KILLINGTON LAKE

Turn a motorway break into a birding experience!

KILLINGTON LAKE IS actually a reservoir, formed when Killington Beck was dammed in 1819. Not only is it ideal for birds, but a service station was built here off the M6, only suitable if you are travelling south! The area was given its birding status by a dedicated watcher, Fred Gould, with records like Caspian Tern, Crane, Ringnecked Duck and Red-necked Grebe. Spring sees a large Black-headed Gull colony on the islands where recent nesting of Mediterranean Gulls (right) has occurred among this throng of birds. Another good reason to visit in spring and autumn is to watch the passage of Ospreys drawn here from their migration. Another bird found inland is the Arctic Tern. Both Sandwich and Black Terns have been found here, too. You never know when Common Scoter will drop in again on their migration, joining Goldeneye in winter and Tufted Duck in summer. Large flocks of Greylag and Canada Geese are always worth looking through for odd geese dropping in and Great Crested and Little Grebes need looking at for rarer grebes. With increasing egrets around Morecambe Bay a Great White Egret does not seem out of place here! The moorland around here has had Hen, Monty and Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl. JOHN MILES