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On the site of a former power station, Skelton Lake is located just of the M1 motorway south east of the city of Leeds.
In an industrial and populated area, Skelton Lake is a small oasis of woodland scrub and carr, and a large open water lake just north of the River Aire and Aire and Calder Navigation canal. Lots of birds to see all year round, including harmaahaikara and silkkihaikara. There used to be a landfill site located to the east of the lake, and in winter both isolokki and grönlanninlokki were worth looking out for on the plateau or bathing in the lake, but these are rare now.
The surrounding woodland supports breeding käpytikka and vihertikka as well as the occasional hömötiainen but the latter is now vary scarce in the wider area. The Lake has recorded all Grebes recorded in the UK - paksunokkauikku mustakaulauikku härkälintu mustakurkku-uikku silkkiuikku and pikku-uikku but only the latter two are a regular.
Now that the Skelton Lake Service Station is open on the M1, there is a safe and secure place to park, and there is good access from there down to the lake. Certainly worth having a look if passing that area.
Parking is at Leeds Skelton Lake service station at junction 45 of the M1 motorway. It is free for 2 hours. Click on the P in the map for directions.
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