ALternative Contact:-

Jill Saunders

Penrith u3a Bird Group venues 2025

Date	Leader	Location	Meeting Time @ Venue	Notes
25th January		CANCELLED	10.00am
28th February	Andrea Willett	Caerlaverock WWT	10.00am	Entrance charge for non members. Several hides. Whooper Swan feeding. Other overwintering wildfowl, hedgerow birds, raptors. Cafe menu limited. Shop and toilet facilities.
28th March	Alan Bainbridge	Talkin Tarn / Longtown Ponds	10.00am	Talking Tarn for wildfowl & woodland birds parking at Visitors Centre. Longtown for ducks  , geese , waders - no hides. On street parking and public toilets in Longtown.. A walk round Longtown Ponds and River Esk.
25th April		Geltsdale RSPB / Milton Rigg	10.00am	Geltsdale RSPB is the other side of Hallbankgate.   There is a variety of habitats including blanket bogs, heath, upland farming and woods.  There is a circular walk round the reserve with good views of the fells, valleys, lime kilns.   In April there is a variety of wildflowers and may be orchids as well as the opportunity to see a variety of raptors, breeding waders, black grouse, ring ouzel, whinchat, and warblers and a range of other bird species.  There are Wcs at the visitor centre and picnic tables and a screen for viewing birds on the tarn. Miltonrigg Woods - Woodland Trust An opportunity to see and hear spring migrants such as wood warbler, pied fly catchers, and redstart as well as other woodland birds – some established nesting sites can be found with luck.
23rd May	Mike Harrison	Brockholes Lancashire WT	10.00am	A former quarry that has been transformed into a haven for birds , insects ,mammals , plants & amphibians. Now a mosaic of wetland , woodland  and grassland habitats. Located straight off junction 31 of the M6 at Preston. Entry free , car parking £5 . Lots of accessible trails and hides. Cafe and Toilets available.
27th June	Dave Neale	Hodbarrow RSPB	10.00am	Free reserve on coast with scrubland, estuary, lagoon (with nesting terns viewed from hide). Great variety of birds, flowers and insects. Cafe nearby after we finish. No public toilets on site- nearest are in Millom or at Havrerigg.
25th July		Loch Maben / Esk Rigg Woods	10.00am	Lochmaben with a parking area overlooking Castle Loch.  There is a circular walk (c4 miles) round the loch which includes boardwalks and established footpaths and passes a number of viewing points across the water, including a bird hide and the remains the castle.  There are also a number of parking spots round one side of the loch.   Wildfowl can be found on the loch and around the loch are reedbeds and wooded areas where a variety of woodland birds can be seen including willow tits and warblers.  There are public toilets in the town and also a Heritage Centre in the Town Hall. Eskrigg Nature Reserve is a small reserve managed by the Lockerbie Wildlife Trust located on the outskirts of Lockerbie. The reserve and the adjacent woodland walks offer visitors the opportunity to observe fungi, flora and fauna. One of the trails is a 3km hardcore circuit that allows disabled access to the woodlands.  There a three hides, one overlooking feeders which attract red squirrels as well as birds.  Sometimes crossbills are seen and ducks, swans, grebes seen on the pond.   The bird feeders near the pond attract a variety of woodland birds.  There is a compost WC on site and car parking.  Arrangements can be made in advance with the reserve for people with disabilities to drive onto the reserve and also borrow a mobility scooter if required.
15th August	Jane Boylan	Saltholme RSPB	10.00am	A Teesside reserve with entrance charge for non members . Car parking. Cafe, toilets & shop. Many hides. waterfowl, waders and migratory birds. Just off the reserve there can be good views of a seal colony.
26th September		Workington/Siddick Pond	10.00am	Workington Harbour & foreshore for sea birds & waders. Siddick Pond for wildfowl waders ,hedgerow & seedbed birds. No facilities at Workington but toilets etc at Siddick Retail Park.
24th October		South Solway / Campfield RSPB	10.00am	Barnacle Geese , other wildfowl , waders , hedgerow birds. Mostly pull-ins off the coast road with short walks plus lunch stop at RSPB Campfield meeting room (Toilet). Walk to Campfield hides. Toilet also at old chapel before port Carlisle.
28th November		Watchtree	10.00am	Watchtee Nature Reserve There is a circular walk round the reserve and a number of paths through woodland, three hides   Hightlignts may include yellow hammer, tree sparrows, nuthatch, tree creeper, tits, finches, fieldfare, redwing, waders.  There several bird feeding stations which attract a variety of woodland birds and pools attracting water birds. Roe deer and hares are often seen.  There is a cafe and toilet facilities adjacent to the car park and compost toilets on the perimeter path (approx halfway).
Backup for bad weather venue		Leighton Moss RSPB	10.00am	Leighton Moss RSPB: Entrance charge for non members. Car parking,cafe, toilets and shop & many hides. Waterfowl, waders, Woodland birds , Marsh Harrier & Bearded Tits We also visit the hides overlooking pools near the salt marsh, which requires a short drive.

Notes
1	Joint group conveners are Dave Neale 07521295454 & Jill Saunders 01228 500267
2	We usually meet on the 4th Friday unless there is a clash with a bank holiday weekend.
3	Binoculars for all locations with telescopes for everywhere except pure woodland. Some locations do hire binoculars if required.
4	Car sharing is encouraged and currently members agreeing lifts and advising the trip leader of their arrangements. Those requiring or offering lifts letting the trip leader know in advance.
5	The terrain  of venues varies but is often uneven / wet & muddy - suitable shoes/boots are advisable.
6	We are usually outside so dress appropriately for the weather / season.
7	Some locations are wheelchair / mobility scooter accessible and some venues have them available. Please check with the leader or online. These generally need to be booked in advance.
8	Bad weather may need us to cancel or relocate venues. We will try to do this before the day but it could be on the day itself.The usual back up for relocation is Leighton Moss
9	Prior to each trip we will send out more details of the arrangements for the particular venues and to finalise numbers of participants and what the car sharing details are.

Our group is a very informal and friendly one with members having a wide variety of expertise from novice upwards. Other members are always on hand and are happy to pass on their knowledge and tips on birdwatching.

From January to November we take monthly visits to venues around Cumbria , North Lancashire , southern Scotland and the North East. These are generally on the 4th Friday of the month but can vary due to clashes with Bank Holidays. See the Yearly Itinerary for more detail.

The terrain varies with some venues suitable for mobility scooters and some having scooters for hire (subject to prior booking).

We promote car sharing wherever possible.

Although we are a “Birdwatching” group we are naturally interested in the wider flora / fauna and benefit from the groups wider expertise.