Witney Lake and Meadow - A beautiful corner of Witney where you can get away from it all in picturesque surroundings

Witney Lake and Meadow

Witney Lake (known locally by some as Duck Lake or Ducklington Lake) is a flooded gravel pit which has been purchased by Witney Town Council as part of the Witney Lake and Meadows project. The 30-hectare area includes wet meadow and grazing land adjoining the two legs of the River Windrush to the south and north of the A40 road. The southern end of the lake is managed as a nature reserve and the grazing land to the east and north is classified as an Environmentally Sensitive Area. Ducklington village lies to the west and between the lake and there are small paddocks and allotments. The paddocks are grazed and are bordered by some mature Oaks and pollarded Willows although there are signs of encroaching development at both the north and south of the village. The lake is very deep throughout and so lacks any shallows or muddy edges.

The site is situated within a mile of the bustling Witney town centre, and is well used by the general public but it never feels overcrowded. The northern end of the lake and the river are also fished although the close season is still adhered to. The lake itself is surrounded by a very good path (this has been improved over the years as it could get rather muddy underfoot during prolonged wet periods in winter).

Witney Lake has been named one of the most important sites for plants and wildlife in the Windrush Valley area. A recent study by the Lower Windrush Valley Project and Pond Conservarion found 110 bird species and a large variety of invertebrates and wetland plants.

The Birds Of Witney Lake

The area is home to a number of birds so look out for the following:

Black-Headed Gull

		Black-Headed Gull In winter these gulls lose the dark head marking, which shrinks to a small spot behind the eye.

Canada Goose

Common Tern

		Common Tern Common Terns are more slender and agile than gulls They patrol up and down the lake in summer. As soon as one spots a fish it plummets into the water

Common Sandpiper

		Common Sandpiper As it walks or runs the tail bobs. The long bill is used for probing in the mud for food

Coot

		Coot Avid nestbuilders, Coots heap waterweed into large piles

Cormorant

		Cormorant The webbed feet help the Cormorant to swim and catch fish under water

Great-Crested Grebe

		Great-Crested Grebe The Great-crested Grebe is an elegant waterbird. Its body sits low in the water

Heron

		Heron The Heron is a patient angler, standing stock-still in the shallows watching for fish

Kingfisher

		Kingfisher A flash of blue is often all you will glimpse of a kingfisher You might be lucky enough to see one perching over the water watching for fish

Mallard

		Mallard Mallards are our most familiar duck. Males are handsomely coloured, while females are brown and drab

Moorhen

		Moorhen Moorhens have large feet that help them walk on floating waterweed

Mute Swan

		Mute Swan A most graceful bird. The males are called "cobs" and have larger black knobs on their beak that the females which are called pens. The cygnets are grey.

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck A rare visitor to the lake. The male has a blue bill, white face and dark cap. The female is much darker.