Birdwatching in the Cotswold Lakes
The Cotswold Lakes is an excellent birding destination throughout the year; ranging from 20,000 wintering waterbirds, to 21,000 wintering gulls, to vast numbers of breeding warblers along with Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern, there is always something of interest here!
The Cotswold Lakes Bird Blog
For really up to date sightings and information on what to see where in the Cotswold Lakes, the Bird Blog is a great place to start. Launched in 2006 to promote birding in the Cotswold Lakes and to provide a central repository for birding information for the Cotswold Lakes, it highlights what has been seen in recent days and shows which of the 180 lakes are good locations to visit. The Bird Blog is maintained and updated by Cotswold Lakes Trust volunteers.
Little Egret. Image: Dave Soons
Birdwatching in the Cotswold Lakes
Due to the central location of the Cotswold Lakes and the vast area of wetland habitats, bird monitoring and ringing studies are showing that this area is an important stop-over for feeding for migrating birds, during both the spring and the autumn. Almost anything can turn up, and frequently does! There are several bird hides from which to see a great variety of birds, but often it is from the public footpaths around the lakes where birdwatchers can get their best sightings. Most of the lakes have numbers, which are used by birdwatchers to record sightings on the blog, and which are shown on the Cotswold Lakes leisure map.
Cotswold Lakes Trust runs guided walks during the year, It is worth considering becoming a member of the Trust to be notified of their event dates.
Water Rail. Image: Dave Kilby
Bird Identification Guide
With such a huge variety of birds visiting and living in the area throughout the year, the Cotswold Lakes Trust with kind support from Hoburne Cotswold, has produced a Birdwatching in the Cotswold Lakes leaflet to help visitors identify some of the species which are special to the Cotswold Lakes. There is also guidance about the best places to see them, but of course nothing in the wild is guaranteed.
Annual Birdwatching Highlights
Spring
In April and May, warblers and hirundines arrive back in the area along with Hobbies in large numbers, and occasionally with a Red Footed Falcon in tow.
Summer
This is a great time for breeding waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Lapwing and for large numbers of breeding ducks such as Tufted Duck and Gadwall. You may also spot breeding Hobby, Barn Owl and Little Owl.
Autumn
Visit in the autumn months to experience the sheer number and variety of passage birds migrating through this inland site; recent passage birds have included Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Whimbrel, Temminck’s Stint, Grey Plover, Black Tailed Godwit and Bar Tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull and Black Tern.
Winter
Often the birdwatcher’s preferred season here in the Cotswold Lakes, as there are less human visitors yet large numbers of wintering waterbirds and gulls. Look out for Pochard, Gadwall, Goosander, Smew, Caspian Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Little Egret, Red Throated Diver, Green Sandpiper, and Yellow Browed Warbler; plus large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover. Also worth keeping an eye out for Cetti’s Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Snipe and Kingfisher.
Heron © David Hall