Birds and Wildlife
Burnley is lucky to have some amazing wildlife flourishing across the town. The wild moorlands, the banks of the rivers, the canal towpath and the landscaped parks offer a home to a variety of birds, mammals and plantlife.
The sweeping landscape of vast open moors and hills around Worsthorne Moor is part of the South Pennine Heritage Area - a site of special scientific interest (SSSI); here you will find peregrines and merlins, short eared owls and red grouse, skylark and twite all making their homes among the tussocks of moorland grass and heather. The hen harrier, which was thought to have deserted the area is making a comeback to join the rare ringed ousel in making these moors home.
More common birds such as blue tits, blackbirds and robins flourish elsewhere in the town along with kingfishers, tawny owls, the nut hatch and waxwing - it is a great place for birdwatchers.
There is an abundance of small common mammals such as the grey squirrel, hedgehogs and rabbits; and if you keep your eyes open badgers, foxes and roe deer may even make an appearance in different areas of the town.
Over recent years rare Speckled Wood butterflies have returned to the area to join the Red Admiral, Cabbage White and Orange Tip as they flutter from flower to flower. Dragonflies can be seen on the reservoirs and rivers of Burnley enjoying their short life in some beautiful settings.
In spring time the bluebells flowers in the woodlands and the bee orchid and the common spotted orchid put on a show during the summer time. August sees the moorland turn purple as the heather flowers attracting birds and insects to its wild and windy dwelling. Leaf peepers will enjoy the autumn colour as the leaves turn to russet, gold and red and in the depths of winter when the snow falls you will be able to trace the path of many birds and animals through the snow.
Useful contacts:
Burnley Council Ranger Service Tel. 01282 831053
East Lancs Ornithologists Club Tel. 01282 617401
In the novel "The Ipcress File" the character of Harry Palmer, played by Michael Caine in the movie, came from Burnley ? not a lot of people know that.