A history of the Woodley waters
4 January 2011 | Peter Gipson
Introduction
A little searching on the bird news and rarity databases of this website will reveal that Theale Gravel Pits can claim many more sightings of scarce and rare birds than Dinton Pastures, which in turn has produced many more than the lakes located within suburban Woodley. Over the past three decades in particular, South Lake and Ashenbury Park Lake (formerly known as Woodley Gravel Pit) have yielded relatively few records of scarce or rare species, and perhaps as a consequence, they have tended to be under-watched, if not neglected. Although since the 1960s there has been no lack of continually active observers residing in Woodley or adjacent Earley, they have shown a marked preference to make the longer journey to Dinton Pastures or Twyford Gravel Pits or Theale, or going back more than a generation, to the fabulous Manor Farm.
In spite of these factors, the Woodley lakes can boast a surprising catalogue of records, especially of waterfowl, whose congregations are not hinted at by the more recent reports; and the sites themselves have an interesting history.
A 1761 map shows a body of water, having the heritage of an "ancient fish pond," which would later be constructed into South Lake, around 1820. A second water would similarly be transformed into North Lake (see shortly). Both waters were located on the prehistoric Bulmershe Heath and drained by a stream flowing eastwards to the River Loddon; speculatively, they were once possibly ponds formed naturally on the impervious London Clay. Bulmershe Heath came to exist by the clearance of trees over 4,000 years ago and extended across much of Woodley north of the Wokingham Road, with the Manor of Bulmershe being established in the 11th century; over the centuries it has consisted in part of grazing land and thicket and woodland, as well as heathland. Grasshopper Warblers summered near South Lake in the 1930s, a pair of Willow Tits bred in 1948, Nightjars retained a foothold into the 1950s, and Badgers occupied five setts in 1964. A fragment of heather inhabited by Common Lizards on the edge of Highwood provides a contemporary reminder of this ancient heritage. The remainder of what we know today as Woodley was also rural until its development began in earnest after the Second World War.
Disregarding Woodley Airfield, which managed to attract Teal and Shovelers, and a short-lived gravel working near Duffield Road, this article provides a short background for each Woodley water that was visited by birdwatchers, followed by a selection of records intended to cover both notable and typical observations. It should be borne in mind that sixty years ago some species such as Tree Sparrow, Hawfinch and Red-backed Shrike were much commoner in Berkshire than today while others such as Cormorant and Gadwall were much rarer. At present it is more a work in progress than a definitive history (not all the reports have been properly scrutinised), and it may be revised.
Ashenbury Park Lake (formerly Woodley Gravel Pit)
Before Ashenbury Park was reclaimed on the old Woodley rubbish tip, its picturesque lake (grid reference SU776746) was known to birdwatchers as Woodley Gravel Pit, which first appeared in the reports under the name of Ham River Gravel Pit. The initial excavations were made on farmland where the grassland of Ashenbury Park rolls today (grid reference SU776744), probably in the 1930s. A 1951 map (based on earlier surveys) indicates there were only dry pits, which may explain the lack of reports until 1947, when the presence of the Reed Bunting was accompanied by the remark "a new breeding place" - at that time the species normally bred in wetter sites. The first pits were infilled with rubbish as the excavation progressed north of the footpath in the place the lake is today, in the late 1950s and 1960s. The old water was said to cover 5 acres (2 hectares) in 1953 but is presently over twice this area, its irregular shape approximating to a rectangle 350 metres by 150 metres (13 acres or 5 hectares). It was evidently still surrounded by farmland in 1954, as a Corn Bunting was recorded singing there.
Ashenbury Park Lake has been under-watched since the 1980s, despite having produced early Red-crested Pochard, Red-necked Grebe, Garganey, Hooded Crow and scarcer waders such as Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper. Its south side is public and within easy reach of the car park in Tippings Lane.
Chronological list of selected records to 2010
The list that follows probably omits some breeding/summering records of Little Ringed Plovers, whose local breeding sites were not publicly identified.
