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| Wildlife & Conservation - Wildlife & Birds |
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Chew Valley Lake provides a home for a great variety of wildlife. Its shallow, lime rich water is teeming with aquatic insects and supports a lush growth of water plants. These provide food and cover for huge numbers of birds for which the lake is nationally famous. Over 260 different species have been recorded, ranging from tiny reed warblers to the majestic Bewick's swan.
The level of the lake rises in winter and falls over the summer and autumn exposing wide muddy margins. Different birds are attracted here over the changing seasons.
Spring
Birds which winter in warmer climates arrive, some just to feed on the abundant insects, and others to start looking for mates prior to nesting. Tufted duck and goldeneye reach high numbers in early spring and later warblers like chiffchaffs and blackcaps let us know they are back by singing loudly from the edge of the reed beds.
Summer
The lake is alive with breeding birds; reed warblers sing from the reeds, grebes perform courtship dances, coots fight for nest sites and swans sit calmly on their eggs. At least 19 types of water bird breed on the lake and 57 land species nest in the surrounding meadows, hedges and trees.
Autumn
This is the season when the greatest variety of birds can be seen. Many "stop over" on their migration south. Swallows collect in their thousands to roost in the reed beds and are hunted by the elegant hobby falcon. Waders like lapwing, dunlin and snipe feed on the muddy margins and a number of rarities often stop by to delight bird watchers. |
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