Albert Village Lake
Grid ref: SK304175 (OS Landranger 128)
Location/Access
Albert Village Lake (AVL) is located on the western border of the county, three miles west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch and only a mile from Swadlincote in South Derbyshire.
This former opencast mining site has dedicated parking (daylight hours only) located on Occupation Road, Albert Village – SK 29860 17354, nearest post code DE11 8HF.
The site consists of a large central lake surrounded by gravelled walkways which are used widely by the general public. Early morning visits are best to pick up any avian waifs and strays, although gull numbers fluctuate throughout the day.
Birds
Worth a visit at any time of the year, the site was until recently noted for the variety and number of gulls that visited from the neighbouring landfill site, particularly in autumn and winter. This resulted in annual records of all of the scarcer species including Glaucous, Iceland, Caspian and Yellow-legged Gull. Work on the tip has recently ceased and the number and variety of gulls has as a result reduced. However, numbers are still good and a trip any time in the autumn or winter could deliver something of interest. In addition to the aforementioned, Mediterranean Gull is recorded several times each year and Kittiwake has been recorded in both the spring and autumn.
Wildfowl numbers fluctuate but the site often holds good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard, Little and Great Crested Grebe dependant on the season. Whooper Swan has been recorded on numerous occasions in November, along with Red-crested Pochard.
Common Terns are recorded throughout spring and summer, and a spring downpour can result in good numbers of Common interspersed with Arctic and the occasional Black Tern.
Spring wader passage can be slow and limited as a result of disturbance, but early mornings can still surprise, with most of the commoner passage waders recorded annually.
Winter finch flocks can include Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Brambling with birds frequenting the birch and alder trees surrounding the lake.
The ever-growing reedbed holds Reed Warbler in the summer and Water Rail year-round.
Rarities
Although limited by its recreational use, the site still boasts recent impressive records, including the first modern day county record of Great Reed Warbler and the always scarce Black-throated Diver, as well as recent records of Shag, Kittiwake, Sanderling and the previously mentioned gull species.
Marc Lansdowne
Sanderling