Forest of Bowland

Birds

Birds

Birds of prey

Bowland is the English stronghold of the hen harrier, with typically 12 pairs breeding each year. This can be up to 90 per cent of the current English breeding population. The area also supports peregrines, merlins and short-eared owls. More...

Adult male hen harrier perched on heather, RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, Islay

From moors to shore

Where do the breeding birds of the Forest of Bowland spend the rest of the year? You might be surprised... More...

Oystercatcher sitting on nest

Songbirds

The sparsely wooded gullies are classic habitat for the scarce ring ouzel - also known as the mountain blackbird - and an array of other small birds including stonechats, whinchats and reed buntings. More...

Male stonechat on bramble stem

Wading birds

In spring, Bowland's farmland and moorland attracts several thousand pairs of wading birds. Lapwings, snipe, curlews and redshanks can all be encountered. More...

Curlew profile