Overview
The largest open water body in Bedfordshire, formed from old clay-pits by the London Brick Company. Popular with birdwatchers for its gull roost and variety of winter and passage birds.
Stewartby Lake is part of the Marston Vale Country Park complex.
The lake was one of the many clay-pits dug out in the 1950s by the London Brick Company. Brick production was a major industry in the Marston Vale and brick-pits stretched from Kempston (just south of Bedford) to Ridgemont where the M1 motorway now runs. Stewartby Lake was one of the first lakes dug out. It is also the largest and the deepest, with a depth of 60 metres in the middle. After clay production ceased, the lake gradually filled with water and became a popular site with birdwatchers. One of the main attractions from the 1960s onwards has been the large gull roost, which is attracted to the lake. Many other large worked-out clay pits in the vale were used as landfill sites which, in their day, attracted many thousands of gulls, although unfortunately less so now as the land filling has almost been completed.
Two ‘mega rare’ gulls, Laughing Gull (2001) and Sabine’s (1987), have only been seen once in the county, both at Stewartby Lake. The lake has played host to many county rarities, often after severe weather conditions when other water bodies in the county have been frozen over or after violent storms, particularly during the spring and autumn passage periods.
Over the years all three rare grebes have been recorded, as well as Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Storm-Petrel and Leach’s Storm- Petrel, Gannet, Shag, Bittern, Brent Goose, Common and Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey, Purple Sandpiper, Grey Phalarope, Great and Long-tailed Skua and Little, White-winged and Whiskered Tern and Alpine Swift. Not bad, considering the lake is 100 miles from the nearest coast. The number of gulls in the roost has declined in recent years, as have the chances of finding Iceland and Glaucous Gulls.
In cold winters, stewartby Lake can hold large numbers of wildfowl as it remains ice-free longer than any other lake in the area. Such conditions also provide reasonable chances of finding a Water Rail or even a Bittern on ice around the edge of the lake (try the Marston corner for both). Great Northern Diver seems to be occurring more regularly in recent years, with one or two being seen most Winters.
Access
Stewartby Lake is easily accessible off the A421 Trunk Road between Bedford and junction 13 of the M1 motorway. There is a circular path round the lake which has a good surface and can be accessed from the Marston Vale Visitor Centre – (Pay & Display car park, café & toilets), the lay-by off the old A421 road north of Marston Moretaine or from Stewartby village.
The distance around the lake is three miles and a leisurely stroll takes two to three hours. The most popular place for viewing the lake is colloquially known as the “gull-watching spot”, located mid-way along the north-west bank and cars can be parked in the lay-by north of Marston Moretaine. By using the circular walk, the lake can also be easily viewed from many places.
Birds
Peregrine – Steve Blain
