Birds
Rarities: White-winged Black Tern, Green-winged Teal, Spoonbill, Red-necked Phalarope, Temminck’s Stint, Avocet, Glossy Ibis, godwit sp, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Bearded Tit, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper, Whinchat.
Additional information
Taking the path from Kings Road in Broom village you will come to a small tree-lined pit known as The Village Pit. You are likely to find just Little Grebes and Tufted Ducks here. Crossing a wooden bridge and following the hedge, you come to Peacock’s Lake. The lake is fenced and used by anglers. Unfortunately, the island no longer holds a breeding colony of terns and gulls. Following several unsuccessful years, due to predation, the island was abandoned.
The fields to the south west of Peacocks Lake often have large flocks of geese during the winter. Greylag Geese, Pink-footed, White-fronted and Barnacle Geese have all been found. Hobbies hunt overhead during the summer and one year one was joined briefly by a Red-footed Falcon.
A path east alongside the fence leads to a small wood called Ash Covert, where Lesser Redpolls and Siskins can often be found in the alders. Chiffchaffs have been known to over-winter here, along with the occasional Brambling. In the corner of the field ignore the path on the right, which leads back towards Peacocks Lake, and head straight on. Here you arrive at the pit known as Gypsy Lane West. Birds seen here in recent years include Ruddy Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Goosander and Smew. With regular watching, the site has a list of over 200 species with around 140 recorded annually.
