Morecambe Bay (Day Trip)

Tour Code: GBR337

A day exploring a variety of habitats in Morecambe Bay in search of the huge flocks of wildfowl and waders that spend the winter here.

1 days from
£60 (land only)
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Morecambe Bay Estuary, located just to the south of the Lake District National Park, is a vast area characterised by intertidal mudflats, sweeping saltmarshes and freshwater wetlands. This dynamic landscape provides a home to thousands of birds and other wildlife in autumn and winter, offering a spectacular display.

Joining leaders Nick and Caroline Godden, the day will commence at 7:30am in the southern reaches of Morecambe Bay, where we will marvel at the blizzard of wings as countless birds emerge from their overnight roosts. Watch out for the Pink-footed Geese soaring directly overhead! Among the many species here, we could expect to see Knot, Dunlin, Golden Plover, and the ever-vocal Oystercatcher! We will then make a short stop at Fluke Hall Marsh to witness the Whooper Swans and other waders and wildfowl on the surrounding fields and saltmarsh. Moving east to the mouth of the Lune Estuary, we will explore Cockersand Abbey, a ruined 12th-century Premonstratensian monastery, and the surrounding areas with a gentle walk of up to 4 miles. This is an excellent birdwatching site with a wide variety of raptor species possible on the saltmarshes, and with luck, we may observe Peregrine, or the elusive Merlin, hunting over the landscape.

We expect to do around a total of 4 miles of walking throughout the day, with two short site stops in the morning and a comfort stop at a local café, and we will finish the day with the main walk around Cockersand Abbey. We expect the day to finish around 3:00pm. The terrain can be muddy but is otherwise flat and will be on existing footpaths and short sections of country road. Sturdy walking boots are advised. Please wear plenty of layers, as the sites can be exposed to winter winds.

  • Watch the spectacular dawn flight of Pink-footed Geese as they leave their overnight roost
  • Look out for Bewick’s Swan amongst large flocks of Whooper Swans
  • Visit Cockersand Abbey, with saltmarsh, estuary and farmland bird species all likely
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 12th Feb – Wed 12th Feb SPACES £60
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£60
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Caroline Godden
Caroline Godden.png

Tour Leader: Caroline Godden

Caroline has been a keen naturalist for over 15 years, with wide-ranging interests that include butterflies, moths, birds and vascular plants. Her ever-growing passion for nature resulted in a career change, having worked as an ecologist since 2020 and now specialising in freshwater ecology. Caroline has also travelled widely within the UK, Europe and North America to see a wide range of special places and wildlife – her highlight to date was watching a Great Grey Owl hunting just metres away. Caroline can usually be found out and about enjoying the local wildlife around Morecambe Bay where she lives with her husband and pet guinea pigs, and also organises and leads wildlife events for a wide range of audiences. She is especially passionate about proving that not all moths are brown and boring!

  Array
(
    [180] => stdClass Object
        (
            [id] => 180
            [parent_id] => 165
            [level] => 2
            [path] => tour-focus/birds
            [title] => Birdwatching
            [alias] => birds
            [description] => 
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




Our specialist recommends...






"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

            [params] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [category_layout] => 
                    [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/RlWlvE3qiKAS/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
                    [image_alt] => Bird Watching
                )

            [metakey] => Birds
            [note] => 02
            [parent] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [id] => 165
                    [parent_id] => 1
                    [level] => 1
                    [path] => tour-focus
                    [title] => Tour Focus
                    [alias] => tour-focus
                    [description] => 
                    [params] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [category_layout] => 
                            [image_az] => 
                            [image_alt] => 
                        )

                    [metakey] => 
                    [note] => 
                )

        )

)

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!