Frosty winter days and early dusks make January a great time to see some impressive flocks of birds. Wintering waterfowl on Stocks Reservoir are usually peaking in number at this time of year with Teal, Wigeon and Pintail all in evidence.Wintering Snipe are widely encountered, usually when flushed from underfoot in the damper pastures and in rushy areas on the fells.

Also look out for:

• Foxes foraging in the open around dusk.
• Brown hares starting their mating rituals between now and April with unreceptive females boxing away the advances of males!
• Large flocks of redwings and fieldfares feeding on hawthorn berries in hedgerows.

Walk of the month:

Stock's Circular Walk