Hicks Lodge & Saltersford Valley
Grid ref: SK326152 (OS Landranger 128)
Location/Access
Located between Willesley, Moira and Donisthorpe, Hicks Lodge forms part of the wider Saltersford Valley complex which also incorporates Saltersford Valley Picnic Area, Willesley Wood and Lake, and Oakthorpe Flashes (SK321136). It is now also the home of The National Forest Cycling Centre with parking available on site year-round (SK 32876 15601) for a small charge (£1) and also a café, toilets and cycle hire. The gravel track, roughly 1 mile in length, loops around the largest of the lakes and is the one most popular with dog walkers and cyclists.
Other car parks in the area include Saltersford Valley Picnic Area SK 32421 13451, nearest post code DE12 7QQ and Willesley Wood & Lake SK 32957 14102, LE65 2TL.
As with many of the birding spots in North West Leicestershire, Hicks Lodge is a former opencast mining site that has been reclaimed for leisure use and is best visited early to avoid the crowds.
Habitat
Primarily cattle pasture, rough grassland and National Forest planting, the area, although relatively small, offers a variety of habitat, with a scattering of smaller pools complementing the main lake.
There are a number of lakes of varying size and more mature woods in the wider area.
Birds
The site is worth a visit year round but during spring and autumn passage, the fields and hedgerows viewable on the path from the Ashby Road entrance walking towards Hicks Lodge are of particular interest. Wheatears are recorded annually in both seasons, often in good numbers and sometimes accompanied by Whinchat. This side of the site is also one of the better locations in the county for Redstart, particularly in the autumn when family parties can appear along the fence lines. Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher and Ring Ouzel are less frequent but the fenceposts and hedgerows to the right of the pool are always worth a scan. These fields also hold winter flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese, which can host a stray Pink-footed Goose or two. Short-eared Owl is an occasional winter vistor, with several present in recent history, although the favoured fields have recently been returned to pasture.
There are several pools on site, with the largest encircled by the main footpath. A bird hide overlooks this lake which also has its own busy Sand Martin wall and although not a large body of water, waders are still a feature, favourable weather always making early morning spring visits full of potential. Whimbrel, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Greenshank, Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwit have all been recorded in recent years, although visits can be fleeting due to disturbance.
The lake is dominated by a large Black-headed Gull colony throughout the breeding season and has also been visited by Mediterranean Gull, Black and Arctic Tern. Wildfowl numbers fluctuate but flocks of Wigeon, Pochard, Teal and double-figure counts of Goosander are usually present throughout the winter. Red-crested Pochard and Common Scoter have also been recorded. Winter flocks of Common Snipe and Lapwing gather on the island and Jack Snipe can be seen most winters.
Rarities
Although not noted for its rarities, the site has the potential to deliver a good range of passage migrants and winter wildfowl. The avian highlight for the site to date is Glossy Ibis, but what’s better than that first fresh Wheatear of the spring?
Marc Lansdowne
Kingfisher
Wheatear