Lesser black backed gull
Take a special cruise of discovery to see some of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife on the Mersey this summer.
When you mention Liverpool, most people would probably think of its football teams or lively music scene. But Liverpool has a less well-known gem – its spectacular marine wildlife.
The Liverbird Wildlife Discovery Cruises aboard the Mersey Ferries will excite even the most experienced wildlife explorer.
Previous explorers have followed the pursuits of the cunning arctic skua as it flies low and fast over the waves, chasing terns in an attempt to steal food. Others have witnessed the incredible flying skills of the peregrine, the fastest bird in the world – all from the deck of the ferry.
World Museum staff will be aboard the ferry showing people the abundance of wildlife Liverpool Bay has to offer – birds such guillemots, kittiwakes, sandwich terns, godwits and knots. Marine mammals like grey seals and porpoises have been spotted by intrepid explorers.
Porpoise
Passengers will have the opportunity to meet experts from the the museum's Clore Natural History Centre and learn about the local marine life. They will be doing a series of plankton trawls throughout Liverpool Bay and displaying the catch under high powered video microscopes. This is a real chance to get up close and personal with these tiny but beautiful plants and animals which are the building blocks for the ecology of the Mersey Estuary and the main reason why the area is so important for breeding bird populations. There will also be chance to see a huge variety of specimens from the extensive natural science collections of National Museums Liverpool many of which have been washed up on the coast.
The Mersey Ferry heads out into Liverpool Bay for family cruises on Friday 31 July and Tuesday 18 August 2009, with more specialist cruises on Monday 14 and Saturday 26 September 2009.
The cruise will pick up passengers from; Seacombe at 11am, Pier Head, Liverpool at 11.10am and Woodside at 11.20am. The trip will last about three hours. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for children.
For more details, or to book, contact Mersey Ferries on 0151 330 1444 or visit their website.