- 1 Reed Bunting, May 1947
- 1 Wheatear, August 1947
- 1 pair Red-backed Shrikes bred, 1948
- 1 Water Rail, October 1948
- 1 adult, 1 young Great Crested Grebe, September 1949
- 30 Meadow Pipits, October 1949
- 1 Little Ringed Plover, May 1950
- 1 Water Rail, October 1951
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes, 1952
- 1-2 pairs Great Crested Grebes, 1953
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes, 1954
- 1 Corn Bunting singing, April 1954
- 2 Green Sandpipers, March 1955
- 1 Green Sandpiper, April 1955
- 1 Redstart, April 1955
- 1 Green Sandpiper, August 1955
- 1 Tree Sparrow, September 1955
- 2 pairs Great Crested Grebes, 1956
- 1 pair Mute Swans bred, 1956
- 2 Canada Geese, May 1956
- 1 Common Sandpiper, May 1956
- 4 Wheatears, September 1956
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1957
- 2 Tufted Ducks, April 1957
- 1 pair Mute Swans bred, 1957
- 1 Gadwall, July 1957
- 2 Ringed Plovers, July 1957
- 1 Buzzard, September 1957
- 3 pairs Great Crested Grebes, 1958
- 5 pairs Tufted Ducks bred, 1958
- 1 pair Canada Geese bred, 1958
- 1 Jack Snipe, December 1958
- 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, January-February 1959
- 150 Herring Gulls, February 1959
- 1 Red-necked Grebe, April 1959 (only 3rd Berkshire record, not mentioned in The Birds of Berkshire)
- 5 Great Crested Grebes including 1 pair breeding, April 1959
- 4 pairs Little Grebes, 1959
- 4 pairs Tufted Ducks bred, 1959
- 1 Turnstone, May 1959
- 14 Grey Herons, July 1959
- 1 Curlew, July 1959
- 1 Jack Snipe, September-October 1959
- 91 Tufted Ducks, October 1959
- 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, December 1959
- 1 Redpoll, February 1960
- 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, March 1960
- 1 pair Red crested Pochards, 12th March 1960 (one of the first records for Berkshire)
- Little Ringed Plovers "reported quite often" in 1960
- 1 Common Sandpiper, May 1960
- 1 Dunlin, May 1960
- 1 Jack Snipe, October 1960
- 59 Herring Gulls, November 1960
- 1 Jack Snipe, January 1961
- 1 Barnacle Goose, January-February 1961
- 90 Canada Geese, January-February 1961
- 1 White-fronted Goose, February 1961
- 8 Great Crested Grebes, March 1961
- 13 young Mallards, April 1961
- 1 Whimbrel, April 1961
- 1 Black Tern, April 1961
- 1 pair Reed Buntings bred, 1961
- 1-2 Green Sandpipers, August-September 1961
- 63 Tufted Ducks, September 1961
- 54 Mallards, December 1961
- 1 Kingfisher, 3 dates in 1962
- 1 Willow Tit, undated in 1962
- 2 Shovelers, March 1962
- 5 Shelducks, September 1962
- 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, November 1962
- 83 Mallards, December 1962
- 100 Common Gulls, December 1962
- 1 Hawfinch, August 1963
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1963
- 1 pair Little Grebes bred, 1963
- 1 Reed Warbler, July 1963
- 1 Spotted Redshank, August 1963
- 1 Common Sandpiper, August-September 1963
- 130 Mallards, October 1963
- 4 Pochards, October 1963
- 1 Kingfisher, October 1963
- 1 Green Sandpiper, November 1963
- 50 Tufted Ducks, January 1964
- 6 Wigeon, January 1964
- 13 Pochards, February 1964
- 2 Teal, February 1964
- 6 Great Crested Grebes, August 1964
- 1 Green Sandpiper, August-December 1964
- 117 Canada Geese, September 1964
- 40 Teal, October 1964
- 96 Coots, November 1964
- 180 Mallards, January 1965
- 10 Wigeon, January 1965
- 1 Scaup, January-February 1965
- 10 Teal, February 1965
- 1 Shoveler, April 1965
- 22 Pochards, December 1965
- 97 Canada Geese, December 1965
- 1 Gadwall, December 1965-January 1966
- 130 Mallards, January 1966
- 1 Kingfisher, April 1966
- 1 Kingfisher, July-September 1966
- 2 Green Sandpipers, August 1966
- 1 Wood Sandpiper, August 1966
- 1 Greenshank, August 1966
- 1 Hooded Crow, December 1966-April 1967
- 1 Goldeneye, January-April 1967
- 2 Shovelers, January and March 1967
- 2 Grey Partridges, March 1967
- 200 Canada Geese, September 1967
- 2 Goldeneyes, December 1967
- 5 Teal, undated 1968
- 1 Gadwall, January 1968
- 1 Gadwall, March 1968
