Two easy and accessible bird walks at fantastic wetland sites – all suitable for those with restricted mobility and timed to take advantage of autumn bird migration
Possibly the best all round birding spot in the county! This extensive reservoir has it all with plenty of resident wildfowl including a chance of scarcer stuff on passage like Common Scoter and maybe one of the rarer grebes along with the chance of passage terns and gulls. Autumn sees the return of wintering waders such as Snipe and passage birds like Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Black Tailed Godwit and Ruff joining the resident Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing, and migrating Osprey might join more regular raptors such as Peregrine, Buzzard and Red Kite. Local specialities like the nationally scarce Willow Tit and Tree Sparrow will be visiting the feeders at Millfields and the wildlife centre along with more common species and there is always the chance of migrating passerines on the dam wall with Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail recorded there regularly in Autumn. There are plenty of facilities on site with the chance to grab a hot drink on route!
A fantastic and popular birding destination in the Trent valley. This Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserve consists of a series of flooded gravel pits and extensive reedbeds. Expect good numbers and a big variety of resident wildfowl such as Grebes and Gadwall as well as passage waders like Dunlin, Green & Common Sandpiper with the chance of something scarcer like Ruff or Black Tailed Godwit. There is a good variety of Heron/Egret species on site with Little Egret, Great Egret and Cattle Egret all regularly recorded. Warblers will be on the move with lots of species fattening up on the abundant insects and blackberries prior to migration and allowing good views and raptors might include a late Hobby hawking Dragonflies over the water. This extensive site always offers the chance of something rarer too (a Red-Footed Falcon turned up last year). There’s a fantastic visitor centre and café on site as well!
All the walks are on reasonably level, paved or well surfaced tracks that are suitable for wheelchairs or walkers.
All of the walks have a maximum group size of six people (bookings are on a first come, first served basis), cost £20 per person and will normally last around 3-4 hours . Exact meeting times and places will be confirmed on booking.
If you would like to do one of the walks but the date doesn’t suit you please get in touch as I will normally have availability on other dates to run a private guided walk at the same location.