A party of 18 set off from The Old Liverpool Road at Sollom and crossed the main road (A59) to walk down Smith's Lane. The first birds seen were 2 Common Buzzards which was a good start. This lane was Tarmacked as it was the access to Moss Side Farm. Beyond the farm it became a track.
At least 12 Hares were seen and at least 50 Lapwings. Someone spotted a Little Owl near a Barn at the farm plus a couple of Stock doves.
A single Corn Bunting was heard faintly then spotted perched on a scrub on the edge of a ploughed field with a typical stance.
At 8.15 we retraced our steps as a large black cloud was gathering.
We just got back to Sollom before it started raining.
Six of the group retired to the Cock and Bottle PH Tarleton for a well deserved drink. This area lived up to its name as a perfect Mossland habitat and a good evening was had by all.

Somerset Levels Holiday – Sunday 28 April – Thursday 2 May 2019 

Day 1 – The day dawned slightly overcast but dry, as we headed south towards Somerset. Our lunchtime stop was at RSPB Highnam Woods, near Gloucester, a site renowned for Nightingale and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. We spent a couple of pleasant hours there, walking through the woods, testing our plant, damselfly and butterfly identification skills and watching birds, until we finally got a brief glimpse of a Nightingale, having been teased for some time by its song! However the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker eluded us! We saw a selection of butterflies, including Peacock, Green Veined White and Orange Tip, as well as a Azure Damselflies. A good start to the trip, so we continued in high spirits towards Somerset. 
We arrived at our accommodation late afternoon, to be greeted by our hosts with tea and cake. We all settled into our rooms and gathered again in the early evening to head into Wells, for our evening meal. We explored the city of Wells, with its magnificent Cathedral and Bishops’ Palace, before having our meal.
Day 2 – We were up bright and early to head out to RSPB Ham Wall for a spot of pre breakfast birding. The weather was cool but clear and promised to be a warm sunny day. Within about half a mile of the car park, we managed to record 50 bird species, including several Great White Egrets, not bad for 2.5 hours before breakfast! Probably the highlight was seeing a pair of Kingfishers, on an early morning fishing expedition. Some of the group identified Mike Dilger of TV fame, with his cameraman and sound recordist! So we had lots to share with those in the group who had opted for a lie in, rather than an early morning walk.
We set off again at about 10.00 and headed to Natural England’s Shapwick Heath reserve, searching for Bittern and Hobbies. One of the group saw a Bittern, something we are unlikely to be allowed to forget (!), which unfortunately eluded the rest of the group. Later in the day, we headed over to Ham Wall, for the rest of the afternoon. We saw a number of Hobbies, flying overhead, devouring Mayflies on the wing. We had excellent prolonged views of Garden Warbler singing, followed by seeing a Water Vole swimming right across one of the channels. 
The remarkable thing about the duck population in Somerset, is that where back home we would see Mallards, instead we saw Gadwall. One member of our group became an expert in calling “Gadwall”, whenever we saw one! He gained something of a reputation that will stay with him, for a long time to come……
That evening we headed into Street for our evening meal, still spotting birds en route.
Day 3 – The hardy birders were up bright and early again, this time heading for the Somerset Wildlife Trust site of Westhay Moor. The day was clear and fresh as we tracked down a skulking Cetti’s Warbler. The usual Great Egrets gave us some good views as we scanned the reed beds.
After breakfast we headed for the lookout along the River Parrott, which is known for sightings of Common Crane. We were really in luck, with 8 flying over, calling as they went,
almost as soon as we arrived. So, we headed to RSPB Swell Wood to look at the heronry, with their neighbours, the Little Egrets, in the trees. People went off on different trails, with some being rewarded with views of Common Crane, plus their young and others with a clear view of the only Great Spotted Woodpecker of the trip. The ancient woodland was very special!
That evening we drove to discover the delights of Glastonbury, on our way for the evening meal. Glastonbury Tor dominates the landscape for miles around.
Day 4 – The morning dawned bright and warm as we headed back to the other half of the reserve at Westhay Moor. We were rewarded with sightings of singing Whitethroat, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Linnet. On the way back to the bus, we decided to stop in the last hide, only to see an otter swimming across the channel, a special end to the last early morning foray.
After breakfast we decided to go back to Ham Wall, for another search for Bittern and to try and see the Garganey that were reputed to be there. Sure enough we found them in the pool at the furthest point from the car park. We had lunch in a little hide in the centre of the reserve, where we were rewarded with a view of a Sparrowhawk, flying past at low level. We sheltered there for a little while from the shower of rain, before returning to the bus. This was the only rain that we saw during the trip; usually we were wearing T-shirts by lunchtime.
We then decided to try the Hawk and Owl Trust site of Shapwick Moor on the way back but found very little activity.
So, on the last evening we walked to the local pub for a meal, just a minute away. That rounded off our time in Somerset.
Day 5 – We packed the bus and headed for WWT Slimbridge, to meet our guide, the brother of one of our party. We had 4 hours to absorb what the reserve could offer, with the hi-light being the hide opposite the Kingfisher nesting holes, where they were feeding young! The views of the feeding Kingfishers were probably the best that some of us have ever had!
So we headed north through the ever increasing traffic and torrential rain, just making it back to Bamber Bridge by 19.00, in time to return the minibus.
Overall, we recorded 88 species of bird, 7 butterflies, 4 mammals, 1 amphibian, 1 damselfly and 1 reptile. A very worthwhile trip!
A big thank you to my co-driver John Finnan for his excellent spotting and bird song identification skills, plus a thank you to the “Gadwall Kid”, (alias Ron Bartlett), John Finnan, Linda Shearwood and Graham Thomas for their contributions to this report.




