THERE are excellent places to watch birds in Lancashire but two places stand out above the rest.

Both are also well worth their admission price and both have been in the news during the very cold days between Christmas and the end of January. These are Leighton Moss and Martin Mere.

Leighton Moss has been very successfully run by the RSPB since the 1960s and is famous for having the only breeding bitterns in the North West of England. At the moment the reed beds are being extended and managed in order to increase the number of species.

In our area we have an opportunity to see one of the rarest birds in Britain and we know that your entry fee will help to conserve the species.

The bittern was once so common that it was eaten by people in the wetland areas of Britain. Many of these have been drained over the centuries as human activities demanded more and more space.

The bittern looks like a rusty heron but the species is much more shy and if the habitat is not right. The bittern measures 75 centimetres (30 inches) and feeds upon small mammals, birds, fish and frogs plus a few invertebrates and a small quantity of vegetable matter.

The males advertise their presence by producing a booming sound which can be heard over long distances and the more suitable space they are given the better it will be. February is an ideal time to start listening for booming bittern.

You could also have a couple of bonuses by spotting another rare bird which is the water rail. There are hides from which otters can sometimes be seen.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve near Southport should not be regarded as a rival to the RSPB. The two organisations share the desire to conserve not just birds but all of our wildlife.

I have long been a big believer in not just conserving a particular species. What needs to be done is to conserve the habitat which the birds (indeed all plants and animals) need. If they have living species they will certainly survive.

If Leighton Moss hosts the rarest of birds then Martin Mere has the most dramatic atmosphere, with thousands of birds feeding, roosting and flying in and out of the site.Two species are particularly spectacular -- pink footed geese and whooper swans.

The Mere was once the largest inland lake in England until it was gradually drained from 1600 onwards. About 360 acres are left and protected for ever by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

It has a cafe, shop, theatre and workshops which make it ideal for learning about birds. This is particularly the case in winter but there is plenty to see in the summer.

If you are wanting to learn to take photographs Martin Mere is a perfect place to start the hobby.

There is one rule to a Martin Mere winter birdwatch. Do not leave until it gets dark. It is then that as many as 1,000 swans and more than 15,000 pink-footed geese settle down to roost. Whooper swans winter at the Mere and in summer breed in Iceland, Scandinavia, Russia and northern Asia.

Pink-footed geese winter in the Arctic coastline and it is a pleasure to see these wonderful birds so close to our area.

There are occasions when we see them in East Lancashire, particularly when they are flying over.