Description
The Walford lakes have Rață mare, Gâscă canadiană, Corcodel mic, Rață moțată, Stârc cenușiu, Corb, Sticlete and Cormoran mare at all times, with possible Egretă mică, Rață cu cap castaniu, Rață pestriță, Fâsă de luncă, Cocoșar, Pescăruș sur in winter. Going south along the railway track there are Mugurar, Huhurez mic, Potârniche cu picioare roșii, Porumbel de scorbură, Pițigoi codat and Florinte, also possible roe deer. South of Walford church the hawthorn bushes are home to Silvie cu cap negru and Silvie de câmp, flocks of gulls follow ploughing activity in spring, the trees beyond the sawmill have Cojoaică cu degete scurte. Try the small meadow on the right to see Rață mandarin and barbel (at low water) in the river. The rough meadows west of Bollin farm are good for wintering finches.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust owns small wet woodland, Parish Meadow, by the chicken sheds (Smooth newts, grass snake, herb Paris, Silvie de zăvoi), and wet meadow opposite primary school at Coughton Marsh, remnant of larger marsh drained in 1960s. Both are restricted access, contact HWT, see map illustration and website below. In autumn large mixed flocks of corvids in the fields.
Details
Access
Walford is on the B4234 south of Ross-on-Wye, easily accessed via M5/M50 moorways. Park at Walford church if no ceremonies in progress. Or seek permission from Homme farms ltd (01989 764328/ info@ecdrummond.co.uk) to park alongside the reservoirs, in which case the car becomes a useful bird hide. take care to not obstruct farm machinery.


