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Description
A former opencast coal mine, the fields are grazed in the autumn and winter to maintain the value of the habitat. A public footpath runs between the lake and fields leading to two bird hides, one facing north and one facing south, then beyond to the ruins of Chibburn Preceptory.
The deep lake to the north provides an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Otter, while wading birds feed along the shores, and hlaholka severská and potápka chochlatá use the water. The two wet fields to the south support large flocks of wintering wildfowl, mostly kačica hvizdárka and kačica chrapka, and in spring, kačica chrapačka as well as kačica chripľavka and kačica lyžičiarka; they are very good feeding sites for waders including močiarnica mekotavá, kalužiak červenonohý, brehár čiernochvostý, kalužiak močiarny, and others; lyžičiar biely has also become regular in recent years, and scan for ľabtuška vrchovská in winter. In autumn, check the bushes and shelterbelts after east winds for species like kolibiarik žltkastotemenný and králik ohnivohlavý as well as numerous králik zlatohlavý and stehlík čížik.
Numerous rarities have occurred, including brehárik ploskozobý, lyskonoh úzkozobý, ibisovec hnedý, sokol kobcovitý, penica fúzatá and others, making it a popular location for bird watchers and wildlife photographers alike.
The dunes hold svrčiak zelenkavý and pŕhľaviar čiernohlavý as well as the more abundant škovránok poľný and ľabtuška lúčna. The highest dune, roughly in the middle of the bay, gives a good vantage point for scanning the sea; here you can often see kajka morská, turpan čierny, potápač prostredný, sula biela, potáplica malá, pomorník príživný, norec tenkozobý, mníšik bielobradý, and also pobrežník belavý on the beach if there are not too many dog-walkers around. A telescope is useful for this.
Details
Access
There is roadside car parking at the adjacent National Trust Druridge Links site. Access is from a minor road running alongside Druridge Links and through a wide gap onto a level grass path. A further entrance gives access to a viewing area on another grass path, 400m south, alongside the same minor road. There are two viewing hides, one with level access and one accessed by four steps. There is also a viewing platform at the southern end of the reserve which is accessed by three broad steps.
There are access points leading to a screen overlooking the southern fields and along the public right of way through the centre of the site. The terrain is level and flat, but paths can be wet and muddy.