BINOCULARS and telescopes were trained on Bolton's biggest bus depot as expert watchers descended on the town centre . . .

But these were no bus spotters - they were bird watchers marvelling at the rare sight of birds of the open countryside and farmland roosting on the warmth of the First Buses garage in Crook Street, a couple of wingbeats from Bolton town centre.

The lapwings and golden plovers - closely related species - were spotted by the sharp eyed members of Bolton RSPB as five teams took part in the annual "bird race" at the weekend.

The object is to identify as many different species of wild bird as possible within the day and within a six mile radius of Smithills Hall.

The winning team from the RSPB's Young Ornithologists' Club won the event by chalking up a stunning total of 71 species. They were Lynne Musgrave, Simon Warford, Emma Wilson and Chris Marston.

When the totals of all the teams had been totted up, 79 species had been seen in the day.

Press officer Geoff Leather, who was in one of the teams, said: "Quite a few fairly rare birds such as kingfisher, brambling and jack snipe were seen, but the most unusual sighting was the large flock of about 50 lapwing and golden plover on the bus depot roof so close to Bolton town centre.

"There have been quite a few recent reports of these birds roosting around the town centre. Only a few years ago, the only places they were seen was in the countryside."

TWICE last year the BEN reported how lapwings had been seen roosting on the metal roof of the Do-It-All store in Manchester Road, Bolton.

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