Birding sites close to leicester?

[Thadacorn]

Hi I'm a new birder, living in Leicester. I am hoping to get a day free to spend birdwatching on Saturday. Does anyone know a good spot to visit, easily accessible by public transport (I don't mind a bit of a walk either :) ), within 1.5hrs of Leicester city centre?

Many thanks, John.

ps I have visited Rutland Water a number of times but am under the impression that it is a bit quiet at this time of year.

[Adey Baker]

Should be plenty of waders at this time of year at Rutland Water.

Check out this link to latest bird news from Leicestershire and Rutland: http://www.lros.org.uk/News.htm

There is also a link from that page to 'Birding Sites' around the counties. Check, especially, No. 9 'Soar Valley' which is a number of sites just north of the city

[Thadacorn]

Perhaps I was misinformed, I'll give Rutland Water a try, I'll have to brush up on my wader I.D. skills though.

The Soar valley gravel pits will fill in my Sunday as well!

Thanks :t:

[TREEBUG]

Hi John. Have you joined the LROS? I'm fairly new to birding myself and live in Leicestershire. Was thinking about joining. cheers, Rob.

[Pomgonewalkabout]

What about Birstall Lakes? Haven't been there for years as I now live downunder but I remember there were some lakes with wooden viewing hides back in the 1980's.

[wetlands_wedge]

Eyebrook Reservoir and Graffham Water?

[Steve Lister]

Eyebrook Reservoir and Graffham Water?

Difficult by public transport.

Aylestone Meadows can turn up migrants - if you are that side of Leicester it is worth a look.
Cropston Reservoir is on a bus route fro Leicester and has been producing waders recently, plus up to 23 Mandarins and 7 Litte Egrets.

Birstall Lakes is now part of Watermead Country Park, included in the 'Soar Valley' bit on the LROS website.

Well worth looking at www.lros.org.uk as Adey says, and you should certainly think about joining the LROS.

Steve

[ranger33]

What you call Birstall lakes is now probably Watermead Country Park. The hides were vandalised and rebuilt like concrete bunkers however there is now a new reed bed nature reserve with a number hides. Well worth a visit.

[Timo2112]

I think, based on recent visits, Rutland Water seems to require a bit of patience and making sure you go to the right hide at the moment. There's stuff around, but not, by and large, seemingly in vast quantities. Anyway, always a pleasant day/afternoon out, and gives good opportunity to watch rather than just see some more familiar birds. Just sit and look and soak up the behaviour kind of thing.