Groby Pool

Location/Access

The pool lies some four miles north-west of Leicester on the edge of the Charnwood Forest. There is a free car park along Newtown Linford Lane at SK 52532 07956, nearest post code LE6 0EB (do not park in the nearby quarry entrance as access is required at all times). Please note that the car park is locked at 4:30pm from October – March, and at 8:00pm at other times of the year. There is access to the eastern side of the pool, and a footpath runs around the northern side eventually leading to Newtown Linford.

Birds

At all times of the year, a good selection of wildfowl will be on view. In autumn and winter Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard are numerous, with smaller numbers of Teal and Shoveler. Occasional, but almost annual, visitors include Pintail, Goldeneye and Goosander. Mandarin is recorded from time to time, although not as reliable as it once was. Great Crested Grebes are regular and attempt to breed most years, whilst Little Grebes can occasionally be seen skulking around the margins. Rarer grebe species have included several Black-necked Grebes and a lingering Slavonian Grebe in 1993.

In the centre of the pool small numbers of Grey Herons and Cormorants breed on the island, although the trees they nest in are rapidly declining. Little Egret might be viewed either on the island or around the edge and recently Great White Egret has become a scarce but increasingly regular visitor.

At the overflow, scan both sides of the pool, checking for Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher, whilst Common Sandpiper is an expected passage migrant in the spring and again in early autumn, often perching on the rocky outcrop to the left. With no shoreline, other waders are very rare and only recorded as flyovers, particularly in passage periods or during harsh weather.

Raptors are well represented, with Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel and occasional Red Kite observed flying over. In early autumn there is a good chance of a migrant Hobby dashing across the west reedbed, whilst Marsh Harrier has been recorded on several occasions, including a remarkable sighting of three in 2010. Osprey is almost annual and, although not a bird of prey, Ravens are often seen or heard ‘cronking’ around the pool area.

Following the closure of the nearby Bradgate refuse site in 2007, gulls are much less numerous than they used to be. Most days Black-headed Gulls are present in small numbers, with infrequent visits by the larger species, which drop in to bathe. Most years, terns are represented by infrequent sightings of Common, however Arctic, Black and even Little have been observed.

The reedbed plays host to several pairs of Reed Warblers during the summer months and Water Rails can be heard ‘squealing’ throughout the year. Occasionally a Cetti’s Warbler may be heard calling, with overwintering birds noted. There are four records of Bittern, whilst Snipe are often viewed along the edge of the reeds during the winter months.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has not been reported since 2011, however, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers are still present. Willow Tit, once a regular species, has also disappeared although Marsh Tit is still to be found, often visiting the impromptu feeding station just inside the footpath kissing gate, alongside Nuthatch, Coal Tit and occasionally Reed Bunting.

In the winter months, Siskins and Lesser Redpolls are regular in the alders and birches, and Bramblings have also been noted. Crossbills are an infrequent and unpredictable visitor but worth keeping an eye (or ear!) out for.

A walk along the footpath north of the Pool leads to an area known locally as ‘The Ridge’ (see map), a rocky outcrop where passage migrants are often encountered, particularly in the autumn. Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart are both almost annual here, alongside common warbler species.