Field Walks

The Club holds field walks from October till May every year. Each trip is led by an experienced walk leader. We visit a number of local birdwatching sites every year, as well as some further afield.

Walks suited to new birdwatchers, as well as experienced

But these walks are not just for experienced birdwatchers, birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts with little birdwatching knowledge will find these walks ideal. Our experienced walk leaders and members can help with identifying birds unknown, and also share more of their knowledge of birds and other wildlife out in the field. These walks present a great opportunity to fellowship with other birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Photographers are welcome

All our walks present great opportunities for bird photography. A number of members enjoy taking photos of birds, and we do get quite close up to birds at a number of different locations. Experienced members can also offer tips on bird photography.

Interested in joining a field walk?

New people are always welcome try one of our Field walks, but only for the first time, after which we require membership.

Membership costs -

  • £10 per year Adult

  • £18 per year Family (2 adults and 2 children, including grandparents and grandchildren)

  • £5 per year Under 18

See our Membership page for more information.

See our current Field walk programme below to find out when and where they are scheduled, and to find more information.

Keep up to date with what's been seen on our Field Walks on our Facebook page.

What to expect?

  • We have no guarantee on weather, so it's always best to wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.

  • It's always a good idea to bring lunch, as walks often start in the morning, ending in early afternoon.

  • Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them, not absolutely essential, but you'll get more out of trips if you bring a pair. Some members have further reaching telescopes that they will often share further sightings through.

  • Car sharing is sometimes possible, but it's best to contact the walk leader to confirm.

  • Dogs are not allowed on our walks, as they can disturb the birds.

What might you see on a walk?

  • RSPB Leighton Moss is a regular walk in October to see rare Bearded Tits, Bittern and Marsh Harrier.

  • WWT Martin Mere is a great place to see wintering Whooper Swans, Pink Footed Geese and an abundance of winter wildfowl in January.

  • Waders, geese, wildfowl and raptors displaced by high tides on the coast at places like RSPB Marshside, Pilling Marsh etc.

  • Spring migrants such as Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Osprey etc on our various spring walks.

  • Rare species. In the past Club members have seen a Pomarine Skua at Pilling Marsh, Snow Bunting at Southport, Purple Heron at Pilling, Long Tailed Duck and White Winged Black Tern at RSPB Leighton Moss.

Walks are often targetted to see certain bird species, depending on the time of year, the state of the tides and also recent sightings. On each walk we aim to see as many species as possible.

Bittern photographed by Club member Brian Taylor on our walk to RSPB Leighton Moss in October 2022. Brian was the only member to see this bird, as other members of the group left the hide to see the Long Tailed Duck also present.

Members on a walk up the Hareden Valley in the Forest of Bowland in May 2016, looking for Whinchats.

Male Pochard at RSPB Leighton Moss, taken by Jonathan Fry.

Male Bearded Tit, taken on our walk to Leighton Moss to specifically see these birds in October 2017, by Carol Brown.

Juvenile Purple Heron in a field at Bradshaw Lane, Pilling, in the rain in January 2020 by Jonathan Fry. The walk was rained off, but this made the day!

Members on a special walk learning about bird song in Corporation Park, Blackburn in April 2024.

Female Brambling seen on our walk to Pennington Flash in April 2022, by Jonathan Fry.

2024-2025 Field Walk Programme

Field Walk Gallery

All the following photos were taken by members on our Field Walks. This really shows the variety of birds we see on our walks. Click a photo to view it in full screen. Captions underneath each photo in the gallery details the species and location of each bird.

Water Rail at Leighton Moss, by Brian Taylor.

Whooper Swan at Martin Mere, by Jonathan Fry.

Avocet at Marshside, by Jonathan Fry.

Tawny Owl at Martin Mere, by Carol Brown.

Male Wigeon at Martin Mere, by Jonathan Fry.

Turnstone at Blackpool, by Jonathan Fry.

Black Tailed Godwit at Martin Mere, by Carol Brown,

White Winged Black Tern at Leighton Moss, by Jonathan Fry.

Redshank and Turnstone at Blackpool, by Carol Brown.

Treecreeper at Leighton Moss, by Carol Brown.

Members looking for Pied Flycatcher at Moor Piece, by Carol Brown.

Teal at Leighton Moss, by Jonathan Fry.

Pilling Marsh, by Jonathan Fry.

Pink Footed Goose at Crosby Marina, by Jonathan Fry.

Pomarine Skua at Pilling Marsh, by Jonathan Fry.

Little Gull at Heysham, by Jonathan Fry.

Members sea watching at Blackpool, by Jonathan Fry.

Pair of Eider at South Walney Island, by Jonathan Fry.

Members in a hide at Mere Sands Wood, by Jonathan Fry.

Pied Flycatcher at Moore Piece Wood, by Carol Brown.