- 1 Goldeneye, March 1968
- 1 Redstart, March 1968
- 1 Redstart, April 1968
- 1 Garganey, April-May 1968
- 1 Grasshopper Warbler, undated 1968
- 1 Nightingale, May 1968
- 1 Wood Warbler, May 1968
- 1 Pied Flycatcher, undated 1968
- 1 Garden Warbler died about 29th October 1968
- 40 Siskins, October 1968
- 2 Gadwall, December 1968
- 130 Mallards, December 1968
- 16 Shovelers, December 1968
- 8 Siskins, January 1969
- 1 Gadwall, February 1969
- 15 Shovelers, March 1969
- 1 pair Little Grebes bred, 1969
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1969
- 2 pairs Canada Geese bred, 1969
- 2 Nightingales, May 1969
- 1 Nightingale, June 1969
- 1 Redstart, August 1969
- 280 Mallards, November 1969
- 8 Siskins, December 1969
- 96 Canada Geese, January 1970
- 320 Mallards, February 1970
- 1 Gadwall, April 1970
- 2 pairs Great Crested Grebes bred, 1970
- 1 Greenshank, September 1970
- 1 Red-crested Pochard, September 1971
- 1 Greenshank, September 1972
- Gadwall present, 1973
- 2 Pintails, December 1973
- 1 adult, 1 large young Great Crested Grebe, 28th March 1976
- 1 Gadwall, November 1978
- 92 Mallards, June 1979
- 1 pair Canada Geese attending 24 young, May 1980
- Whinchat present, autumn 1983
- 1 Wheatear nearby, August 2007
- 8 Bramblings, October 2007
- 2 Gadwall, November 2007
- 8 Wigeon, November 2007
- 23 Tufted Ducks, March 2008
- 4 Gadwall, March 2008
- 1 Hobby, August 2009
- 1 Chiffchaff, 25th October 2009
- 8 Gadwall, October 2010
- 1 Kingfisher, October 2010
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred in some years before 1931
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1932
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1935
- 10 11 pairs Shovelers, May 1936
- 20 30 Mallards, about 6 pairs rearing young, 1936
- 12 Shovelers, November 1936
- 13 Goosanders, December 1936
- 7 Pochards, December 1936
- 640 Teal, December 1936
- 81 Wigeon, December 1936
- 1030 Teal, 21st February 1937
- 5 Gadwall, February-March 1937
- 1 Ferruginous Duck, 17th April 1938
- 15 Teal, June 1937
- 1 pair breeding Great Crested Grebes, 1937
- 1 Pintail, January 1947
- 2 Shovelers, January 1949
- 70 Teal, January 1949
- 40 Wigeon, March 1949
- 3 Great Crested Grebes, March 1949
- 80 Wigeon, February 1950
- 40 Tufted Ducks, February 1950
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1950
- 2 Smew, March 1951
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1951
- 1 Pintail, March 1952
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1952
- 1 Green Sandpiper, August 1952
- 1 Water Rail, September 1953
- 1 Smew, February 1954
- 10 Pintail, January 1955
- 5 Gadwall, February-March 1955
- 1 pair Woodlarks near here, April 1955
- 15 Grey Herons, July 1955
- 4 Green Sandpipers, August 1955
- 1 Mandarin Duck, January 1956
- 2 Pintails, January 1956
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, February 1956
- 1 Pintail, April 1956
- 1 pair Mute Swans bred, 1956
- 30 House Martins, May 1956
- 1 Black-necked Grebe, February 1957
- 1 pair Mute Swans attempted to breed, 1957
- 1 pair Mute Swans bred, 1958
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1958
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1959
- Teal reported as scarce, 1960
- 1 Redstart near here, August 1960
- 2 Great Crested Grebes, September 1960
- 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1883 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1883 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Lesser Redpolls bred, 1929 (North/South Lakes)
- At least one pair of Great Crested Grebes bred in the years before 1931
- 2 pairs Grasshopper Warblers, 1931 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 pairs Tufted Ducks bred, 1931
- 1 pair Grasshopper Warblers, 1932 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Lesser Redpolls bred, 1932 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Tufted Ducks bred, 1932
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1932
- 1 Garganey, May 1936 (though "quickly became tame," so an escape?)
