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[edit] Overview

Testwood Lakes is a series of lakes and meadows in the Test Valley.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

There are 3 lakes and a scrape that attract wildfowl such as Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Gadwall and Eurasian Wigeon during the winter.

In summer Eurasian Oystercatcher & Little Ringed Plover breed and it is hoped that Northern Lapwing and Common Redshank will also breed soon.

Regular passage waders include Common Sandpiper & Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit, and a White-rumped Sandpiper was also recorded in 2004. Little Egret and Grey Heron are also usually present. Since Testwood Lakes was developed as a nature reserve by the Hampshire Wildlife Trust it has begun to attract more wildlife.

The tern raft is used by breeding Gulls in summer and as a fishing point for Great Cormorant in winter. Common Tern are regular visitors in summer and hopefully in a few years time they will be breeding. Testwood Lakes is one of the best sites in England to see Common Kingfisher - anyone who doesn't see one is very unlucky.

In winter flocks of Eurasian Siskin, European Goldfinch and sometimes Lesser Redpoll feed in the trees, where Eurasian Treecreeper can be seen amongst tit flocks as well. Other breeders include Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker & (apparently) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl & Little Owl, Eurasian Bullfinch and the commoner warblers.

Peregrine Falcon often wander from their breeding sites at the end of the river Test, and Eurasian Hobby are also possibility, but will probably have come from the other direction.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

To do

[edit] Other Wildlife

The meadows around the Lakes are full of interesting flora in the summer which attracts lots of butterflies.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

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[edit] Areas of Interest

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[edit] Access and Facilities

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[edit] Contact Details

Tel: 02380 667929

[edit] External Links

• Southern Water, Testwood Lakes
• Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Testwood Lakes
• Testwood Lakes on Streetmap

[edit] Reviews

teamsaint's review

Pros

• Little Egrets
• good views of kestrels
• flocks of siskins

Cons

• bird numbers quite low