Wiltshire Ornithological Society

Where to Find Your Own Birds in Wiltshire

Despite not having a coastline, Wiltshire can provide some surprisingly good birdwatching. On this page we describe a few sites that are worth investigating at this time of the year that can provide a wide range of species and one could easily see something a little unusual.

Liddington Hill

This ancient fortification lies between Swindon and the Marlborough Downs and can be seen from the M4. From the M4, head south towards Marlborough. Just as you leave the village of Chiseldon turn left at SU193794 and park at SU218804. Follow the footpath south-west up to the castle and then explore the whole area. This area is good from July onwards for Redstarts, Wheatears and Yellow Wagtails but is best known locally as THE place to see Ring Ousels. Tree Pipits are often heard flying over and there is also a very healthy population of Yellowhammers, Linnets and a few Corn Buntings.

Cotswold Water Park

The best places in the Cotswold Water Park in the Autumn are lakes 95, 68C and 74.

Lake 74 is known as Twitchers Gate and is best when there are storms driving seabirds inland or when there are low pressure systems from the continent pushing species such as Black Terns through. This is the best lake to see Black Tern in the right conditions.

Lake 68C is accessed from Waterhay Bridge car park just south of Ashton Keynes. Most of the area is covered in reeds but this site has a proven track record for producing waders and is by far the best site to see Green Sandpipers. The reed beds play host to large numbers of warblers from July until September.

Lake 95 is a private site but a permissive footpath runs along its north side. This lake is new and thus has low water levels with little vegetation and is the spot to see waders at the moment. This is the most likely site to produce something different.