BREDON’S HARDWICK

Pools, river meadows and the River Avon to explore

These former gravel workings bordering the River Avon offer good birdwatching throughout the year. Lying on a floodplain, during the winter months the fields can become inundated, providing a vast area for, in particular, dabbling ducks and geese to feed. Part of the area is now a thriving water park, but there is still plenty of potential in the surrounding area for a few hours of exploring. Good numbers of Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall and Wigeon are joined by occasional White-fronted Geese, although these have become scarcer in recent years. Merlin and Peregrine may be also sighted chasing flocks of Meadow Pipits. Flocks of Redwings, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and Starling frequent the fields for feeding while there is also a chance of Great White Egret, Snipe, Ruff and Golden Plover. Spring sees the passage of terns with Arctic and Common augmented by Black Terns in good years, and the arrival of Curlew and Oystercatchers. Yellow and White Wagtails are present with Wheatear and passage waders. Late summer brings Little Egrets, hunting Hobbies and passage waders, including Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank. The site boasted records of Collared Pratincole and White-rumped Sandpiper during its Pintail

heyday, but as the site has matured, it has lost some of the attractive muddy areas so loved by waders. But there is still enough habitat for a good rarity to appear.