ALternative Contact:-

Jill Saunders

Penrith u3a Bird Group venues 2026

Date	Leader	Location	Meeting Time @ Venue	Notes
23rd January	Andrea Willett	TBC	10.00am	Martin Mere
27th February	Dave Neale	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.
27th March	Dave Neale	Grune Point & Silloth	10.00am	Grune Point/ Sllloth  Winter/Spring  Path around coast & Silloth promenade. Geese/seabirds/waders
24th April	Jill Saunders	Glasson Moss & Port Carlisle	10.00am	Glasson Moss is a wetland part of the SolwayCoast National landscape. The area suffered from pat extraction but is now a restoration project that is recovering well. There is a new set of trails and board walks and viewing tower.  Lots of bog plants and breading birds.sparrowhawk , slope ,curlew , sedge & grasshopper Warblers. insects too.                                                                                  Port Carlisle looking onto the Solway with great views of waders , gulls . & wildfowl
22nd May	Mike Harrison	Teesdale	10.00am	Natural England Nature Reserve (free). Moorland, riverside & farmland. Black & Red Grouse , nesting Waders , Ring Ouzel , wild flowers. A circular walk with no hides but with tea & cake spot at the end. Toilets at farm & hotel.
19th June	Jane Boylan	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.
24th July	Jill Saunders	Eskrigg Reserve near Lockerbie	10.00am	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.
21th August	Dave Neale	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.
25th September	Alan Bainbridge	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.
23th October	TBC	Foulney area & Barrow	10.00am	Foulney Island a Cumbria Wildlife Trust site. Arrival of both light and dark Bellied rent geese along with other wildfowl and waders. Barrow for more waders and wildfowl.
27th November	Alan Bainbridge	Hardendale / Shap area / Sunbiggin Tarn	10.00am	Wildfowl, winter thrushes ,possible Short-eared owl, Stonechat , Twite
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 & Jill Saunders
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.