- 13 Shovelers, September 1936
- 1 Wigeon, October 1936
- 20 30 Pochards, December 1936
- 20 30 Tufted Ducks, December 1936
- 1 2 Pintails, January June 1937 (North/South Lakes)
- 14 Goosanders, January-March 1937 (mainly on South Lake)
- 68 Shovelers, January 1937 (North/South Lakes)
- 5 Smew, February 1937 (North/South Lakes)
- 380 Mallards, February 1937 (North/South Lakes)
- 676 Wigeon, February 1937
- 1 Gadwall, February-March 1937
- 1 3 Garganey, March September 1937
- 6 breeding pairs Coots, 1937 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 3 Pochards, summer 1937
- 1 Cormorant, August 1937
- 323 Mallards, November 1937
- 4 Goosanders, December 1937
- 1 Goldeneye, throughout 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 240 Mallards, 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 300 400 Teal, January February 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 2 Smew, January March 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 4 Gadwalls, January March 1938
- 2 Pintails, January 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 68 Shovelers, February 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 76 Pochards, February 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 1000 Wigeon, February 1938
- 1 Garganey, 13th March 1938
- 1 Scaup, April 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Garganey, April 1938
- 1 Ferruginous Duck, September 1938
- 9 Shelducks, September 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 7 Shelducks, October December 1938
- 1 2 Pintails, October December 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 4 Pink footed Geese, 29th October 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 4 Goldeneyes, November 1938 (including the long staying bird)
- 320 Teal, November 1938 (North/South Lakes)
- 4 Goldeneyes, October 1943 (North/South Lakes)
- 50 Wigeon, November 1946 (North/South Lakes)
- 150 Pochards, November 1946 (North/South Lakes)
- 20 Tufted Ducks, November 1946 (North/South Lakes)
- 80 Wigeon, March 1948 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Willow Tits bred, 1948
- 3 adult, 3 young Great Crested Grebes, June 1948 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Arctic Tern, 13th October 1948
- 1 Shoveler, March 1949
- 1 Hawfinch, April 1949 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1949
- 32 Tufted Ducks, January 1950
- 20 Wigeon, February 1950
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1950
- 2 Pintails, March 1951 (North/South Lakes)
- 8 Shovelers, March 1951 (North/South Lakes)
- 84 Tufted Ducks, March 1951 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Goldeneyes, March 1951
- 1 pair Hawfinches, May 1951 (North/South Lakes)
- 250 Teal, December 1951 (North/South Lakes)
- 150 Wigeon, January-February 1952
- 1 Smew, February 1952
- 1 Woodlark, April 1952 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1952
- 1 Nightjar, 30th May 1952, 1-2 pairs reported present in previous summers (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Gadwall, October 1952
- 330 Mallards, October-November 1952 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Tree Sparrows, December 1952 (North/South Lakes)
- 180 Teal, January 1953 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Smew, January 1953
- 2 Hawfinches, January 1953 (North/South Lakes)
- 25 Tree Sparrows, January 1953 (North/South Lakes)
- 230 Wigeon, January 1953 (North/South Lakes)
- 350 Mallards, November 1953 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Gadwall, December 1953
- 30 Bramblings, January 1954 (North/South Lakes)
- 4 Tree Sparrows, January 1954 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Goldeneye, January-February 1954
- 3 Pintails, February 1954
- 85 Tufted Ducks, February 1954 (North/South Lakes)
- 230 Wigeon, February-March 1954 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Mandarin Ducks, March 1954
- 1 pair Canada Geese bred, 1954
- 85 Wigeon, December 1954 (North/South Lakes)
- 150-200 Teal, January 1955 (North/South Lakes)
- 332 Wigeon, February 1955 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Goldeneye, February 1955 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 pair Canada Geese bred, 1955
