Welcome to the LDBWS website

The Lancaster and District Bird-Watching Society covers an extensive area of north Lancashire, south Cumbria, and North Yorkshire.

The Society was founded in 1959 and, since that time, has expanded the range of activities provided for its members. LDBWS organises indoor meetings, where experienced birding experts give interesting talks to members, and, in association with the local RSPB members group and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, arranges field trips to a variety of locations. The society also collects records of birds seen in the area, organises local surveys of particular species or groups of species and contributes to national surveys arranged by the BTO and other bodies. Members receive an informative Annual Report and quarterly newsletters. To find out more, explore the items in the menu bar at the top of the page.

For many people, the primary reason for visiting this website is to access up-to-date news on bird sightings in our area. LDBWS is proud to have received numerous compliments on the value and importance of this section of the website to both members and non-members. Anybody can submit records, and the sightings page can be accessed, wherever you are in the website, by clicking "Birdnews" on the menu bar at the top of the page. Friendly discussion on relevant issues is also encouraged, in a subsection of the sightings page.

The popularity of the website is indicated by the fact that, based on our latest information, it has between 300 and 400 unique visitors each day. Even assuming that every member visits the site on a daily basis, the total number of visitors is well in excess of the membership.

We are keen to retain this open, non-exclusive access to the "Birdnews" section of the website to ensure that the major sightings of birds within the local area are recorded. It helps to ensure that a more comprehensive basis of recordings for the society's Annual Reports is available and provides a valuable source of information for the County Bird Recorder.

LDBWS does, of course, encourage birders in the local area and regular visitors to join the society and feels that our subscription costs represent good value for money but we recognise that many people may have valid reasons to avoid such a commitment. However, as an alternative, we would appreciate non-members, who benefit from the information that the website provides, to consider making a modest voluntary financial contribution to help the society with its costs. Anyone wishing to help in this way can contact the Secretary (click "About" tab for contact details). We hope, very much, that you will support our efforts to ensure that the society goes from strength to strength in providing support and information for birders in the area around Morecambe Bay.

We hope you enjoy using this website. If you encounter any difficulties, these can be addressed to the webmaster, whose email address is andymccafferty@gmail.com.