THE sighting of the month was an osprey, seen in flight over the River Ribble.

I suppose this should not surprise us because some ospreys spend the winter in Africa and breed in Scotland. We are therefore on the migration route.

This year ospreys have bred successfully on Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, and so we can expect to see more moving through East Lancashire.

Other records for this column have been compiled with the help of Paul Dewhurst, Terry Steers, Bernard Lee, Bob Allen, Colin Walker, Enid Mills, Tom Telfer and Ian Jenkinson.

Sightings around Rossendale, Burnley, Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick:

BIRDS -- Merlin, wheatear (Crown Point, Burnley), peregrine, sparrowhawk (Rossendale).

MAMMALS -- Five badgers seen together -- male, female and three cubs), fox, bank vole (Rossendale), mink (Cliviger).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Comma, red admiral, meadow brown and large white butterflies (Towneley).

PLANTS -- Enchanters nightshade, red campion, yarrow, bugle, self heal (Towneley).

Sightings in Blackburn, Darwen, Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood:

BIRDS -- Peregrine, kestrel, collared dove, pied wagtail, chaffinch and swallows (Darwen).

MAMMALS -- Weasel, stoat, brown hare (Pleasington).

OTHER ANIMALS -- Peacock, red admiral and meadow brown butterfly (Witton Park).

PLANTS -- Water mint, greater bindweed (Foxhill Bank).

Sightings in the Ribble Valley:

BIRDS -- Green woodpecker, bullfinch, redshank, peregrine, sparrowhawk (Chatburn).

MAMMALS -- Roe deer, sika deer (Bolton-by-Bowland).