Join us for a few days of exceptional birdwatching on the north-west coast of Lancashire as waders pass through on their migration to northern latitudes.
At Leighton Moss we look for marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit and Cetti’s warbler, while the Forest of Bowland is home to merlin and hen harrier as well as breeding ring ouzels, dippers and stonechats. At Morecambe Bay we scan for waders including curlew, redshank, knot, dunlin and oystercatcher. Wildfowl here may include shelduck, eider, teal and wigeon. At Foulshaw Moss we will look for two African migrants: tree pipit and osprey as well as resident birds.
Make your own way to The Mill at Conder Green, just south of Lancaster (rail travellers can be met at Lancaster station between 4pm and 5pm).
In the evening there will be a presentation of the local area.
Accommodation: The Mill at Conder Green, 3-nights
During our two full spring days in Lancashire we will visit a variety of nature reserves whose wetlands come alive with the sound of birdsong.
Visits will include Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve to view a variety of waders and wildfowl. Weather permitting, a morning visit to the Forest of Bowland will be made to in the hope of seeing birds such as ring ouzel, dipper, stonechat and, with a bit of luck, raptors such as peregrine, merlin, or view osprey passing through on their way to their breeding grounds. We also plan to visit Foulshaw Moss, a rare and an internationally significant lowland raised peatbog where ospreys breed along with tree pipits and redpoll.
We will also visit areas around Morecambe Bay, a feeding ground to more than a quarter of a million wading birds, duck and geese.
Our final morning will be used to spend more time exploring the estuaries around Morecambe Bay before the tour concludes after lunch.
For travellers departing from Lancaster railway station, a drop off at the station will be made at 2.30pm.
Please note: Whilst we will endeavour to visit all the reserves mentioned, the itinerary may be altered by the tour leader according to local conditions.
Best known for his wildlife journalism, contributing to BBC Wildlife, Birdwatch, Birdwatching and Nature’s Home, Ed also has a strong background in wildlife conservation.
He has previously worked for the RSPB at Symonds Yat Rock in Gloucestershire and surveyed nightingales for the British Trust for Ornithology. Ed has a passion for all birdlife with a particular interest in raptors and bird vocalisation, and takes pleasure in committing new ones to memory.
Bordered in the east by the Pennines, Lancashire’s main rivers drain west into the Irish Sea. Areas of national and international significance, for their birdlife include the Ribble Estuary, Morecambe Bay, while the limestone pavements at Leighton Moss are home to a rich endemic flora. Find Out More about {acc:title}
All rooms at The Mill have en suite facilities, and are equipped with TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee-making facilities, and have lovely views of the Lancashire countryside, surrounded by wildlife. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar serving traditional Lancashire fare. Find Out More about The Mill at Conder Green
