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Description
Nantwich Lake is home to a small colony of overwintering Hettumáfur, several of which were ringed here in c. 2021 and given blue colour rings that are easily identifiable/legible. Others of more unusual origin or with metal rings only (for which a telefocal lens and camera is usually required to read) can also be found on occasion, particularly at start and end of the season when they are likely travelling through to prefered sites.
The lake also hosts a pair of Hnúðsvanur that breed most years on the reedbed at the south end of the lake and usually raise several cygnets. They are identified by green colour rings (standard for Cheshire) as are several of the Stokkönd in the usually large flock. Although not a large amount of reeds, Seftittlingur and Sefsöngvari can also be found occasionaly at the south end in the summer.
Kanadagæs, Sefhæna and Bleshæna are present year round on the lake and breed here during the summer, with Skúfönd and Dverggoði joining them in small numbers during the winter.
Flocks of Blámeisa, Flotmeisa, Skottmeisa and Glókollur can be found throughout the area foraging on seeds and insects in the bushes to the side of paths. Músarrindill and Glóbrystingur are of course common as well as thushes such as Svartþröstur, Söngþröstur and Skógarþröstur.
Walking alongside the river listen out for Bláþyrill although you will not often catch more than a glimpse of it as it whizzes by.
The lake area was originally salt marsh fed by brine springs and was dug out during the 1970s as a flood alleviation scheme, as such the water is apparently devoid of life. Occasionally some areas north of the main lake dry out leaving a salty mud crust.
Details
Access
Nantwich Lake and Riverside are close to the Nantwich town centre. There are 2 fairly large carparks near to the lake, or one can of course park in Nantwich town centre as it is only a short walk to the riverside. Press a P on the map for directions to a carpark. The area is also very close to the Nantwich Railway Station (1) where trains run reasonably regularly to Chester, Crewe and to Wales, and to the Bus Station.
Paths around the main lake and up to town are generally wide and well paved and would be suitable for wheel chairs, there are some gravel tracks though and some smaller areas would not be suitable at all (Coed Wen Woodland for instance - a wet woodland area in the far south).