Stephen Dunstan

The Grey Seal colony across Morecambe Bay has seen pupping recently, and a couple of youngsters have been spotted pausing to rest on the beaches of Blackpool. In his monthly nature guide, Stephen Dunstan tells you what to do if you spot one and tells us what else to look out for on our beaches and green spaces in February. Main photo: Lee Rawcliffe. The first spring migrant birds to reach Blackpool appear in March. Striking Wheatear appear on the Promenade, Chiffchaff sing from trees across the town and the more generally familiar Sand Martin hawk insects over Marton Mere.…

January might be a quiet month in the natural world but it's the perfect time to resolve to pay more attention to the wildlife on our doorstep. Truth be told there isn’t usually anything new to see in Blackpool wildlife terms in January. Winter visitors remain ensconced, and even the earliest spring movements are still a few weeks off. But as in other walks of life the advent of a New Year is a time for resolutions and new habits, so this instalment of the almanac offers some suggestions. As I hope these monthly almanacs have shown, there is a…

Waxwings are a rare but possible sight in Blackpool in December while starlings form a reliable but no less spectacular show for onlookers at dusk. Here's what to look out for in nature this December Would you like to see stunning birds with charisma and unique plumage features? Would you like to see them sat in festively appropriate berry bushes? Finally would you like to witness this spectacle within walking distance of your own house? If the answer to all these questions is yes then read on and keep your eyes peeled in Blackpool over the next few weeks. Nationally…

As autumn inches towards winter wildlife spotting might be more rare on the Fylde Coast, but that just makes them all the more special. This month’s almanac will focus in depth on a couple of contrasting experiences available with birds that are rare in Blackpool and which can be enjoyed in November. The first of these is the shorebird roost at North Shore. This is below the old cabin lift on the perimeter of the old Maxwell’s Boating Pool which is now a go-kart track. At high tide shorebirds that feed on the sands off the town perch or sit…

October is here and although the colourful summer wildlife is retreating into hibernation, you don't have to. There's plenty to see in the natural world on the Fylde Coast this month. October can be a good opportunity to hear the trumpeting calls of whooper swans over Blackpool. They are generally making their way to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust nature reserve the other side of the Ribble Estuary at Burscough. In the autumn birds are often in family groups, whereas the return movement in spring is more concentrated in larger flocks. If you hear birds calling overhead and confirm they…

Whether you’re a casual birdwatcher or a purist willing to camp out on the prom in harsh weather, this month guarantees some great spots. Stephen Dunstan tells us what to look our for on the Fylde Coast September sees the peak of Autumn avian migration in Blackpool. Many of our summer visitors head south, a number of conspicuous winterers appear and even more just use the Fylde as a staging post on their journey. Beginning with the birds seeking refuge from harsher weather to the north, skeins of pink footed geese will begin to appear from the first week of…

In our monthly guide to what to look out for in the natural world locally, Stephen Dunstan tells you how to identify different birds and, if you’re lucky, spot a fox cub. Realistically August is the last chance to catch up with bottlenose dolphins in Fylde waters. Porpoises can also be seen well on calm days and seals are present in small numbers along the length of the coast from the large colony at Walney Island. The first week of the month is also National Whale and Dolphin Week. August can be a very good month to see sandwich terns…