Migratory Birds of Morecambe Bay and Preesall

Every year, the shores of Morecambe Bay become a spectacular stopping place for thousands of migratory birds. From the windswept mudflats to the saltmarshes around Preesall and the River Wyre, these coastal habitats provide food and shelter for birds making some of the longest journeys in the natural world.

Morecambe Bay is particularly important for wading birds. Its extensive mudflats are rich in worms, shellfish and other small creatures, providing an essential food supply. Curlews, Dunlins, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits and Knots can all be seen around the bay. The RSPB describes the bay’s mudflats as a rich feeding ground, where different waders use their specially adapted bills to reach food at different depths.

Autumn brings a dramatic change to the coastline as birds arrive from northern breeding grounds. Some have travelled from Iceland, Greenland, Scandinavia and even the Canadian Arctic. They spend the winter here before beginning their return journey in spring. The UK’s mild climate means that coastal mud remains accessible when colder northern habitats become difficult for birds to feed in.

The Preesall and Knott End area forms part of this wider coastal landscape. The River Wyre, saltmarshes, fields and shoreline provide valuable feeding and resting places for visiting birds. At high tide, birds may gather together on safer roosting areas, creating one of the most impressive spectacles for local birdwatchers.

Among the most memorable sights are swirling flocks of Knot, twisting and turning above the water as they move between feeding and roosting areas. Morecambe Bay is also particularly important for Oystercatchers; recent RSPB information records approximately 40,000 wintering Oystercatchers at high-tide roosts, making the bay one of the UK’s most significant locations for the species.

For residents and visitors around Preesall, migration offers a wonderful reminder that this apparently quiet coastline is part of a much larger natural journey. Every autumn and spring, the skies and shores come alive as birds pass through, connecting Lancashire with some of the wildest landscapes across the northern hemisphere. Sandy Bay Caravan Park has direct access onto the coastal path looking out over Morecambe Bay, perfect for bird watching and enjoying the free natural spectacle right on the doorstep.

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