drift reservoir

Birding tips

There is a large free public car park at the southern end (SW436288) where you have a good view across most of the water and can choose which bank to walk out on; the western side is normally the most productive. From the car park, drop down the steep grass slope towards the dam and turn left through a gate marked permit holders only, where access is restricted to Society members only. After about 300m you get to a vantage point overlooking the bulk of the reservoir; from there you can scan through the flocks of gulls and ducks. One of the beauties of Drift is that with relatively low numbers of ducks, so checking through the flocks is a relatively simple affair.

If you follow the path beyond the boardwalk, you reach the bird hide which is located at the base of the northwest arm, giving views into the reserve and across to the most popular area for bathing gulls. It also gives the closest views of the field between the two arms where the gulls preen after they have bathed. There is a constant changeover, with gulls coming and going all the time and it is well worth spending time going through the flock several times. This is also the area where the Canada Geese prefer to graze and it is always worth checking these for anything rarer tucked in with them. The area in front of the hide is usually the first to reveal exposed mud if the water levels drop and so is a favoured spot for passage waders.

The reserve is the least disturbed part of the reservoir and its shallow water is favoured by the dabbling ducks and you should be able to find Teal, Wigeon and Little Grebe feeding in the dense bankside vegetation. Beyond the hide and through the first area of woodland there is a small reed bed. This was created primarily to filter farm run off but has provided excellent habitat for birds, especially now that it has matured. The clumps of willow here regularly hold wintering Chiffchaff, and Siberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler have all been found with them. Unfortunately, there is no circular path around the reservoir unless you divert up to Sellan Farm (SW427300) and back down from Skimmel Bridge (SW436302). Most birders settle for ‘scope
views up the northern arm from the western shore or double back to the dam and walk up the eastern bank. The northern arm has roosting Cormorants in the trees and these regularly include sinensis birds. There are often a few Grey Herons and Little Egrets tucked in with them and one winter a flock of 22 Cattle Egrets roosted here. This is another area where exposed mud attracts waders if the water levels are suitable.