Forthcoming events Spring 2001

Only events which will definitely take place are included on this list.  The RSPB local members group programme has not been printed yet.

Lancaster and District BW Society

Indoor meetings at the Unitarian Church, Scotforth (by the Booths/Boot and Shoe traffic lights):

Monday 26/3/01 at 1930hrs:  Birds of the White peak by John Power
Monday 23/4/01 at 1930hrs:  Confessions of a Luneatic by Kevin Briggs

Lancashire Wildlife Trust  North Lancs. Naturalists

Saturday April 28^th:  Bird ringing and migration at Heysham Nature reserve

Meet at the reserve car park between 0700hrs and 1000hrs (SD407599).  Leader Les Tollitt.   There is quite a bit of preparation required for this event (e.g. erecting mist nets) so we would be grateful if you did not turn up expecting to be shown ringing activities prior to 0700hrs.  Thank you.  The weather may be unsuitable and the alternative is seawatching/checking the outfalls for Arctic Terns etc..

Monday May 7^th:  Plant Sale at Holly House, 94  Main Street, Hornby from 1400hrs.  Helpers from 1000hrs.

Wednesday May 16^th   Mid-week recording

This is the first of the mid-week recording sessions run annually.  The intention is for the visits to go ahead, but the venue has not been decided yet.  Please contact Jennifer Newton (015242/21569) or Joyce Birchall (01524/416122) nearer the time. 

Recommended Birdwatching sites during the F & M crisis.

This short article has taken the view that journeys through farmland on cul-de-sacs are not justified at this time.  Therefore Bank End, Lighthouse Cottage, Cockerham Sands caravan park, for example, cannot be recommended as coastal vantage points.  This does not leave a lot, but we are far better off than many 'landlocked' areas.    Here are a few trouble-free areas:

The gravel pits area

Pine Lake can be accessed, although there have been comments about car-driving visitors not treating the tame ducks strewn over the road as credible living beings.  Please respect that they generate a lot of enjoyment for the Pine Lake residents, especially the children, and they have the right of way.  Borwick Lane pits can be viewed easily from the road, as can Dockacres (mornings best).   Obviously the Borwick Lake fishing pit is out of bounds as the footpath across the field is not open.

Further up the A6 to the north is Holmere, although ironically it has been the small area of floodwater on the west side of the road by the lay by which has produced the goods = Green Sandpiper this year 

Leighton Moss

The café and bookshop await your custom.   The "Osprey tree" area is viewable from the road c/f Ruddy Duck,  Marsh Harrier etc..    Obviously the present situation may change but at the moment the reserve itself  is closed,  including the public causeway.  

Heaton Marsh area

A good range of birds has been seen here, including a break from this typing producing Greenland White-fronted Goose and 1^st winter Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid (& Black Swan).     Anyone visiting this area is encouraged to read Mute Swan ring numbers and forward to Dave Sharpe.   Similarly Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull darvic numbers/letters or colour-ring combinations and forward to Pete Crooks (p.crooks@ucsm.ac.uk) or the Editor.

Teal Bay (VVV Leisure) to Heysham Ocean Edge

The whole of this stretch of coast is open/viewable at present with the exception of the National Trust property on Heysham Head.  This specifically includes:  Heysham Nature reserve, Heysham Power Station outfalls, Heysham Red Nab roost, the Heysham heliport roost, Heysham north harbour wall seawatching point, Battery car park, Stone Jetty and the whole of the promenade Heysham village to VVV leisure.