Overview
Wood Lane Nature Reserve is at Ellesmere in Shropshire. It is one of the best birding sites in the county.
The reserve is 2.5 hectares and is managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. It consists of several large lagoons with islands and rough grassland.
It is part of Wood Lane quarry, which is still working. The wildlife takes advantage of the huge piles of sand and freshly exposed quarry faces.
Birds
Notable Species
The reserve has a huge colony of Sand Martins with up to 500 nesting pairs recorded.
Well known for attracting long legged water birds who use the site as somewhere to rest during migration in spring and autumn. These include Greenshank, Redshank, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Green sandpiper and Little Stint.
Shelducks, Lapwings, Little Ringed Plover and Eurasian Tree Sparrow are amongst those that breed here.
Ospreys have occassionally fished at the reserve and nest platforms have been put up to encourage them to stay. A variety of ducks can be seen all year round and Curlew roost here in winter.
Rarities
Black Tern, Pied Avocet, Osprey, Whooper Swan, Little Stint, Brent Goose, Red Kite, Great Grey Shrike, Pectoral Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Northern Goshawk, Ring-billed Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit, Temminck's Stint, Sanderling, Eurasian Spoonbill, Bewick's Swan
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Other Wildlife
Site Information
History and Use
Areas of Interest
Access and Facilities
To find Wood Lane Nature Reserve take the Colemere road (including a brown sign pointing towards Colemere Sailing Club) off the A528, 2km south-east of Ellesmere at the Spunhill crossroads. The car park is ¾ mile down on the right. Top car park is often closed and locked, but the second car park - easy to miss - is usually open.
Woodlane is open to the public but if you would like to access the hides, you will need to fill in an application form to apply for a free permit. Forms can be downloaded from the Wood Lane website or send an email requesting a form to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust (see links below).
All ability access from the car park takes you around the reserve.
Contact Details
County Bird Recorder - Geoff Holmes geoff.holmes4 "at" tiscali.co.uk
External Links
http://www.woodlanereserve.co.uk/
http://www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/contact.html
http://www.shropshirebirds.com/
Content and images originally posted by Kezza
