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Today we set out with no rush and no real agenda beyond seeing whether we could reach Lightshaw Meadows and Abram NR by following the canal footpath. It felt good simply to be moving, letting the towpath guide us, the water on one side and the soft hum of summer on the other, a lovely evening. From Plank Lane lift bridge we wandered towards Dover Lock, eventually finding the narrow footpath that threads between the two reserves — Lightshaw Meadows opening out to the right, Abram NR tucked quietly to the left. It’s a lovely stretch, the kind of place where you naturally slow down without even meaning to. Lightshaw Meadows View towards Abram NR We couldn’t reach the larger lake from the canal side; the summer growth has closed in and the views are mostly hidden now. It’ll probably be easier in winter when the leaves fall back and the landscape opens up again. But that didn’t take anything away from the walk. If anything, it encouraged us to pay attention to the smaller things — the sound...
What is "A Birding Blog" about?
Welcome to A Birding Blog — my personal field notes from across my local patch.
After moving house, my birding shifted from a small suburban garden to the rich wetlands and reclaimed industrial landscapes of Bickershaw Country Park, Pennington Flash, and the Wigan Flashes.
This blog — and my YouTube channel — are more than species lists. They’re part of how I manage my health and wellbeing. Like many people, I’m still navigating the quiet, lingering effects Covid left on mental health and confidence. Some days, anxiety makes even stepping outside feel like a mountain.
Birding is my therapy. It gives me purpose, fresh air, gentle movement, and low‑pressure conversations. It’s also where my mental health meets my faith. Time by the water or under the trees offers a quiet space to pray, reflect, and reconnect with God’s creation.
You won’t find frantic twitching here. Instead, this blog is a mindful celebration of the joy found in our common species — a record of rebuilding confidence, strengthening faith, and finding peace in creation, one bird at a time.