- 105 Wigeon, January 1956
- 100 Teal, January-February 1957 (North/South Lakes)
- 191 Wigeon, February 1957 (North/South Lakes)
- 220 Mallards, September 1957 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Lesser Redpolls, November 1957
- 200 Wigeon, February 1958
- 54 Tufted Ducks, February 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Smew, February 1958
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1958
- 56 Coots, December 1958
- 95 Mallards, December 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Gadwall, December 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 35 Pochards, December 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Woodcock, December 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Brambling, December 1958 (North/South Lakes)
- 43 Pochards, January 1959 (North/South Lakes)
- "Several hundred" Bramblings, January-February 1959 (North/South Lakes)
- 59 Wigeon, February 1959
- 50 Bramblings, March 1959 (North/South Lakes)
- 1 Hawfinch, March 1959
- 1 Garganey, March 1959
- 1 Firecrest, March 1959
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1959
- 1 Nightjar, June 1959 (none were heard May 1956)
- 1 Woodcock, September 1959
- 122 Tufted Ducks, November 1959 (North/South Lakes)
- 2 Goldeneyes, December 1959
- 1 Redpoll, February 1960
- 3 Bramblings, March 1960 (North/South Lakes)
- 60 Wigeon, November 1960
- 11 Wigeon, February 1961
- 250 Wigeon, January 1962
- 50,000-150,000 Starlings, March 1962
- 300-500 Chaffinches, March 1962
- 2 Redpolls, April 1962
- 25 Coots, September 1962
- 71 Tufted Ducks, December 1962
- "numerous" Bramblings, December 1962
- 100,000-250,000 Starlings, February 1963
- 150 Greenfinches roosting, February 1963
- 1-2 Redpolls, March 1963
- 50 Bramblings, March 1963
- 1 pair Crossbills, April 1963
- 44 Tufted Ducks, November 1963
- 70 Wigeon, December 1963
- 37 Wigeon, January 1964
- 1 Goldeneye, January 1964
- 1 Goosander, January 1964
- 10 Redpolls, January-February 1964
- 2 Sparrowhawks, February 1964
- 1 Curlew, February 1964
- 10 Pochards, February 1964
- 300-400 Bramblings, December 1964
- 1 Woodcock regular, 1965
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, March 1965
- 1 Cuckoo, May 1965
- 1 Reed Warbler, June 1965
- 10 Marsh Tits, June 1969
- 1 Redstart, June 1969
- 1 Merlin, February 1972
- 1 Gadwall, March 1972
- 94 Mallards, January 1979
- 106 Mallards, November 1980
- 86 Canada Geese, November 1980
- 25 Mandarin Ducks, January-February 1981
- 1 Pied Flycatcher, April 1983
- 5 Common Sandpipers, May 1984
- Common Terns regular, summer 1984
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, 1985
- 1 Mandarin Duck, June 1985
- Common Terns regular, June 1988
- 1 pair Egyptian Geese, June 1992
- 1 pair, 7 young Egyptian Geese, March 1995
- 1 pair Egyptian Geese hatched 7 chicks, January 1998
- 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 26th September 2004
- 1 grey-toned Chiffchaff, December 2004
- 11 Tufted Ducks, December 2004
- 3 Egyptian Geese, December 2004
- 1 pair, 6 chick Egyptian Geese, February 2006
- 1 pair, 2 chick Egyptian Geese, February 2007
- 22 Shovelers, December 2007
- 8 Tufted Ducks, April 2008
- 1 pair Sparrowhawks building nest by lake, May 2008
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull, October 2008
- 8 Shovelers, October 2008
- 6 Siskins, January 2009
- 6 Pochards, February 2009
- 2 Pochards, December 2009
- 2 Grey Herons mating, April 2010
- 1 pair, 4 chick Egyptian Geese, April 2010
- 1 Wood Warbler, May 2010, less than 200 metres from lake
- 1 pair, 4 young Mute Swans, including a "Polish" cygnet, July 2010
- 10 Tufted Ducks, October 2010
- 1 pair, 3 young Great Crested Grebes, October 2010
- 1 Kingfisher, December 2010
- 50 Teal, March 1947
- Wigeon "seen in quantity," March 1947
- 1 Snipe drumming, June 1956
- 1 Nightjar churring, June 1958
- 1 Willow Tit, October 1958
- 3 Redpolls, October 1958
- 1 pair Great Crested Grebes bred, June 1959
- 6 Teal, undated 1968
- 2 Shovelers, December 1968
- 2 Shovelers, March 2006
- 1 Kingfisher, nearby over The Bader Way, August 2010
- Various old maps of Woodley.
