Info -
College in the winter is most well known for its ducks but with numbers depending on the water level. Winter (06) has seen about 200 Coots, 100 Wigeon, 100 Tufted Ducks and over 20 Pochards so far and the odd rarity. When the weather turns cold birds from argal or stithians may appear due to the depth of this lake preventing it from ever freezing. Gulls often frequent the reservoir in late afternoon and before dusk but the nearby coast is more noted for numbers and rarities turning up. Kingfishers are to be seen from college sitting on branches of overhanging trees; forest borders most of this reservoir and marsh tits are fairly common resident specialities. Firecrest has become regular in the woods during the winter lately. Over the last year about 90 species of bird have been recorded in this one area.
There is a circular walk around the reservoir and most of it is covered by boardwalk (it is broken in places so watch out!) A pair of wellies maybe necessary in winter to prevent wet shoes too!
Past rarities have included Red-crested Pochard (2002), Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck (2 in Nov 06), Scaup (2006), Yellow-legged Gull (2006), 2 Purple Heron - one was the same as the argal bird (2006), and Hobby (2006). Rarities have really taken off this year at this site and it's always worth a visit.
A winter site guide can be found on the February 2007 montly article. |
