), a Garlic Snail (Oxychilus alliarius) and a Green Cellar Slug (Limacus maculatus) as well as several Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis).

Groundsel; Common Vetch; Wavy Bittercress; Gorse; Sweet Violet; White Dead Nettle and Daisy were the only flowers noted.

Old galls picked out included:- Andricus foecundatrix; Agathomyia wankowiczii; Andricus lignicola and Andricus kollari agg.

Bird species seen today were:- Buzzard; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Little Grebe; Little Egret; Grey Heron; Goosander; Lapwing; House Sparrow; Stock Dove; Wren; Treecreeper; Herring Gull; Common Gull; Great Crested Grebe; Great White Egret; Goldeneye; Great Black Backed Gull; Pheasant; Sparrowhawk; Pochard; Moorhen; Coot; Canada Goose; Black Headed Gull; Mute Swan; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Cormorant; Tufted Duck; Long Tailed Tit; Song Thrush; Redwing; Blackbird; Nuthatch; Robin; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Bullfinch; Reed Bunting; Chaffinch; Teal; Siskin; Goldfinch; Shoveler; Gadwall; Mandarin Duck; Oystercatcher; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Grey Wagtail and Carrion Crow. We also had Jay on call.

Lichens seen were:- Physcia aipolia; Parmotrema perlatum; Physcia tenella; Lecidella elaeochroma and Xanthoria parietina.