Possibly our own favourite winter birdwatching weekend in the whole of England. Both Bolton and Leyland are ideally located from which to launch ourselves off to some of the finest reserves and birdwatching sites in the North West. If wildfowl and waders are your interest, or if you want to learn more about them then this weekend is for you. We have planned the dates to coincide with the best possible tides, essential to enjoy the huge numbers of waders that gather to feed and roost on the Ribble Estuary and Morecambe Bay during the winter months.

Having settled into your hotel on Friday your guides, Ralph and Brenda Todd will give an introductory talk to the weekend.

One day will be spent visiting Morecambe Bay for the large numbers of oystercatcher, redshank, curlew and shelduck that feed on the rising tide before roosting at Hest Bank. We then move onto the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss - with its recently refurbished and enlarged Visitor Centre, shop and restaurant. A large reedbed and open lagoons (set under the backdrop of some stunning scenery) gives us the opportunity to undertake a number of walks and hides to visit. The specialities here can be the rare and elusive Bittern, Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers. Sparrowhawks sometime visit the roosting Starlings in the reed beds. Around the feeders we have seen Brambling but Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch are more likely. Goldeneye, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler and Teal can be seen in big numbers. Snipe and Water Rail probe amongst the leaf debris on the edge of the reedbeds. Peregrine and Buzzard are occasionally seen against the distant hills.

On our second day we have a more local day on and around the Ribble Estuary. Again taking advantage of high tides we visit Southport where Knot and Dunlin gather on the beach before taking advantage of high ground to roost. The RSPB Reserve at Marshside also provides sanctuary for a host of wildfowl and waders and from the comfort of a glass fronted hide we can watch Golden Plovers, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon and geese. If they all take to the sky we can be pretty sure there is a Peregrine or Merlin around - both frequent visitors to the reserve. As a complete contrast we journey on to the nearby Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Martin Mere - here, once again from the comfort of ideally positioned hides we can watch the 1000’s of Pink-footed Geese flighting in from their daytime feeding grounds to roost with other wildfowl and Whooper Swans within the refuge. Wintering Ruff wander around the collection and feed on the adjacent meadows along with Lapwing and Golden Plover. Of course the collection offers photographic opportunities for those so inclined. The shop, restaurant and gallery provide a decent retreat if the weather turns against us.

This really is another superb weekend within the birdwatching calendar, all admission charges are included as are the packed lunches and evening slide shows with Ralph and Brenda. Whilst every effort will be made to visit as many of the sites mentioned, local and up to date information along with the weather may dictate that the leaders will want to alter the above. Other sites that could be considered are Pennington Flashes, Formby Point and Meresands Wood. A detailed itinerary will be sent to those booked approximately one month before the tour departure date along with a full checklist of birds that might be seen.

Some species we should encounter: