Biodiversity
Birdwatching
The Cotswold Water Park is an excellent birding destination throughout the year; ranging from 20,000 wintering waterbirds, to 21,000 wintering gulls, to vast numbers of breeding warblers along with Nightingales, Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern, there is always something of interest here!
The 147 lakes and associated wetland habitats provide a plethora of birding opportunities suitable for the new birder and experienced twitcher alike!
Due to the central location of the CWP and the vast area of wetland habitats, bird monitoring and ringing studies are showing that the CWP is an important stop-over for feeding for migrating birds, both during the spring and the autumn. Almost anything can turn up!!!
Key Facts
- Smew and other wintering duck November to March; try Lakes 74, Lake 44, Lake 57, Lake 114, Lake 16 and Lake 68a.
- Peak Hobby passage, where flocks are up to 25 are recorded every year feeding over many of the lakes; try Lake 57 and 58.
- Nightingales arrive in the last week of April; be sure to listen out!
- Check the sightings updates below for further details.
The Cotswold Water Park Birding Blog collates bird sightings in the CWP.
Link to the CWP Birding Blog here
For general information on birding in the CWP
Download information on birding in the CWP
The monthly sightings summaries have been discontinued, but further more up to date information can be found on the CWP Bird Blog.
Monthly Bird Sightings
September 2006 Sightings Update
August 2006 Sightings Update
July 2006 Sightings Update
June 2006 Sightings Update
May 2006 Sightings Update
April 2006 Sightings Update
March 2006 Sightings Update
Last updated: 3rd December 2007
February 2008
Access for birders to Cleveland Lakes during ALSF project
Until the end of March 2008, areas of Cleveland Lakes are being worked as part of a restoration and reedbed creation project, funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, and managed by the Cotswold Water Park Society.
Download information regarding access at Cleveland for birdwatchers
Download map of access to Cleveland Lakes
Nature Reserves
Lakes 34 and 84 and 68c are good lakes to start looking. Please visit the Nature Reserves page which has details of the hides.
