Aldcliffe
Tags curlew, green sandpiper, lapwing, little egret, snipe
Aldcliffe is a small village just south of Lancaster, near the banks of the River Lune. However, the areas of birding interest by-pass the village altogether. From Lancaster train station, it is a very straightforward walk of about 30 minutes, to a wooded area known as Freemans Wood.
There is a National Cycle Track (attachment 1) that starts from here, and dissects the areas of birding interest. On one side of the track is farmland and on the other, the Lune Marshes.
At the very start of the track are the Freemans Pools (attachment 2) These have been developed by the WWT and have 2 viewing platforms.
There are various pools on either side of the track that attract a variety of birds. However, this being famland, the track is hedgerow and tree lined, making viewing the pools awkward and in some places impossible. There are, however, ocassional breaks in the hedges and one or two gates where the pools can be seen.
At the end of the cycle track there is a style on the right hand side, over which is Dawsons bank, that can be followed back to the start and Freemans Pools. You could of course keep walking and end up in Glasson & Conder - about 5 miles further on, or take a left and go to Aldcliffe village.
The area is deceptively large and took me about 5 hours to walk around - this of course includes 10 - 15+ minute stops to view each of the pools, a couple of rest breaks and a spot of lunch. (Not to mention breaking in a new pair of boots that have given me a lovely blister!!)
During my visit I saw the following birds:
Swallows all over the area - saw 5 in one go.
Freemans pools: (area 1 on map) Coot, Grey Heron, Mallard, Moorhen, Shoveler ducks, Canada geese.
Frog Pond: (area 5) Nowt
Darter Pool: (area 4) Nowt
Wildfowlers Pools: (area 6) Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Green Sandpiper (thanks John!), Mallard, Robin, Coot.
The Flood: (area 8) Pied Wagtail & a Curlew (thanks again John!)
The Lune Marshes: Lapwing (hundreds) Little Egret (4) Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring gulls, Cormorant, Greylag geese.
I would definately go back again, but try to time things better - the tide was out for a start, and the pools are fairly distant - I need to get a teleconverter or seriously practice my totally pathetic digiscoping skills (or both)
Attachment 3 is a map of the area and I've put some poor photo's in an Aldcliffe album.
There is a National Cycle Track (attachment 1) that starts from here, and dissects the areas of birding interest. On one side of the track is farmland and on the other, the Lune Marshes.
At the very start of the track are the Freemans Pools (attachment 2) These have been developed by the WWT and have 2 viewing platforms.
There are various pools on either side of the track that attract a variety of birds. However, this being famland, the track is hedgerow and tree lined, making viewing the pools awkward and in some places impossible. There are, however, ocassional breaks in the hedges and one or two gates where the pools can be seen.
At the end of the cycle track there is a style on the right hand side, over which is Dawsons bank, that can be followed back to the start and Freemans Pools. You could of course keep walking and end up in Glasson & Conder - about 5 miles further on, or take a left and go to Aldcliffe village.
The area is deceptively large and took me about 5 hours to walk around - this of course includes 10 - 15+ minute stops to view each of the pools, a couple of rest breaks and a spot of lunch. (Not to mention breaking in a new pair of boots that have given me a lovely blister!!)
During my visit I saw the following birds:
Swallows all over the area - saw 5 in one go.
Freemans pools: (area 1 on map) Coot, Grey Heron, Mallard, Moorhen, Shoveler ducks, Canada geese.
Frog Pond: (area 5) Nowt
Darter Pool: (area 4) Nowt
Wildfowlers Pools: (area 6) Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Green Sandpiper (thanks John!), Mallard, Robin, Coot.
The Flood: (area 8) Pied Wagtail & a Curlew (thanks again John!)
The Lune Marshes: Lapwing (hundreds) Little Egret (4) Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring gulls, Cormorant, Greylag geese.
I would definately go back again, but try to time things better - the tide was out for a start, and the pools are fairly distant - I need to get a teleconverter or seriously practice my totally pathetic digiscoping skills (or both)
Attachment 3 is a map of the area and I've put some poor photo's in an Aldcliffe album.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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Definately sounds worth a visit, may try and work it in to my busy schedule for September weekend
cheers, JohnPosted 25-08-09 at 10:22 PM by clydebirder
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Great report thanks Alan,next time we're up at Carnforth will definitely pay a visit!
Hope the blister isn't too bad!Posted 26-08-09 at 10:29 AM by Twitcheruth
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I walked from Glasson to Lancaster along that route. I had a lovely shot of a Jay lined up until a family of cyclists rode by and off it flew. I ended up with a rear view of a Jay in flight but so blurred you wouldn't know it.
I didn't get a blister, though. Hope it heals well.Posted 26-08-09 at 07:11 PM by The Actor
