Places to see birds

Coate Water, Swindon

One of the Country Parks within Swindon and famous for its association with local 19th century author Richard Jefferies, this SSSI lake and leisure area is easily accessible to anyone with good paths around the main lake.

The larger main lake holds open water species at most times of the year and the small wooded scrub and reedbed area at the back of the lake attracts warblers and other woodland species. The smaller lake is designed as a nature reserve and access is only available to one end of this lake.

Birdwatchers can be assured of something unusual dropping in to this site in Spring and Autumn, whilst the resident and wintering wildfowl are always available.

Access to the car park is from the A4259 road from Swindon Town Centre when travelling towards Marlborough. On the edge of the town the car park is signed from Coate roundabout. From the M4 Junction 15 follow the A4259 road towards Swindon and the roundabout will be found a short distance after the new hospital.

Throughout the year this site offers good sightings of water birds including Great Crested Grebe. The winter offers the chance for rarer wildfowl to be present and this site has held a bittern on the reserve lake for two winters. Breeding birds include grey heron and many of the warblers. There is a heronry on the smaller lake viewable from the causeway between the two lakes.