Birdlife in Littlethorpe

"Birding" in Littlethorpe

Nicholson's Lagoons is a 10 acre reserve east of the canal and between it and the Racecourse. There are two hides accessible from the towpath. Park at the British Waterways Car Park, at Lock House on the B6265 Ripon to Boroughbridge Road. It is approx. half a mile to the reserve along a good path and the hides have disabled access.

The area is a former gravel pit, which has been landscaped and profiled to give a series of lagoons and rough swampy areas. Water levels in the lagoons are controlled by sluices. Before gravel extraction this 10 acre grassland field held 25 species of birds. Now over 150 have been recorded and also 12 species of dragon/damsel flies.

In winter there are 100's of geese, ducks and wading birds. Autumn and Spring brings migrants such as Whooper Swan, Osprey and sometimes rare waders pass through such as Pectoral Sandpiper. In summer, ducklings, goslings, dragonflies and butterflies are to be seen. The canal banks hold a wealth of flowering plants. The footpath continues southwards along the canal and then the west bank of the River Ure passes Newby Hall to Boroughbridge.

Richard Tite

January 2006

Illustrations from original watercolour  © 'Richard Tite 2002'

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