Monday 22 October 2007

Autumn Returns to the River Ribble

Whilst we have been walking The Ribble Way over the past few weeks, we've also been spending as much time by the River Ribble in Penwortham and Preston too, and autumn has certainly arrived...



... as the trees are turning and the light is changing...



...and now low tides are bringing us the first echoing calls of the Redshank and Oystercatchers and other wading birds and wildfowl returning to the Broadgate mudflats for the Winter months...






On the Riverbanks the trees are turning, the berries are ripening, and the wildlife is getting ready for the cold months to come - the light on the River changes from day to day, the rich greens of the trees are now contrasting with every shade of red and gold - so go down to the Ribble and wander along its banks and through the meadows and woods and see for yourself!

The mudflats are bursting with wormcasts of the invertebrates which feed our fabulous Ribble birdlife...



...in abundant numbers!



Which is why low tides on the River Ribble bring us fabulous displays of birdlife...





... which we Ribblesiders will enjoy as much as the birds during the Autumn and Winter months. Wander along the River banks in Penwortham and Broadgate over the coming weeks, especially during low tide, and take a trip downriver to Marshside at least once this Winter to see the Ribble at its best.

Long Live The Ribble Wild!

If you were hoping for the next instalment of our Ribble Way adventures, don't despair, the next episode will be on the blog next week. In the meantime, you can read all about where we've been so far by clicking on the Ribble Way links on the side bar...

You can contact me at savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk

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