MAMMAL, REPTILE AND AMPHIBIA REPORT

Approximately 120 Mammal records were received this year, the greatest number - 15 / 20 - being not surprisingly for Moles and Hedgehog (the latter unfortunately were usually dead) with Roe Deer not far behind. Evidence of these animals is usually plain to see, but trying to obtain even a fleeting glimpse of many of our other indigenous species can be extremely difficult and is often only achieved through stealth and perseverance.

The majority of records, referred to in this report, have been submitted by the casual observer and, therefore, no statistical information regarding population trends or distribution can be assumed. They do, however, give some indication of the species an observant naturalist is likely to encounter in the garden or during a quiet stroll around Chorley and District.

Judging from the number of road casualties, this animal still appears to be fairly common in our recording area.

Most of the records of live animals are of individuals encountered in members' gardens or on country walks. Our earliest report is for 7^th April, when one was being fed mealworms in a garden at Clayton Brook, followed by one in a member's garden in Chorley on 11^th April, and then on 19^th April one was observed in a member's garden at Rivington. At Belmont in Spring they were found to be predating Lapwing nests on several occasions.

Individuals were often seen in the Dean Wood area during the summer months, and one was seen in the scrubland near Morrison's supermarket in September. The latest record was from Belmont in mid November.

Only two records this year - one was found dead at Birkacre 'rucks' on June 18^th, and another was found dead on the footpath near Tesco on 10th August.

Our first record of this species for about ten years was of a single animal seen in a stream in the rear garden of a member's house in Rivington on 4^th June.

Locally common throughout the area. All records were of mole hills, the earliest being 7^th February, and the latest mid-December. About 75% of these were in roadside verges and the remainder in open fields and grasslands.

Still our most common bat. The earliest record was of one seen over Rivington village green on 4^th February. Reported throughout the summer months at Belmont, Cuerden Park, Withnell Fold nature reserve, Adlington, Astley Village, Chorley and Euxton. The latest reported sighting is of one seen at the edge of Street wood, Rivington, on 29^th November

Recorded by bat detector on 10^th July at Cuerden Park and 21^st July at Withnell Fold.

Two were observed 'boxing' at Belmont on 10^th March. Individuals were seen at Rivington in January, Heath Charnock in April, Hic Bibi in May, Brindle in June and Bretherton in July. Five were counted on Croston Moss in mid May.

Reports of small numbers, sometimes just one or two animals, from most parts of our recording area, e.g. present in Astley Park, Cuerden Park and Shaw Hill golf course. Reported to be present in much reduced numbers at Belmont with a maximum of 8 on 5^th June.

Common and widespread throughout the area. Occurs in gardens on the outskirts of Chorley town centre. Absent from Belmont area until early July due to failure of 1999 acorn and beech mast crops.

Single animals were seen in the Top Lodge at Birkacre in March and April, at two sites in Cuerden Park in March, April and July, at Stoats Hall, Bretherton and at Belmont in June and in the canal at Heath Charnock in late August.

Two reports this year - unfortunately both of animals caught and brought home by the family cat to a member's house in Judeland, Astley Village. The first was in mid May and the second in mid August.

Surprisingly, only two records for this species - a single animal seen in a garden in Adlington in mid summer, and two caught in mink traps at Belmont.

Seen near a bird table in the rear garden of a house in Chatsworth Close during the winter months. One also fell victim to a lethal cat at Judeland, Astley Village, in May. Recorded regularly at Belmont between April and December.

Two sightings in April - one at Eccleston and one at Hawks Clough, Cuerden. In June, at the edge of the woods near Duxbury Golf Course, an adult was twice seen recovering its young from view and returning them to longer vegetation.

Four records were received for this elusive animal, all from the earlier part of the year. Single animals were seen in a Chorley garden on 16^th January, near Rivington High School on 14^th February, at Kem Mill Lane, Whittle on 14^th April, and on Croston Moss on 21^st May.

Animals were trapped on 6th March and 3^rd December to prevent colonisation of Belmont

Reports of sightings in Cuerden Park and Rivington in January, near Tesco and in Euxton in March, and in Rivington in August and December.

At Belmont, two were shot in May as they threatened breeding birds due to the low water level. One was seen 'mousing' in full sunlight for over an hour on 27^th December.

A male and female resident throughout the year at Belmont were only seen together on a couple of occasions.

Well recorded this year. Seen at Rivington in all months, at Cuerden Park in February and May, and at Roddlesworth in May. The highlights were of five seen together in High Bullough Wood, Anglezarke on 6^th April, and seven in a loose group on 24^th December at Belmont.

Three or four seen in the ponds in the Kem Mill area of Cuerden Park during May and June.

Large numbers were seen in the small pond next to the car park at Birkacre during March, and single animals were encountered in members' gardens at Euxton and Astley Village during the summer months. Single animals were also seen at Birkacre and Cuerden Park in May and July respectively. Sadly, 17 were found dead on the A675 alongside Belmont reservoir on 20^th April.

Fairly common and widespread around our area. Many verbal reports relate to individual animals seen in garden ponds. Present all year in gardens at Adlington, Astley Village, Euxton and Brinscall, and also seen in ponds at Cuerden Park. 215 were counted in adjacent garden ponds in Belmont village on 6^th March, but again, sadly, 85 were found dead on the A675 alongside Belmont reservoir on 12^th March.