The Fylde Bird Club contributes funds and bird seed to projects within our recording area that are designed to supplement and enhance the amount of food available to local bird populations, particularly during the harder winter months when food is scarcer. In addition these projects are designed to provide birders with the opportunity to easily view a number of species that would otherwise by more difficult to find or observe; this is particularly true of our declining farmland species. In general these feeding stations are only stocked during the winter months.
Approximately 3 tonnes of seed is provided each winter by the Fylde Bird Club.
The main projects that we are partnered with are detailed below. If you have a project that you believe would benefit from the addition of a seed feeding station and would like the input of the club then please email the committee with the details.
To follow are some photographs from the Fylde Bird Club FLICKR page of the many farmland birds that have been seen at or around the various feeding stations.
Eagland Hill and New Lane
The Fylde Bird Club contributes to the cost of seed deployed at two feeding stations in the Eagland Hill area of Over Wyre. These feeding stations are well known by locals and visiting birders alike as a fantastic spot to get views of some of our declining farmland species. Both stations attract Chaffinches and Tree Sparrows in large numbers along with smaller numbers of Yelllowhammer and Corn Bunting and Reed Buntings, Stock Doves sometimes visit and Brambling occasionally turn up in winter, particularly at the New Lane station. The general area offers good winter birding as it is favoured by Pink-footed Geese, Whooper Swans and Barn Owls.
If visiting the feeding stations near Pilling please remain in your vehicle at New Lane, park sensibly and do not obstruct or walk down any farm tracks. Please make way for farm vehicles without delay. Thanks go to Bob Danson for the regular deployment of seed throughout the year.
In addition to putting out seed, in 2017 the club was successful in receiving a grant from Grantscape to plant single seed strips in the adjacent fields to both feeding stations in order to provide seed on standing crops to supplement food stocks for the wild birds during the winter. Despite difficulties in recording birds using the strips during the winter of 17/18 the project was deemed a success and bird numbers remained high throughout the winter months.
Grid Reference SD4301745146 and SD4390945289
Todderstaffe Hall
Since 2002 the Fylde Bird Club, spearheaded by chairman Paul Slade, has been putting seed out on a small track at Todderstaffe Hall near the village of Singleton in the west of the Fylde. The project is credited with stabilising and increasing the population of Tree Sparrows at the site which has been supplemented through the erection of bird boxes in the woodland around the farm. Up to 30 Tree Sparrows can now regularly be seen coming to the seed along with a number of other farmland and garden species. Please observe only from the car to avoid disturbing the birds when they are at the seed.
From Singleton village take the B5266 southeast towards Hardhorn for just over one mile and pass underneath the railway bridge. After a further c180 yards the B5266 turns sharply to the right but here should turn left along a narrow road towards Todderstaffe Hall. After c500 yards there is an area of rough ground leading to the railway and it is here where the feeding station is situated by the hedge at grid reference SD368368
Grid Reference SD3678836817
Marton Mere
The Club contributes seed to supply the feeding station at Marton Mere. It is situated at the west end of the Mere at the revamped Woodland Watch Hide. The feeders attract a range of common woodland species and Reed Buntings. During hard winters, the occasional Water Rail can be seen foraging beneath the feeders. The feeders are maintained and stocked by Mick McGough the Marton Mere volunteer group.
Grid Reference SD3389035241
Carr House Green Common
This site is located just south east of Inskip. Park sensibly on Preston Road or Woods Lane and follow the path south across the common, keeping to the western boundary, until you see the feeders. Grid reference SD 4698 3701. There are two large feeders at this location, maintained and refilled by Fylde Bird Club member Malcolm Evans and local residents. The larger feeder is 100cm tall and contains 4.85kg of seed, the smaller feeder is 75cm tall and contains 3.64 kg of seed. Each feeder is emptied over 2 or 3 days and around 20kg of seed is consumed each week.
Most of the seed is taken by Tree Sparrows, which number at least 20. Other visitors include Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Reed Buntings, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, an occasional Yellowhammer and in recent years, a wintering Willow Tit.
Grid reference SD 4698 3701
Grid reference SD4699537046
Treales
The feeding station at Treales can be viewed off Cross Lane, which is a single track road. Park sensibly at the very top of Cross Lane and walk down approximately half way and the feeder is positioned off a large tree on the left. The grid reference is SD 440 341.
The site attracts Tree Sparrows and other species. The nest boxes here were provided by Fylde Bird Club and have been successful for Tree Sparrows. The area also has Little Owl and it’s claim to fame, was a Hoopoe in 2014.
Grid Reference SD4399134051
Wesham
The feeding station at Wesham can be viewed from Sanderling Way. Park sensibly, just past a small electrical sub station and to begin with try viewing from the car, looking down the track to the north. The grid reference is SD 4188 3350. Visitors to this feeding station include Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings
Grid Reference SD4188833502
Blackburns Farm
This feeding station and site can be viewed by appointment (pending formal / full opening of the site to the public). Contact a committee member if you would like to arrange access. Situated between Ribby Hall Holiday Village and Wrea Green, the station is accessed via a signposted entrance off the B5259 (Ribby Road). PAss through the gate and head towards the education centre about 250m along the private road. Parking available on the hard standing area. The feeding station is positioned 100m into the field alongside a mature hedgerow. This is a new feeding station, with seed and feeders being provided to the farm in November 2024. The usual farmland birds are expected with Yellowhammer, Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and many more expected to make use of these feeders.
Grid Reference:- SD 40387 31680 (Site Entrance)
Grid Reference:- SD 40468 31243 (Feeding Station)
For more information on Blackburns Farm, please visit https://blackburnsfarm.co.uk/.