Cotswold Water Park

At 40 square miles the Cotswold Water Park is approximately the same size as the Island of Jersey. For over 50 years the area has been used for sand and gravel extraction, these old quarries have been allowed to fill with water creating over 150 lakes 10 of which have SSSI status. 

The Cotswold Water Park hosts internationally important numbers of wintering waterfowl (20,000) and nationally important winter populations of Pochard, Gadwall, Coot and Great Crested Grebe. All this makes it an excellent birding destination throughout the year; ranging from 20,000 wintering waterbirds, to 21,000 wintering gulls. The Pintail is a scarce winter visitor to the Park, and Wiltshire, as we are on the edge of its winter range, the Pintail arrives from northern Europe and is immediately recognisable by its long tapering ‘pintail'.

Location of Cotswold Water Park

View Site Focus - Where to visit this month in a larger map

Species to spot

 Pintail - Anas acuta A scarce winter visitor to Wiltshire as we are on the edge of their winter range, the Pintail arrives from northern Europe and is immediately recognisable by its long tapering ‘pintail'. They can be seen in small numbers during winter in Wiltshire on shallow lakes; Coate Water SSSI and Cotswold Water Park are two good spots in Wiltshire to see them. Pintails are long-necked with small heads a curved back and pointed wings, this along with the pointed tail – which is more prominent in males – makes them fairly easy to identify.

Don’t forget to send us any records of your sightings from Cotswold Water Park along with any photos

Location

For full details on how to get to the Cotswold Water Park, and the many facilities take a look at the Cotswold Water Park website