Wildlife
The area is regionally important for overwintering wildfowl such as Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Smew. Other notable bird species include Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bittern, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier and Cetti's Warbler. Grey Herons breed in a heronry near the play meadow, with up to 100 individuals present.
Even before the establishment of the reserve, the gravel pits were known for their attraction to breeding, passage migrant and vagrant birds. In the latter category, a Least Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper visited for overlapping periods in May 2002. More recently, the reserve has been visited by rarities including Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, and Great White Egret.
Otters are also present, as are a total of over 1,000 other animal plant and fungus species.
The RSPB's targets include attracting Bearded Reedling, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank and Common Snipe to breed, or to do so in greater numbers.
Read more about this topic: Middleton Lakes RSPB Reserve
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