Birds
Whinchat – Steve BlainAdditional information
The River Ivel, near the southern access point, is bordered by a narrow strip of woodland, where most of the common woodland birds can be seen. The bridge over the river is a reliable location for Kingfisher, while Little Egret, Grey Heron and Grey Wagtail may also be seen. The site is good for wintering thrushes and mixed flocks of finches and buntings, and often has a Whinchat on passage in the autumn.
The fishing lakes can be viewed from the footpath but usually hold very few waterbirds. The scrub beside the track holds good birds, with warblers in spring and summer and finches and buntings in winter. In recent years, a pair of Barn Owls has nested at the back of the lakes and, in the spring, these can be seen hunting over the fields.
The paddocks between the concrete service road and the railway have become overgrown. When grazed, they are very good for winter thrush and starling flocks, while, in spring and autumn, they used to be a reliable site for passage Wheatear, Whinchat and the occasional Redstart. The first two species still occur, but in lower numbers than in the recent past. The overgrown paddocks are now attractive to a mixed flock of finches and buntings, although they are not always easy to find.
In winter, the filtration beds of the Poppy Hill WTW attract a large flock of Pied Wagtails, with fewer Grey Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, while the surrounding hedgerow usually holds one or two wintering Chiffchaffs. In the spring and autumn, large flocks of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins gather overhead. There is a rookery in the woods to the west of the WTW.
