Habitats and Species

The lagoon is home to little grebe and tufted duck throughout the year. Oystercatchers, lapwings and common terns have bred on the islands. In winter wigeon, pochard, teal and goosander may be present. The duck marsh is a shallow body of water favoured by dabbling ducks such as a gadwall and shoveler. Waders occur here on passage and snipe can be found in the winter months. Sedge warblers and reed warblers breed in the reedbed in spring and summer. Kingfishers can be seen throughout the year and water rails are present in the winter months. The ditches on the wet grassland are popular with dragonflies and amphibians in the sprig and summer. In the autumn the whole area is flooded, bringing in various waterbirds. The Dragonfly ponds - In early summer look for Large Red, Azure and Blue-tailed damselflies along with Banded Demoiselles, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperor Dragonflies and Southern Hawkers. Later in the summer there are Brown and Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters to see, also the occasional Common Hawker. Enjoy a walk through the hay meadows on well cut paths in Summer months to see wild flowers and butterflies Various species of birds breed in the willow coppice including willow warbler, garden warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, bullfinch, common whitethroat and song thrush Bird friendly seed crops are grown on Tims Field bringing in flocks of linnets, reed buntings and greenfinches. Enjoy a walk through the hay meadows on well cut paths in the summer months to see wild flowers and butterflies. Watch typical garden birds at the feeders in the Managers Garden from the hide. Reed buntings and tree sparrows visit the feeders in the winter months.

The lagoon is home to little grebe and tufted duck throughout the year. Oystercatchers, lapwings and common terns have bred on the islands. In winter wigeon, pochard, teal and goosander may be present.

The duck marsh is a shallow body of water favoured by dabbling ducks such as a gadwall and shoveler. Waders occur here on passage and snipe can be found in the winter months.

Sedge warblers and reed warblers breed in the reedbed in spring and summer. Kingfishers can be seen throughout the year and water rails are present in the winter months.

The ditches on the wet grassland are popular with dragonflies and amphibians in the spring and summer. In the autumn the whole area is flooded, bringing in various waterbirds.

In early summer, at the dragonfly ponds, look for Large Red, Azure and Blue-tailed damselflies along with Banded Demoiselles, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperor Dragonflies and Southern Hawkers. Later in the summer there are Brown and Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters to see, also the occasional Common Hawker

Various species of birds breed in the willow coppice including willow warbler, garden warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, bullfinch, common whitethroat and song thrush.

Bird friendly seed crops are grown on Tim's Field bringing in flocks of linnets, reed buntings and greenfinches.

Enjoy a walk through the hay meadows on well cut paths in the summer months to see wild flowers and butterflies.

Watch typical garden birds at the feeders in the Managers Garden from the hide. Reed buntings visit the feeders in the winter months.