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Overview
Gravel pits situated near the confluence of the rivers Tean and Dove. At the time of writing (December 2008), gravel is still being extracted giving scope for more areas of gravel pit to form in the future. AS THIS IS A WORKING PIT, PLEASE ENSURE AT ALL TIMES THAT YOU KEEP TO PUBLIC FOOTPATHS AND DO NOT STRAY ONTO THE WORKINGS.
Water pumps are in use in the existing gravel pits, which can lead to a wide variety of water levels. This can prove attractive to winter wildfowl and passage waders. The surrounding farmland also attracts some of the typical farmland bird species. There is also a small amount of willow and alder adjacent to streams and the River Tean.
Birds
Notable Species
Goosander, Green Sandpiper. Seen almost year-round.
Rarities
Eurasian Spoonbill, Brent Goose
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Mandarin Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Garganey, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Pochard, Scaup, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Red Kite, Northern Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Eurasian Woodcock, Ruff, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Bohemian Waxwing, Winter Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Eurasian Jackdaw, Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Eurasian Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting.
Other Wildlife
Mammals seen todate include Brown Hare (common), Red Fox and Stoat.
Butterflies seen include Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Large Skipper and Speckled Wood. Several species of Dragonflies and Damselflies also abound. Including. Common Darter, Common Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Black-Tailed Skimmer. Common Blue and Blue Tailed Damselflies.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
Access to Uttoxeter Quarry can be gained by using a public footpath situated from the roundabout, between The Dove Way (flyover above the A50) and the B5030 towards Rocester. This is situated north of the A50 eastern roundabout (Esso garage/McDonalds).
Alternative parking can be found south of the western roundabout of the A50, opposite “The Racecourse” pub/hotel. A public footpath continues from here through a farm. The whole site can be viewed from the public footpath.
Ordnance Survey grid ref: SK0935
Contact Details
To do
