Many of our local woodlands, especially those where oak trees grow, are not dead in winter. All they are doing is resting.

In mild winters some spring flowers may be found as early as January.

The year 2011 has not been a mild one but on the day of my visit the sun was shining and the temperature was well above freezing. It was the 18th of January and there were birds everywhere, most turning up the leaf litter to get at the seeds and mini beasts found there.

Among the flocks of chaffinches I saw five bramblings (below). These are often referred to as winter finches and can be recognised mainly by their pale rumps and orange shoulder areas.

Here two were looking for acorns and a few beech nuts. Not so long ago the nuthatch wa s quite a rare sight in East Lancashire and brambling have also become more common in the winter. In the case of the brambling, however cold it is in Britain, it is even colder in Scandinavia and birds of this species do not always migrate.

When the weather gets too cold they irrupt into Britain and use our woodlands as a refuge.

This is why those who love to look at our local village should not miss a minute of watching when mild weather has followed a spell of wintry conditions. The birds are hungry and they are therefore easier to watch.