Radar: Bird-watching at Liverpool Cathedral

We’re very fond of birds here at SS. In fact we’re RSPB members – and every now and then we get our choughs in a twist about a reported sighting of a parakeet, waxwing or peregrine falcon in Liverpool.

We’re also big fans of the city’s Anglican Cathedral – that vast gothic revival spaceship that sits at the northern edge of the city. We’ve been up there recently to abseil down from the West Door and to watch the sun go down from the tower (you can do both too – check out the Cathedral’s website for more details).

But we can just as often be found in St Jame’s Gardens – the sunken graveyard and one of Liverpool city centre’s more unusual green spaces situated below the cathedral on the Gambier Terrace side. There’s always plenty of events going on at the Cathedral, and it’s to the credit of those in charge that visitors can partake in a vast array of events a this versatile city space.

Take this weekend for example; the RSPB Liverpool Local Group is celebrating 40 years with a talk from local birder Jeff Clarke atop the Cathedral tower, who will be pointing out the swallows, martins and swifts as they make their journey down the Mersey estuary on their way South for the Winter.

If you don’t have a head for heights there are also guided walks around St James’ Gardens; a haven for woodland birds in the heart of the city and a fascinating place in its own right.

What else? Well, local artists will be on hand to help little ‘uns create avine artworks to take home. The Cathedral also has two eateries if you’re feeling, ahem, peckish. Meanwhile the Cathedral’s 2012 Photography Competition Exhibition kicks off on the same day.

Finally, if you like what you see from the top of the tower you can head up again for the last Twilight Tower of the year on 4 October; watching the sun go down over Liverpool as Winter draws near.

RSPB Liverpool Group – Big Tower Bird Watch
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
22nd September 2012 11:00 – 16:00