Whitmoor Haye, Croxhall NR
Access from the A38 Burton Road at the Alrewas Junction follow the sign to Tamworth travelling along the A513, shortly you will see a round-a-bout, first left is to the National Arboretum, straight on is Croxhall NR and right to Whitmoor Haye.
Turning right you will see a new building a recent outdoor pursuits centre, follow the road along and pull in to skan with your scope. This pool is the main pool Whitmoor Haye, the pool attracts wildfowl, sometimes Smew occasionally Pink-footed or White-fronted Geese with the canada's and greylags. Spring/Autumn waders, Spring Wheatear and resident summer Yellow Wagtails.
Another pool beyond this pool attracts similiar, Scaup have been seen here. The pool is private and regulary attracts men shooting.
Follow the road further on past an old farm, Tree Sparrow can be seen here, look out for wild Swan and wild Geese, a group of Tundra Bean Geeese wintered here in the past.
Turn onto the old rough road here in the hedges Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting can be seen. If the fields contain oil seed rape large herds of Mute Swan can be seen, sometimes wintering Tundra Swan, usually Whooper. Merlins in winter come in for passerines and Quail breed in summer. In this area Staffordshires first Woodchat Shrike was found and a Dotterel last Spring.
You can follow the old Road and return along it or turn right to do a loop, follow the road until back to the island, turn right follow the road over the river and left into the Croxhall NR free carpark. Croxhall NR consisits of a large lake good for wildfowl, Smew has been recorded, also good for passage waders, Whiskered Terns have been recorderd here part of the group from Willington gp's Derbyshire. There ia a hide on the main pool, East of the railway is a meadow (White-fronted Geese have been seen here) also a scrape and another pool.
The National Arboretum there is a muddly scrape with phragmites near the river, which attracts waders, another pit under the railway has attracted 3 Red-necked Grebes and a Scaup in the past, but to get to this area requires some walking.
Pits over the river at Catholme are still active gravel workings and reclaimed pits further north, Barton gp's are private, used by Burton and Mutual Angling Association or a private Yachting lake.
The other side of the A38 are Branston gp's which have a footpath going through.
