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Season

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

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Where is it?

Map of Middleton Lakes

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52.568239,-1.717424
  • Grid ref: SP192967
  • Lat/long: 52.568239,-1.717424
  • Postcode: B78 2AE
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A family on a walk at RSPB Middleton Lakes nature reserveGrey herons at St Albans (Aren't birds brilliant!)Male blackcap singing
Children playing on a dead tree at RSPB Middleton Lakes nature reserveClose-up view of grass snakeCommon blue butterfly
Southern hawker in flightFieldfare in red berry bushFly agaric illuminated by sun in woodland
Female goldeneye swimmingShort-eared owl quartering grasslandFrosty hedgerow
Photo by Andy Hay
Photo by Nigel Blake
Photo by Steve Round
Photo by Andy Hay
Photo by Graham Catley
Photo by Graham Catley
Photo by Steve Round
Photo by Jodie Randall
Photo by Ben Hall
Photo by Nigel Blake
Photo by Graham Catley

Top things to do in Spring

  1. With more than 100 birds around, see grey herons building nests from February and youngsters flapping, fishing and flying until May
  2. Meander along the bridleway next to our ancient woodland for carpets of bluebells, wild garlic and other wildflowers
  3. Open your ears to all manner of bird maestros from song thrushes to warblers and lapwings to cuckoos

Top things to do in Summer

  1. Look out for ducklings and young wader chicks
  2. Ever seen a snake swimming? Watch out for beautiful grass snakes in the canal, or basking in the sun
  3. With loads of flowers in the grassland and woodland plus butterflies at every turn, it's a riot of colour

Top things to do in Autumn

  1. Early autumn is the best time to catch a look at darting dragonflies and damselflies and they emerge, mate and fly away in just a few short but exciting weeks
  2. Blackbirds and thrushes are joined by fieldfares and redwings as they wolf down autumn berries
  3. Keep your eyes peeled for fungi popping up in the woodland, among a landscape of oranges and reds

Top things to do in Winter

  1. Ducks and winter wading birds such as lapwings descend in their hundreds and thousands
  2. Enjoy a winter's day, with frosted woodlands, glistening lakes and our meadow ready for snowman building (snow permitting)
  3. It's one of the best times to see short-eared owls, barn owls or harriers scanning the winter grasslands for prey

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