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Wyboston Lakes

Wyboston
Ring-necked Duck – Steve Blain
Overview
Location
Birds

Overview

A mature series of lakes that are now largely private and used for corporate water sports and surrounded by a golf course, thus making it all but out of bounds for birders. There are however a couple of places to observe the main waterbodies.

The lakes have a long history and an equally long list of excellent birds – largely a thing of the past, however, as the lakes have become more mature and access decreased.

More about the site

Location

– Access

– Parking

– Viewpoint

Grid ref: TL177575

W3W: ///install.scorched.chairs

Coordinates: 52.20317, -0.279117 (directions)

Access

Parts of the northern most lake can be viewed from the St Neots bypass, or from the footpath northwest from Little Barford. Park at TL181571, along the River Great Ouse. Largely private with limited viewing locations. The other lake (south of the Wyboston Lakes training centre) can be seen by following the directions to Begwary Brook NR.

Additional information

Purple Heron, Red-necked Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Baird’s Sandpiper, Great Skua have all been recorded here. 

In 1992, many birders visited the lakes to see an Eider (found on a Wetland Bird Survey count), which stayed for several months. It was joined by two others in November 1993 with two remaining until February 1994 at least. The site was largely ignored until a monthly WeBS count started again in 2001. Notable records since then have been two Black-necked Grebes, Cetti’s Warbler, Scaup, Arctic and Little Tern. Since 2013, Egyptian Geese have bred here and this corner of the county is probably the best (or worst!) place to see them. From Little Barford (TL181571), walk northwest along the footpath to the tree-lined River Great Ouse. The footpath heads north along the river and the southernmost water-sports lake can be seen reasonably well. Bittern and Cetti’s Warbler have been seen from here, along with large numbers of terns during passage times (including a flock of around 80 Arctic Terns), .

May 2016

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