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Guided walks for nature lovers
A PROGRAMME of guided walks is being organised by the RSPB and United Utilities between April and July, exploring the special wildlife of the Forest of Bowland.
The RSPB has teamed up with landowners United Utilities to run nine events, beginning in April and running until the beginning of July. Each event offers the ideal opportunity to see Bowland's special bird of prey, the hen harrier (pictured) one of England's rarest birds, along with other upland birds such as peregrines, ring ouzels and dippers.
RSPB Bowland Project Officer Pete Wilson said: "The aim of each event is to give people a chance to explore Bowland with a local expert who can reveal the fascinating wildlife and heritage that is hidden in this beautiful landscape.
"Bowland's uplands really come to life during the spring, with the arrival of thousands of migrant birds, some from as far away as Africa. I hope people will take the opportunity to go walking and find out what makes Bowland such a special place for wildlife."
For many people the highlight will be the chance to see hen harriers, know as 'sky dancers' because of the spectacular aerobatics of their display flights. The Forest of Bowland is the English stronghold for hen harriers. Of only 15 successful harrier nests in England last year, 10 were in Bowland, nine of which were on United Utilities Bowland estate.
Pete added: "A sighting of this rare bird is always a high spot on a walk. Sometimes it's a fleeting view of a hunting harrier, but we often have close views of displaying birds as well. These events are also a great way to enjoy seeing and learning about more common birds, as well as exploring the various wildlife habitats and finding out about the land management that is undertaken."
The walks are expected to be very popular and advance booking is essential. For more information or to book a place, please phone 01200 420301.
The programme is:
• Bowland Safaris on April 9th and 19th May 1st and 17th, June 25th and July 5th. A five-mile walk to look for special moorland birds including hen harriers, curlews and ring ouzels.
• Tumbling Tewits on April 20th. See the nesting birds of the farmland including curlews, redshanks, oystercatchers and lapwings (known locally as "tewits").
• Tewit Chicks on May 2nd. A walk at Bleasdale to see fluffy lapwing chicks and find out about how the farm is managed with wildlife in mind.
• Whimbrel Watch on April 29th. Large numbers of whimbrels (a small relative of the curlew) take a break in Bowland on their long-distant flight from Africa to their breeding grounds in Iceland. This is a rare opportunity to see these intercontinental travellers in Lancashire.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
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