- The Birds of Berkshire Reports 1974 to 2005.
- Reading Ornithological Club Reports 1950 to 1973.
- The Reading Naturalist Report for 1964.
- Reports of the Oxford Ornithological Society on the Birds of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire 1915 to 1952.
- Reports of the Oxford Ornithological Society on the Birds of Oxfordshire and Berkshire 1953 to 1973.
- Balch, C C (1951) A list of the birds of Reading, with a summary of records prior to Jan. 1, 1947. In Reading Ornithological Club Report for 1950.
- Clarke Kennedy, A M W (1868) Birds of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
- Earley Local History Group (2000) Earley Days.
- Lloyd, F (1977) Woodley in the Nineteenth Century.
- Noble, H (1906) Victoria County History of Berkshire: Birds. (compiled in 1902)
- Standley, P et al. (1996) The Birds of Berkshire.
- The bird news database of berksbirds.co.uk: www.berksbirds.co.uk/searchbirdnews.asp
- The rarity database of berksbirds.co.uk: www.berksbirds.co.uk/searchhistoricalrecords.asp
Woodford Park Lake
Woodford Park gained its elongated pond (grid reference SU762736) around 1970, which hardly reaches 200 metres long and 25 metres wide (0.5 hectares). There is a car park nearby. From a birding point of view, it is the least important of the Woodley waters and has been mostly ignored by birders. Species recorded there include Mandarin Duck, Grey Heron, Egyptian Goose (has bred), Mallard, Moorhen, Red Kite and Buzzard.
North Lake (Bulmershe Lakes)
There can be rather few observers today who remember North Lake (grid reference SU760727) and there are few reasons why it should be remembered, although a site that can produce the highest ever count of 1030 Teal in Berkshire and a Ferruginous Duck deserves not to fade in the mists of time. The artificial lake was created nearly two hundred years ago and survived in its largely wooded locality until 1960, when it was filled in to make way for the development of the Antrim Road/Cartmel Drive estate in south Woodley. The 1960 report affirms that "the woodland in Bulmershe park ... has now been cleared for building," though trees and bushes close to South Lake would remain for a few more years. North Lake was the smaller of the two, covering 15 acres (6 hectares) and with a principal axis of 570 metres; its western margins were reedy or marshy, though Snipe or Water Rails were seldom reported. Each site lay within easy strolling distance of the other, being only 440 metres apart as the duck flies and separated by Birch woodland and thicket, so both were usually visited on the same occasion. Many of the reports just concern a total for both "Bulmershe Lakes," or do not specify which lake, and these are treated below under South Lake.
The locality was a private estate with a keeper and the 1958 report took note that "Bulmershe remains secluded." Collections of pinioned wildfowl were kept on both North Lake and South Lake, though they were only touched upon in the reports, and could sometimes cast doubt on the origin of the less common ducks that were encountered. In 1938 there were, among others, several tame Ferruginous Ducks and three Scaup, but a Goldeneye which summered was considered to be wild.
Exceptionally high numbers of Teal were present at North Lake during the winter of 1936/1937, producing counts of 640 and 1030, and 13 Goosanders also appeared. Although the Garganey was recorded several times at South Lake, there do not appear to be any definite records for North Lake. The only rarity detected at the latter was a Ferruginous Duck in 1938. Wigeon reached 80 on a couple of occasions, though numbers generally were much lower than on South Lake. When North Lake froze over, the ducks often moved the short distance north to Sonning Eye Gravel Pit.