Janet Wall – Field Trip Organiser

​The day dawned sunny and warm, as we set off for RSPB Conwy. There was hardly any traffic, even though it was Easter Saturday, and we made excellent time to Conwy. The intrepid group coped well with the first unexpected challenge of the day, on arrival in Conwy. As we could not gain access to the RSPB car park, due to not being informed about the weekly Saturday park run (!), our group could been seen ducking under railings, climbing over crash barriers and dodging vehicles on the entry and exit slip roads to the motorway, in a determined effort to gain access to the reserve. Just as well we are a sprightly group (!), with everyone making it in one piece. 
So, we set off to enjoy a leisurely walk around the reserve….. although some headed straight for the café to top up on the caffeine! 
We identified a wide variety of species, from flora, to birds, butterflies and amphibians. (Lists below). The general consensus was that the Bird of the Day was the Wood Sandpiper, a Lifer for some! And the most interesting plant was the Wayfarers Tree, although there was some discussion about that, as it is rare in the North!
In the afternoon a smaller group headed into Conwy town, to have a look around. The more adventurous visited the castle, with others soaking up the Easter atmosphere, accompanied by an ice cream. 
By late afternoon everyone was ready to head home and again we speeded, unhindered by traffic, back to Bamber Bridge. Everyone collected all of their belongings, thus saving our Driver, Neil, from a trip to a car boot sale to dispose of the abandoned items.
Overall a good day was had by all…..

The third Migration walk of the series saw a party of 4 meeting at Sollom on the Old Liverpool Road. 
They had dodged the Squalls of the morning and enjoyed an afternoon of sun with a slight breeze.
We walked to Red Bridge after crossing the Canal at Lock Bridge.
Could see that some of the fields were flooded. This area is known as Eyes Lane and is Old English and means "land surrounded by water".
We followed a path along the River Douglas north but just before the bridge at the A59 we crossed a short stretch of field to return to Lock Bridge by walking back along the Canal.
Retraced steps to Sollom.
​

​Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB
Saturday 23rd Feb
Mild Sunny with slight breeze


A party of 17 members met one of the wardens plus a volunteer in the car park of Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve on Saturday the 23rd of February. It was a fine day but there was a breeze.
A donation of £4.00 per person was collected for the RSPB.
The Reserve had been purchased in 2006 the section to the east being purchased later.
We set off west to the site of the screen, that got blown away last year when the beast from the east occurred, where we viewed the area.
We next started walking east along an embankment, that was not open to the public, to gain access to another embankment going out towards the Ribble Estuary.
At the end of embankment we went to the left to a gate. The embankment had been breached here to allow the Ribble ingress to flood the Marsh.
As it wasn't high tide we sat behind the embankment out of he wind to eat our lunch. This gave us a lovely views across the Ribble to Warton.
A female Merlin was seen perched just out on the Marsh, then it flew right in front of us and gave us fantastic views. It finally perched in the top of a tree in the inner Marsh. A male flew over the car park and perched on a hedge.
There was another embankment breach further along the embankment to the east so both sections of Marsh were seen to flooded at high tides.
After high tide at 13.45 we set of back along the embankment going south.  Both sections of the embankment were now covered in water. It was a spectacular sight.
On the way back could see small birds perched in the flooded bushes and hedge alongside the return path. Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Stonechat.
Back in the car park a lone Marsh Harrier flew over as a climax to a lovely and enjoyable day.
Thank you Alex the Warden and Rob for making the day really enjoyable with lots of wildlife to view.
 
