​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.
 ​