Woodhouse Gate Farm Cottage

Bird Watching

Birds of Prey

The area, in particular the moorland surrounding Slaidburn, is noted for the variety of birds of prey to be seen including Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Goshawk, Common Buzzard and occasional sightings of Red Kite in the Hodder Valley. Osprey and marsh-harrier are also visitors to Stocks Reservoir whilst on migration. Certain areas of woodland in the area also support small numbers of Long-eared Owl.

Hen Harrier

Of all the birds of Bowland it is perhaps the rare and beautiful Hen Harrier that the area is most famous for. The open grouse moorland of Bowland is of national importance as the only area in England where Hen Harrier have successfully bred in recent years. The Hen Harrier has therefore been adopted as the logo for the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (A.O.N.B).

Curlew

Whilst the Hen Harrier is the official logo of the Forest of Bowland, a contender for that honour should perhaps be the Curlew. The Curlew is one of the most commonly seen, and indeed heard, birds in the area during the Spring and Summer months when it returns to nest in the rushy pastures and meadows around Slaidburn after wintering on the coastal marshes.

Bowland Fells and Moorland

The fells around Woodhouse Gate were historically managed principally for the shooting of Red Grouse. This management has also provided important habitat for other bird species such as Golden Plover, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat, Stonechat, Skylark, Curlew, Meadow Pipit as well as the previously mentioned raptors such as Hen Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon etc.

There is now open access to many areas of open moorland in the area but access rights may be restricted on some days during the grouse shooting season and dogs may not be allowed on some areas of the fells. If you wish to walk on open moorland check access rights on the Open Access website

Stocks Reservoir

Stocks Reservoir is well known for the wide variety of wildfowl which can be seen particularly during the winter months. Wildfowl species seen in recent years include Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Common Scoter, Pintail, Scaup, Common Shelduck, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Garganey, Goosander, Shoveller, Ring-necked Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose.

When water levels are low many species of wader may be seen particularly during migration periods. These include Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Little Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Whimbrel.

River Hodder

The River Hodder is well worth a riverside walk. Dipper, Kingfisher, Sand-martin, Sandpiper and Heron are all commonly seen species.

Bird Watching Links

An excellent website for ornithologists giving more details of birds in the area including a "Recent Sightings" section which is updated almost daily is that produced by East Lancashire Birding