Thank you for images from
Sheila Roseman
Kevin Livesey
 
Graham Thomas Feb2019

​Churchtown to Nateby
Saturday 2nd Feb
Sunny but cold and frosty

A party of 8 members set off from the Horns Inn at Churchtown. It was a beautiful frosty cold day so being wrapped  up was a priority.
Walked through the Village and turned right at the old cross. Turned left at the main road. Crossed the road to walk up the access to Kirkland Hall Farm. Continued through several fields. There were flocks of Gulls including Black Headed and 3 Common Gulls. 60+ Lapwing and 50+ Starling.
Had a look in an isolated barn for an Owl without success.
Located a solitary Common Buzzard
Walked to Nook Farm House
Continued south down a lane then through the grounds of Popular Grove Farm. This was a large complex. Had lunch here before continuing south along track eventually coming to Hag Wood and Sharples Lane beyond. Turned left. After a few hundred yards came across a large pool on the right where gravel had been extracted. This pit had attracted many flocks of birds to the water including 60+ Mallard. 30+ Wigeon. 2 Shoveller.
Continued along Sharples Lane and watched a Brown Hare lolloping along in front of us.
Turned right at the main road to walk along the road for half a mile to an access on the left. A smallish brown bird  off from a post which could have been a Little  Owl but didn't get enough time to see it.
Found a path on the right that led to the River Wyre and the Wyre Way. Followed this  to the famous footbridge then the Church. Lots of Snowdrops in the churchyard. Walked through the Village to the cross then right to the pub.
Most of the day we had observed a large flock of 200+ noisy Pink Footed Geese flying around just to the west and south. Also some early Lambs in the fields..
All the party relaxed and had a drink in a very busy Horns Inn.

Hesketh New Marsh. River Douglas
Saturday 19th Jan
Fine but cool. Breezy at the River

A party of 5 people set off from the car park next to School on Shore Road Hesketh Bank and walked along the road for a few hundred yards Then turned right up a track onto the Marsh. After half a mile turned right along track to eventually cross Guide Road and onto the embankment overlooking the River Douglas. Followed this south to a track back across the Marsh to Guide Lane. Turned left back to Shore Road then right back to the car park.
There were lots of drainage ditches to be checked and arable land to be looked over for feeding birds.
Large flocks of Starling one of which had a white tail. A large flock of Wigeon of 400+ on the Douglas with a large flock of Canada Geese over on Longton Marsh. A flock of 50+ Linnet were flitting around the fields.
A good afternoon with a cold breeze on the River.
We got back after three hours and retired for refreshments at The Cock and Bottle PH.

Venue: Marton Mere
Date: Saturday 5th January 2019
Weather: Mild, Breezy later
Leader: Graham Thomas
Party Number: 7

A party of 5 met on Lawson Road and walked to the Reserve. Had been told that the Long Eared Owls were not around this year so we walked to the hides. We were joined by two more. It was very mild and that was a change to previous years.
Several Apple Trees had attracted some members of the Thrush famly.
Lots of Birds around and on the water. Had lunch in the Fylde Bird Club Hide after getting the pass for the key.
Ended up in the Feeding station.
Some screens had been erected at the side for viewing from a different angle.
The good day was ended at 14.30 ​

Venue: Crooke of Lune. Thwaite
Date: Saturday 1st Sept 2018
Weather: Warm
Leader: Graham Thomas/John Wilson
Party Number: 8

A party of eight met just off the M6 at Junc 37 then went in convoy to park in at The Crooke of Lune Bridge in a small layby.
The walk started by crossing the famous narrow Pack Horse bridge then following the River Lune along The Dales Way down as far as a path that doubled back climbing up to Thwaite farm. Enroute passed through Crooke of Lune Wood were we had witnessed a lady who had slipped and broken her ankle so we all walked through carefully.
Had lunch sat opposite a large shingle bank and watched a family of Grey Wagtails flitting sbout.
Saw lots of Birds on the River including; Dipper, Kingfisher, and Com Sandpiper.
Walked into The Village but didn't get as far as the Church.
Returned by passing between Cottages and crossed Chapel Beck then followed a path by a large farm, a Caravan then Tarnhouse Barn. Continued to Beckfoot Farm and finally Crooke of Lune Farm then picked up outward path back to the bridge.
This was a fantastic area in the Lune Valley and not a popular destination so apart from a few walkers, we had it to ourselves.
Some of the group had a refreshing drink sat outside The Longlands at Tewitfields.
 ​