 |
| for
wintering wildfowl and waders |
Chew Valley Lake is well known for
its birds, including internationally important numbers
of wildfowl. The Trust reserve is at the southern end
of the site and is managed in partnership with Bristol
Water.
What
to look out for
Breeding birds include great crested and little grebe,
gadwall, tufted duck, shoveler and pochard. Hobbies
often feed over the area in late summer. When the water
level falls, the mud attracts waders such as dunlin,
ringed plover and green sandpipers.
Summer sees large populations of dragonflies hunting
over the water. These include ruddy darters and, later
in the summer, migrant hawkers. Wintering wildfowl
include important numbers of shoveler, gadwall, teal
and tufted duck. Goosander, great crested grebe and
cormorant also occur in large amounts.
The reedbeds are a vital autumn feeding station for
reed and sedge warblers prior to their migration. The
winter gull roost is a spectacular sight with up to
50,000 or more, mostly of black-headed, common and
Mediterranean gull.
Chew Valley Lake often attracts rare birds, including
osprey, the scarcer grebes, and an American wader or
duck appears most years.
Further information
There is a visitor centre and cafe
run by Bristol Water at the picnic site near the dam.
The Birds
of Chew Valley Lake website contains frequently
updated news and information on its birds and wildlife,
access, maps, and the definitive Chew bird list!
Access
Hides with permit only, obtainable
from Bristol Water Recreation Department, Woodford Lodge.
| Bike |
View a location map of the
reserve on the National
Cycle Network website. |
| Public transport |
Go to www.traveline.org.uk |
| Car |
The section of the lake that the Trust helps Bristol Water to manage is Herriot's Pool which lies either side of Herriott's Bridge where the A368 crosses the Lake. Park on the layby on either side of the road, and you can enjoy the views and wildlife on the lake.
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|
 "Cormorant")
 "Migrant hawker")
 "Dunlin")
 "Greater crested grebe")
 "Shoveler")
