Blackburn Bird Club

Home
United Kingdom
Blackburn
Blackburn Bird Club

Blackburn Bird Club is an organisation for those people who like to watch and learn about birds. All are welcome.

We meet on the first Wednesday of the month from October to April at Mellor Brook Community Centre, 7 Whalley Road, Blackburn, BB2 7PR. New members are always welcome.
£10 per individual
£18 per family
£5 per under 18

19/06/2026

It's been a while since we've posted about one of our programmed walks, so here goes! In the middle of May 4 members made an early start at Bolton Abbey Wood, a Tawny Owl perched on a wall along the road was a great start! We walked the River Wharfe on the low path to Bolton Abbey and returned on the upper path back to Barden Bridge. Along the way we saw several Red Kites, Dippers, Common Sandpipers, Goosanders and some Mandarin Ducks. Highlight was definitely the sum of between 12 and 14 singing male Pied Flycatchers along the route, many showing extremely well! We also had a sighting of a Kingfisher, bizarrely flying to a bank area on the other side of the path, as if looking to nest build in an area far too disturbed. We ended the day with a pair of Redstart going into a nesting hole in a tree they have nested in for the past few years apparently. The rain arrived just at the end, so we stayed mostly dry. Photos by Jonathan Fry.

16/06/2026

A great monthly walk at Preston Docks on Sunday where we saw plenty of activity from the nesting Common Terns. They were mostly in the middle area of the marina, but several gave close views investigating the new raft. Several birds were even seen carrying fish for chicks and as a gift for their mate. 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes had chicks, some quite large. The grass between the flats was full of Bee Orchids too, which was great to see. We had the company of a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable 11 year old William and his Mum, we were very impressed with his bird knowledge 😃 Photos by Jonathan Fry. Join us next time for more birds and banter.

10/06/2026

Join our free monthly walk to Preston Docks this Sunday, see details below.

23/05/2026

We had a great day on our first coach trip to RSPB Old Moor on 2nd of May! Great weather was accompanied by great birds, beginning with a close sighting of a male Marsh Harrier from the cafe veranda. On the reedbed side of the reserve we had great scope views of a male Peregrine perched on a pylon and a pair of Mediterranean Gulls nesting on the island with the Black Headed Gulls. One member sighted a Bittern from the Bittern Bus Stop flying low over the reeds, other members missed this, but did see the metal sculpture of a Bittern! On the other side of the reserve we had several good sightings of Cetti's Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret and even some nesting Cormorants. The highlight of the afternoon was a sighting of a Hobby. 54 bird species seen. A good day for all with plenty of chatter, bacon butties and ID insights with many new birds seen for the first time. Photos by Mark Abbotts and Jonathan Fry

21/05/2026

3 members met for our Lancashire Plain walk at the end of April. Walking down Curlew Lane near Martin Mere we heard Corn Bunting, Skylark and had sightings of both Buzzard and Kestrel. The star birds were 4 Yellow Wagtails in the field next to the farm, a female and then a male showed really well in the bare field. Onto Marshside next, where we had a superb sighting of a flyby Spoonbill whilst eating lunch in the car. Highlights here included a male Garganey viewed from an area past Sandgrounders, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and Avocets. On the way to Nel's Hide we managed to see Wood Sandpiper, Swift and some very nicely coloured male Ruff, especially a close ginger and black plumaged bird. Photos by Jonathan Fry.

20/05/2026

A great monthly walk on Sunday to Brinscall and White Coppice, we managed to see the Cuckoo! Whilst watching some Ravens being chased by other corvids the Cuckoo called and landed on a nice bare tree trunk not far from us. He sat there for quite a few minutes, being mobbed by a Meadow Pipit, before taking flight when a Magpie saw him off. We also had close encounters with 2 Roe Deer, Song Thrush, a beautiful singing Mistle Thrush, plenty of Blackcaps and a family of Grey Wagtails. Join us next time for more birds and banter. Photos by Jonathan Fry.

15/05/2026

Our next monthly walk is to Brinscall and White Coppice on Sunday. All are welcome to join us on our free walk starting at Brinscall, walking through to White Coppice listening out for Willow Warbler, various other woodland birds and hopefully Cuckoo. The walk is quite flat and easy, walking along the River Goit. We meet at the back of Brinscall Baths at Lodge Bank (PR6 8QU) at 10am, we hope to see you there. White Coppice by Jonathan Fry.

10/05/2026

Our next field walk is to Bolton Abbey Wood on Tuesday. This is a great walk along the River Wharfe looking for Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, but the likes of Osprey, Red Kite and Green Woodpecker are also possible. We meet at the Barden Bridge car park just after the bridge at 6am (BD23 6AS/What3words - lush-shams-witty). All are welcome. Pied Flycatcher at Moor Piece Wood last year by Jonathan Fry.

01/05/2026

Coming up on Sunday, join us for a local walk at Grimsargh Wetlands near Longridge. This small reserve is great for seeing migrants such as Little Ringed Plover, Avocet, Sand Martins and various warblers such as Whitethoat. Park and meet on Lindale Avenue (PR2 5JS) off the main Preston Road at 9am. We will then head to Brockholes to look for more migrants such as Whimbrel, depending weather. All are welcome. Bank of wetland full of primroses last spring by Jonathan Fry.

27/04/2026

Following our Lancashire Plain walk tomorrow we will be having a morning walk in Corporation Park in Blackburn on Wednesday at 9am. This walk is specifically to listen to bird song in the park and we should see plenty of common birds to listen to, such as Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Song Thrush etc. Feel free to join us. We meet at the red post box at the top of Brantfell Road, parking available on Revidge Road also. Goldfinch by Jonathan Fry.

Address

7 Whalley Road
Blackburn
BB27PR

Website

https://www.blackburnbirdclub.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Blackburn Bird Club posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Blackburn Bird Club:

Shortcuts

Want your organisation to be the top-listed Non Profit Organisation in Blackburn?