Walney Island is one of Cumbria’s hidden birding gems, with two large nature reserves at either end. The island is covered by Walney Bird Observatory, which is based at South Walney but reports on sightings across the island. North Walney is a Natural England nature reserve, a beautiful sand dune system with heaths, dune slacks and home to rare natterjack toads. The ponds near the south end of the reserve often thrown up some birds of interest, particularly great egrets and spoonbills. 

 

The south of the island, South Walney is run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, noted for a large colony of herring, lesser-black back and great black back gull in the summer as well as breeding eider ducks and about two dozen other nesting species. Thousands of waders spend winter here, and several hides around the reserve provide the only sheltered sea-watching on the island. 

 

For further information visit https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/south-walney