Birding sites in Melton District
Edmondthorpe, Saltby, and Buckminster
This entire area has huge potential but remains very underwatched. Several owls are regular around Edmondthorpe, including occasional Short-eared Owls. Bramblings often winter, Curlews probably breed and Pied Flycatcher and Wheatear have been seen on migration at Saltby.
Melton Country Park
A variety of scarce birds has been found on the lakes, and the surrounding parkland is also quite productive. There is a car park at SK 758 209.
Priory Water and Kirby Lakes
An excellent complex of gravel pits in the Wreake Valley near Asfordby. Priory Water is mostly private (it is managed by wildfowlers as a refuge), but part of it can be viewed from a public footpath at SK 713 185.
Kirby Lakes is a good site for Jack Snipe, and the sewage works have had Water Pipit and abietinus/tristis race Chiffchaffs in recent winters.
