WILLINGTON GRAVEL PITS DWT
Wildfowl and waders on a migrant flyway
Its location next to the Trent means that Willington Gravel Pits gets plenty of passage migrants, but it has year-round interest, with a winter visit being particularly good for wildfowl and waders (depending on water levels). Spring can also be very productive, with some good tern passage, but at any time there’s the chance to make your own discoveries
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Walk along the lane from the main road, and expect the commoner tits and finches, plus winter thrushes in season, and Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock at all times.
2 At the information board, take a stroll through the old workings to your right. The mounds here used to be good for Wheatears in spring, but overgrown vegetation has put paid to that. Check carefully, though, for commoner warblers including Whitethroat in spring and summer, and maybe something rarer.
3 From the first platform, you can view a small, almost enclosed bay of the main lake. Expect Snipe around the edges, and possible Water Rail. View across the wet meadows for Grey Herons (often double figures), and geese – mainly Canadas and Greylags, but Pinkfeet, Whitefronts and Whooper Swans drop in during winter. Listen for Cetti’s Warbler from here on.
4 The second platform has views of the main expanse of water, which in winter can contain Shelduck, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Cormorant and Great Crested Grebe. Garganey are seen from March to June, and rarer grebes such as Black-necked have dropped in. Look for egrets around the edges (10 or more Little, plus regular Great White and occasional Cattle). Bitterns winter in the reedbed, and Marsh Harrier is also often seen, plus occasional Hen Harrier in winter.
5 The hide has views of some small islands, and back to the spit – regular waders are Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Redshank, with the likes of the godwits, Dunlin and Sanderling dropping in on passage. Tern passage in spring (check the posts in the water) should include Arctic and Black, with Whitewinged Black Tern and Whiskered both recorded here. The feeders here get Reed Bunting and the commoner tits, and have had Willow Tits in the past.