Wildlife enthusiasts get special chance to sample Fiddlers Ferry wildlife with Mersey Gateway ‘Hawks and Hawkers’ event
Wildlife enthusiasts and local families will have to move quickly to book one of a limited number of places on a special ‘Hawks and Hawkers’ event being run by the Mersey Gateway Project later this month.
Examples of the birds and dragonflies visitors to the nature reserve could spot on 18 July
The special event, which takes place on Saturday 18 July 2015, will involve a guided tour around the normally closed off Fiddlers Ferry nature reserve.
Those joining the special tour will have a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of rare and spectacular birds like buzzards, hawks and even possibly peregrine falcons that visit the nature reserve, as well as the spectacular Hawker dragonflies.
There are 20 places available to book. Anyone interested can book their place through the Mersey Gateway Eventbrite page. The cost is £2 for adults and the event is free for children under 16. It starts at 9.30am and finishes at 3.30pm and the event will be suitable for all ages. All profits from the ticket price will go to local environmental charities.
The tour will be led by local ecology expert Jeff Clarke.
He said: “We have timed the event to coincide with the peak period for dragonflies and damselflies. The Fiddlers Ferry nature reserve has a wealth of ponds and other water bodies that provide the perfect home for these aerial masters. If the weather is suitable on the day we would expect to see at least 10 different species on the wing.”
He added: “The power station is well known as the haunt of some of our most charismatic bird predators. Visitors include sparrowhawks, kestrels and common buzzards and the sharp eyed may even spot an escaped Harris Hawk which frequents the area.”
“Hawks and Hawkers” is one of three guided nature events organised by Merseylink and the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust that are taking place this summer.
This all links with one of the long-term aims of the project, which is to improve the local environment along the Upper Mersey Estuary.