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Overview
Wood Lane Nature Reserve is at Ellesmere in Shropshire. It is one of the best birding sites in the county.
The reserve is 2.5 hectares and is managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. It consists of several large lagoons with islands and rough grassland.
It is part of Wood Lane quarry, which is still working. The wildlife takes advantage of the huge piles of sand and freshly exposed quarry faces.
Birds
Notable Species
The reserve has a huge colony of Sand Martin with up to 500 nesting pairs recorded.
Well known for attracting long legged water birds who use the site as somewhere to rest during migration in spring and autumn. These include Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and Little Stint.
Common Shelduck, Northern Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover and Eurasian Tree Sparrow are amongst those that breed here. Good views of a Water Rail can usually be had from the 'Shelduck Hide' as it regularly feeds underneath the seed feeders 30ft away.
Osprey have occassionally fished at the reserve and nest platforms have been put up to encourage them to stay. A variety of ducks can be seen all year round and Eurasian Curlew roost here in winter.
Rarities
Black Tern, Pied Avocet, Osprey, Whooper Swan, Little Stint, Brent Goose, Red Kite, Great Grey Shrike, Pectoral Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Northern Goshawk, Ring-billed Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit, Temminck's Stint, Sanderling, Eurasian Spoonbill, Bewick's Swan
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Other Wildlife
Site Information
History and Use
Wood Lane is north Shropshire's largest quarry totalling 81 hectares and is still working today. Sand, gravel and clay hav been excavated here.
In 2000 the site of the reserve was a worked out part of a sand and gravel quarry. Now whilst the quarrying continues on one end of the site, the disused area has been re-modelled into a series of islands and lagoons.
Nearby are four of Ellesmere's natural lakes which no doubt help to encourage wildlife to the area.
Areas of Interest
Access and Facilities
To find Wood Lane Nature Reserve take the Colemere road (including a brown sign pointing towards Colemere Sailing Club) off the A528, 2km south-east of Ellesmere at the Spunhill crossroads. The car park is ¾ mile down on the right. Top car park is often closed and locked, but the second car park - easy to miss - is usually open.
Woodlane is open to the public but if you would like to access the hides, you will need to fill in an application form to apply for a free permit. Forms can be downloaded from the Wood Lane website or send an email requesting a form to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust (see links below).
All ability access from the car park takes you around the reserve.
Places to Visit Nearby
Contact Details
County Bird Recorder - Geoff Holmes geoff.holmes.4 "at" btinternet.com
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Kezza
