Lancaster wildlife

[cookieyum]

Hi all,

Off to the Lancaster area start of october and planning visiting Leighton Moss and martin mere but was wonderful if there other good places to visit for the wildlife side of things, i can travel about a bit as i be using a car

Any other tips would be gratefully recived

Many thanks in advance.

Andrew

[eeyore]

the crook o' lune is worth a look its a nice walk and there are often interesting wildfowl on the river. Arnside crag, and silver dale , the trough of bowland and of course the lake district are all within easy striking distance (my in laws live in heysham).

as an aside there is a very good 2nd hand book shop in carnforth (about 20minuites north of lancaster on the A6)

[ChrisJB]

At that time of the year the classic Lancashire coastal sites extending from the RSPB reserve at Marshside (north of Southport) up to the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay will offer pretty good sport. The migratory geese will be starting to return and wader numbers will be building up. Places to try are:
Marshside, Warton Marsh (north side of the Ribble), Hest Bank, Pilling, Fluke Hall, Heysham sea wall on the north side of the docks (good for twite, Med' gulls and the occasional skuas and Leach's petrels), the Allen and Eric Morecambe hides near Leighton Moss, Jenny Brown's Point and Arnside to name but a few.
For upland scenic splendour, The Forest of Bowland is a real treat, but at that time of the year it will be pretty quiet on the bird front. Oh yes, just thought of a couple of good sites for hawfinch (early morn' is best for this species). Woodwell, not far from Leighton Moss is okay, but by far the best I'd say, is the car-park and surrounding trees at Sizergh Castle, a National Trust property just north of Levens. It's crucial you get here early as it can get busy and the hawfinches scarper. Also, Lytham Cemetery has a few ring-necked parakeets as well.
Have fun in 'gradely Lancashire'.

Chris

[cookieyum]

Thanks for the advice given me some good ideals with regards to Sizergh Castle carpark area is it only locked at certain times or open all the time?

Thanks andrew

[The Woodman]

Sizergh Castle car park area is accessible 24/7 although the castle and grounds are close on certain days, see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ghcastlegarden. As Chris says, the property is owned by the NT but the castle is privately occupied as are properties attached to it. You won't have to go far from the car park to spot the Hawfinches.

If you go in October or Novemebr when the River Kent is in good flow drive the short distance to Force Falls, situated near the end of a dead end lane. You should see Salmon and Sea Trout ascending the falls, also Dipper, Wagtail, Kingfisher and perhaps an Otter.

If you do the nearby Levens Hall park circular walk (park at Levens Bridge) it will take you past this spot. The park has some magnificent veteran oaks with a nice variety of birds, black Fallow Deer and Bagot Goats.

Find a farm called Halforth on the R Kent estuary, just downriver from Levens Hall, where the farmer allows twitchers access onto the tidal banks and you can park for free in the yard by the gate. Write your observations in the notebook in the black barrel in the hedge by the gate.

Foulshaw Moss is a couple of miles west on the A590. Owned by Cumbria Wildlife Trust is it undergoing work to restore the Raised Lowland Mire habitat.
Currently there are Osprey roosting in the lone group of pines out from the raised viewing platform. Expect overwintering Harriers and albino Red Deer too.

Whitbarrow Scar, the impressive lump of limestone to the north side of the A590 and Foulshaw Moss is worth a walk to see the limestone pavement, fritillaries and some interesting flora. Good access north of Witherslack Hall taking you past/through another CWT reserve, Hervey NR.

As you turn off M6 Junction 36 look for the drumlins of Sedgewick - glacial remains.

As other WABbers have said - there's plenty to see around Lancaster.

It's strange that spilling the beans about nice places to go and things to see is considered OK but mention a specific place to see a fungi species and that's anathema!

[stuoolong]

There are some spectacular bits of limestone woodland - the only place I've ever seen a limestone pavement surrounded by trees! Look for the wooded areas between Beetham and Warton, particularly near Yealand Redmayne, and also the Western side of Warton Crag.

[eigg head]

Whitbarrow Scar - fabulous limestone pavements and great panoramic views over Morecambe Bay and surrounds.

Wander the coast between Silverdale and Arnside, particularly if you have a calm afternoon with the tide coming in and the sun setting - quite magical.

Any of the Silverdale woods - great for fungi, birds, geology.

[Brocakat]

Trough of Bowland, Wyresdale ( split above Abbeystead Resovoir [also interesting] into the Tarnbrook Wyre & the Marshaw Wyre, - Tarnbrook hamlet you may find particularly charming,completly unspoilt ), Nicky Nook/Grizedale Valley, Littledale, Roeburndale/River Roeburn,Wray-with-Botton,Tatham Fells, Lowgill/River Hindburn, Clougha Pike,Ward's Stone,Wolfhole Crag, Cross of Greet.