Amwell GP
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By Public Transport: Take a train from Liverpool Street station towards Hertford North and disembark at St Margarets station. On the east side of the station follow the road - River Meads - northwards until the lock. Walk north for a kilometre towards the lookout point with the reserve across the canal on your right. | By Public Transport: Take a train from Liverpool Street station towards Hertford North and disembark at St Margarets station. On the east side of the station follow the road - River Meads - northwards until the lock. Walk north for a kilometre towards the lookout point with the reserve across the canal on your right. | ||
| - | + | [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=537850&Y=212550&A=Y&Z=115 '''Map''':[ | |
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'''Access''': Most people only watch from the lookout point although there is a circular walk around the reserve with a hide at the northern end. There is also another pit on the western side of the railway line. | '''Access''': Most people only watch from the lookout point although there is a circular walk around the reserve with a hide at the northern end. There is also another pit on the western side of the railway line. | ||
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'''Birds''': | '''Birds''': | ||
Revision as of 17:29, 10 December 2009
Amwell Gravel Pit (or Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve to give it its full name) is located in the Upper Lee Valley.
Directions:
By Car: Leave the A10 heading towards the A414 and at the roundabout take the B181 towards St Margarets. Take the second road on the left - Amwell Lane (just before the level crossing) - and after a kilometre park on the right at TL377122. Follow a track across the railway line to the lookout point at the northern end of the reserve.
By Public Transport: Take a train from Liverpool Street station towards Hertford North and disembark at St Margarets station. On the east side of the station follow the road - River Meads - northwards until the lock. Walk north for a kilometre towards the lookout point with the reserve across the canal on your right.
[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=537850&Y=212550&A=Y&Z=115 Map:[
Access: Most people only watch from the lookout point although there is a circular walk around the reserve with a hide at the northern end. There is also another pit on the western side of the railway line.
Birds:
Winter: A reliable place for Smew, usually including a few drakes. Other ducks such as Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Pochard and Tufted Duck should also be present. Bitterns can sometimes be seen, typically at dusk. There is a roost of gulls, often including a Mediterranean Gull, and Little Egrets roost on one of the wooded islands. Siskins are sometimes present in the surrounding trees.
Summer: Breeding birds include Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin. Hobbies are also seen regularly.
Spring/Autumn: Amwell is probably the best place to observe migrating birds in the Lee Valley, especially raptors and waders.
Rarities: Laughing Gull (December 2006), Black Stork, Great White Egret and Lesser Yellowlegs have all been recorded.
