From the dabblers to the divers, ducks are the classic water bird. They're a family of familiar faces and rarely-encountered cousins, with each member seemingly dressed to impress thanks to shimmering plumage, a bright bill or a crazy crest. At this time of year our nature reserves are superb sites to seek out wonderful wildfowl.


1 South Walney .


A shingle island scatered with lagoons and pools, fringed by saltmarsh and surrounded by the wild Irish Sea, it’s no surprise that many water-loving birds are drawn to South Walney Nature Reserve. Visitors are presented with three trails, ranging from one to three miles, all with good duck-spoting opportunities and hides to observe from – or shelter from a biting wind! Te orange trail provides a short, easy walk through the reed beds leading to Gate Pool. Here, handsome- looking teal are oſten seen gathering


10 Cumbrian Wildlife | November 2025


in large numbers, as residents are joined by migrants from the Baltic and Siberia seeking a warmer winter climate. It’s also a good place to look out for eider, a charismatic seaduck best known for its soſt, warm, downy feathers. Either extending your walk


from the orange trail, or starting out from the Visitor Cabin, the blue trail cuts through the saltwater lagoons, where the aptly- named tuſted duck can be seen diving for lagoon cockles. Using its specialised


bill, it sucks up protein-rich


© CHRIS GOMERSALL/2020VISION


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