What wildlife is there in Devon's lakes and reservoirs?

As winter approaches, our lakes and reservoirs become attractive sanctuaries to a large number of birds. Across the county we have a range of different types of lake from the reed-fringed Slapton Ley, to the wooded Stover Country Park and Burrator Reservoir, and the more exposed reservoirs such as Roadford, Upper Tamar and Wimbleball. Most of us have a lake not too far away and for enthusiastic bird watchers each lake has its own character that might entice us to visit over the coming months.

Early morning at Stover Country Park. (Image: David Chapman) Some of the birds we see might well have bred in the county. The Mandarin ducks at Stover Country Park stay all year. These incredibly colourful birds are not native to the UK but were introduced from The Far East. They nest in tree holes, often high off the ground, so they need a lake surrounded by trees. Stover is perfect for them and they are great fun to watch.

Gooseander. (Image: David Chapman) We are fortunate to have a few pairs of breeding goosander in Devon, they are very rare in southern England. In autumn they leave their breeding rivers and can be found on lakes and reservoirs, I have seen them at Stover and Burrator. Goosanders look a little like ducks but they, along with red-breasted mergansers, are known as ‘sawbills’ because they have a long bill with a serrated edge which helps them catch fish when diving.

Little grebe. (Image: David Chapman) There are plenty of other birds that dive for fish, on larger water bodies we might see cormorants and great crested grebes but possibly the most widespread and common is the little grebe. In autumn and winter the little grebe has quite a plain plumage but its slim head and neck combined with round, fluffy body give it a distinctive and rather appealing shape.

Shoveler. (Image: David Chapman) We always get more waterbirds in winter than in summer because our population is boosted by birds that breed further north but enjoy our milder weather in winter. Some of the more colourful include teal, wigeon, pintail and shovelers which have large bills with a shovel-shaped tip. These ducks, like the mallard, are all filter-feeders dabbling and up-ending in the water to sift their way through aquatic vegetation for plant matter and aquatic insect larvae.

Lapwing and golden plover. (Image: David Chapman) Our larger, more exposed reservoirs can attract huge flocks of birds in autumn and winter. Gulls often use reservoirs as safe places to roost overnight, so it isn’t uncommon to see flocks of several different species of gull descending on a reservoir just before dark and the muddy edges of moorland reservoirs can attract flocks of wading birds, typically lapwing and golden plover.