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Staunton Harold Reservoir

Derbyshire/Leicestershire  >  United Kingdom

Staunton Harold Reservoir is on the Derbyshire and Leicestershire border.

Added* by Baz Willmott
Most recent update 8 julij 2024

Description

Staunton Harold Reservoir is one of those reservoirs where you can just do a quick 1 hour visit, to a full days birdwatching. A car is essential for this large site due to multiple start points and because some birds may be at distance a telescope is also essential.

(*1) (press STAR on map), the large car park (fee payable) near the reservoir dam (NOTE it is no longer permissible to walk on top of the dam - Police will be called if you do so) is one of the best places to see poljski vrabec, along with ščinkavec, lišček, plavček, velika sinica, menišček and brglez. On the water expect to see čopasti ponirek, mali ponirek, liska, zelenonoga tukalica, veliki kormoran. mlakarica, čopasta črnica, žvižgavka and kreheljc can sometimes be seen here but they sometimes favour quieter parts of the reservoir.

(*2), Ticknall Arm, brinovka and vinski drozg can be found in trees and grass areas near footpaths and car park (free) here. On the water kreheljc and žvižgavka favour this area, in recent times a ledni slapnik was found here as well.

(*3), Calke Car Park (free) Area. Another place to see poljski vrabec, with rumeni strnad, menišček, plavček, velika sinica, ščinkavec and lišček. On the shoreline is a bird hide (facing North), a walk further West takes you over a boardwalk, look out overhead for kanja, skobec and navadna postovka in this area.

(*4), Dimminsdale Area. Walk to the bridge from the nearby car park (free), from the bridge parapet look for čopasta črnica, kreheljc and žvižgavka often gather here, look through flocks carefully a ovratniška črnica was seen here recently. Also siva čaplja and mala bela caplja are often seen in this area.

Details

Access

South of the City of Derby the Derby Southern Bypass runs East to West. Leave this road at Junction 3 onto Bonnie Prince Roundabout, take exit signed Swadlincote/Melbourne A514, continue on A514. The road eventually becomes B587 in Stanton By Bridge, continue on B587, at next junction turn Left signed Coleorton/Ashby/Staunton Harold Reservoir. At next junction turn Right signed Coleorton/Ashby/Staunton Harold Reservoir, continue and turn Right at Staunton Harold Reservoir (brown sign) into Calke Road. This road leads to large National Trust Car Park (fee payable).

Terrain and Habitat

Scattered trees and bushes , Forest , Wetland , Lake , River , Grassland

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Winter , Autumn migration , Spring migration

Route

Paved road , Wide path , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

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