Leighton Moss Targets and Nearby

[KeenTeen17]

Its my birthday on Monday, so we are going out on Sunday as a treat. I didn't feel like a party - I would prefer birdwatching The plan last year was that we went to Sizergh Castle for the hawfinches then went to Leighton then went to Grange Over Sands for the ornamental wildfowl. I was wondering if there are any other good sites in that sort of area. We are stopping off at Warton Crag as well this year for the peregrines and chough (hopefully) and the uncommon subspecies of jackdaw that occurs there.

Have there been any good sightings at Leighton recently?

Thanks.

[alisonclair]

Not from your area I'm afraid, but happy birthday for Monday!!!

[sleipnerofasgard]

There are a few places mentioned in the LDBWS forums , you might want to bookmark this page

LDBWS > Latest Birdnews

Frank

[Ruth Daniel]

Morecambe Bay is always worth a visit for waders.......especially if you get the tide at the right stage.
Warton Crag is a nice walk as is Arnside Knot and Arnside itself along with Silverside are also good for waders.
Gaitbarrow Nature Park and Roundsea Woods are also nice walking areas but better for summer visitors such as Flycatchers and Wheatears etc.
If you go on the RSPB website the latest species will be listed under L.Moss.....have a nice day and a good birthday!

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel

Morecambe Bay is always worth a visit for waders.......especially if you get the tide at the right stage.
Warton Crag is a nice walk as is Arnside Knot and Arnside itself along with Silverside are also good for waders.
Gaitbarrow Nature Park and Roundsea Woods are also nice walking areas but better for summer visitors such as Flycatchers and Wheatears etc.
If you go on the RSPB website the latest species will be listed under L.Moss.....have a nice day and a good birthday!

Totally agree Ruth - just to expand a little, its very important to hit the right tide, ie approaching full, to get the best views of what can be a spectacular bird sight in the bay - you can get tide tables on tinternet beforehand, or on the day from any fishing shop, such as heysham front or leighton moss itself post them up.
Also, check out the heysham power station outflows through the caravan park and dunes and the front at heysham (easy to stop the car) then at hest bank dunes at the level crossing (take a telescope), then both sites and all hides at leighton.
This is a full day on its own though!
Gaitbarow is best in spring/summer for some good rare flowers - I know you know Wharton for the same .
Wonderful area,
Have a great birthday KT and let us know what you find.
Cheers
Ken

[Ruth Daniel]

Thanks Ken......tis a lovely area isn't it?
Also worth a summer visit is Haweswater National Nature reserve managed by Natural England.The boardwalked walk along the water is brilliant for Damsel and Dragonflies and the adjacent woodland great for birds.
Sandside is the name I meant in the above post......was getting mixed up with Silverdale!

[diggleken]

You could also have meant Silverdale! But not for waders!
Marshside sand station area nearer southport is also very good - has been for many years, before the RSPB got to it,(not that I'm complaining about a nice warm hide).
Ken

[ChrisJB]

Try Jenny Brown's Point as well. It's a bit hit and miss, but a grand spot.

Regards, Chris

[KeenTeen17]

First we went to Warton to check for peregrines and the choguh, we didn't see much apart from the jackdaws.

Then we had a look in the Warton ruins and found a geocache.

Then we went to Jenny Browns Point. Not much seen apart from redshank and oystercatcher.

Then into Woodwell and I got the stinking hellebore and snowdrops but no hawfinches.

Then to Leighton Moss where I got a few shots at the feeding station. From the hides, not much about apart from mute swans, tufted duck, pochard, wigeon, greylag, canada geese and the best I saw was a pintail I got the scarlet elf cups

The photos are on the scarlet elf cup thread and the latest entry on my blog,

see signature

We decided not to go to Grange because we went the wrong way and ended up at Arnside. We had a cup of tea in a nice but expensive cafe.

[diggleken]

Glad you had a lovely day.
ken