Ducks, Geese & Swans in Lancashire
28 species matching this filter.
Lancashire's diverse wetland habitats, from the vast mudflats of Morecambe Bay to the marshes of the Ribble Estuary and the meres of Martin Mere, make it one of England's finest counties for observing ducks, geese and swans. With 28 species recorded, the county attracts impressive numbers of wintering wildfowl including Barnacle Geese, Brent Geese, Eurasian Wigeon and Goldeneye, alongside resident breeders such as Common Shelduck and Greylag Goose. Scarcer visitors like Greater White-fronted Goose and Long-tailed Duck add further excitement for birdwatchers throughout the year.
Showing 1–23 of 28 species
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
A rare resident, with feral birds present year-round. Small numbers frequent the Ribble Estuary and surrounding coastal grasslands.
May–Mar
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
A rare winter visitor to Lancashire's estuaries, occasionally seen on the Ribble or Morecambe Bay mudflats between December and February.
Dec–Feb
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common resident found year-round on Lancashire's lakes, reservoirs, parks and river margins. Breeds readily across the county.
Year-round
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
An uncommon resident breeding along upland rivers in the Forest of Bowland, moving to lowland lakes and reservoirs in winter.
Year-round
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Rare but recorded year-round, sometimes seen in small rafts offshore in Liverpool Bay and off the Fylde coast.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A striking resident of Lancashire's estuaries, commonly seen on the Ribble and Morecambe Bay mudflats throughout the year.
Year-round
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
A rare resident along the Lancashire coast, occasionally seen off Morecambe Bay. Numbers have declined significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Common year-round, with large winter flocks gathering on the Ribble Estuary and Martin Mere. Numbers peak with continental arrivals.
Year-round
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Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
A common resident on freshwater lakes and reservoirs, often seen at sites like Brockholes and Martin Mere year-round.
Year-round
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
A rare summer visitor breeding on Lancashire's shallow wetlands from March to September. One of the UK's scarcest breeding ducks.
Mar–Sep
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
An uncommon winter visitor to Lancashire's reservoirs and lakes from October to April, the males showing a distinctive white face patch.
Oct–Apr
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen on sheltered coastal waters and estuaries from November to February.
Nov–Feb
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor to Lancashire's coastal marshes and wetlands, occasionally joining flocks of Pink-footed Geese between December and March.
Dec–Mar
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common resident found on reservoirs, farmland, and parks throughout Lancashire, with feral populations now well established.
Year-round
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare passage visitor, occasionally noted offshore or on coastal waters in late autumn. Most records come from Morecambe Bay.
Nov
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
An abundant and familiar resident found on virtually any waterbody, from urban park lakes to rural reservoirs and estuarine marshes.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare resident of wooded lakes and rivers, with scattered sightings across Lancashire from feral populations. Easily overlooked.
Nov–Aug
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A familiar year-round resident gracing Lancashire's canals, lakes and rivers. Breeds on many urban and rural waterways across the county.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An uncommon but elegant resident, favouring the Ribble Estuary and Martin Mere. Winter numbers swell with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
A common resident found on shallow lakes and marshes, with numbers peaking in winter. Martin Mere and the Ribble wetlands are key sites.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Large skeins arrive from Iceland in autumn, wintering on farmland around the Fylde and Ribble marshes in spectacular numbers.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon resident on Lancashire's lakes and reservoirs. Numbers are declining nationally, making local sightings increasingly notable.
Year-round
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
A rare resident of coastal waters, occasionally seen fishing in the estuaries and sheltered bays around Morecambe.
Year-round