The reports suggest that both the numbers and the variety of wildfowl at North Lake were declining in the 1950s, before its demise in 1960. They further hint that North Lake and South Lake were losing their appeal for some observers, who were favouring the string of sites along the Kennet Valley between Manor Farm and Aldermaston Gravel Pits. Although Tim Sharrock was familiar with North and South Lake, and only lived a mile or so away, he made vastly more observations from the Kennet Valley.
Chronological list of selected records to 1960
South Lake (Bulmershe Lakes)
South Lake is located 300 metres to the north east of Earley Station and south of Fairwater Drive (grid reference SU757722). Back in the 1930s it was a little larger than today, documented at 20.9 acres (8.5 hectares) and stretching to 610 metres along its north side. That it must be artificial is plain to see if one stands on its south east embankment and surveys the houses below; it was constructed shortly after 1818 on the site of an ancient fish pond (see earlier). It remained in its Birch woodland setting up to the 1960s, midway through which the adjacent development began, and is now surrounded by housing, although a grassy passage leads a short way to Highwood and Birch remnants are still standing, along with numerous other trees. The lake is public, and free parking is available in Rickman Close, Wallace Close and Kingfisher Drive.
One of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles could be witnessed at South Lake in the late winters of 1962 and 1963: an immense murmuration of Starlings indulging in their pre-roost sweeps and swirls over the water (particularly in March), before plunging into the Rhododendrons to the north and the south, defying any effort to be counted but estimated to be 100,000 to 250,000 birds in February 1963. The 1963 report characteristically relates that "at times the sky seemed dark with birds, and the noise of the wings overshadowed all other noise."
Prior to 1960, South Lake harboured a greater variety of wildfowl than North Lake and could claim higher numbers of several species, including Pink-footed Goose, Shelduck, Scaup, Smew, Goosander, Goldeneye and Garganey. It was certainly larger and likely deeper. Nowadays it is striking how few wildfowl turn up, probably in part because of the creation/expansion of the larger waters not far away, including Sonning Eye, Henley Road and Twyford Gravel Pits and Dinton Pastures Country Park. Curiously, there are very few published reports of Kingfishers at South Lake and I have only seen the odd bird myself in dozens of visits, even though it is well-stocked with fish and has suitable perches from which to dive.
Chronological list of selected records to 2010
Redwood Lake
Redwood Lake originated in the 1980s and is squeezed between The Bader Way and Redwood Avenue (grid reference SU775725). It stretches to about 300 metres long and is less than 100 metres wide; it has a dense wooded margin except along its narrow west bank. Although part of Dinton Pastures Country Park, this odd site does not appear to be maintained for public access and has suffered from poor water quality, and seems to be treated as a dull backwater by local birders! It is frequented by small numbers of Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, Coots and Black-headed Gulls; its reed-beds have held Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers, and the odd Bittern has been claimed. A fair view of the water is possible at the end of the leftwards path immediately beyond Kingsford Close. A path of sorts continues along its west bank but is currently obstructed and thorny in places and not recommended; the east side is no better.
The Moor (formerly Colmans Moor Gravel Pit)
Few other waters in Berkshire can share with The Moor (grid reference SU771722) the peculiarity of recording both a Snipe drumming and a Nightjar churring. However, it scarcely records any species today, as it is overlooked by birders, in part because it is concealed behind a row of houses and a screen of trees and awkward to view. Between the 1940s and 1970s, it was an open pit of varying size, fringed by reeds and wet meadows, that was known as Colmans Moor Gravel Pit. The 1959 report remarks that it was a "very small pit" which had been drained by November, although it was large enough in June to support its first pair of breeding Great Crested Grebes. A possible predecessor, a "Colmans Moore Pond," appears on a map from about 1810. It is currently about 370 metres long and 100 metres at its widest though was rather longer in the 1970s. It can be viewed to some extent from one or two points in the screen of trees along its east border, adjacent to the pathway between Kingsford Close and the River Loddon (I haven't ascertained the status of another viewpoint).
Chronological list of selected records to 2010
Sources
© Peter Gipson 2011