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Chew Valley Lake is a semi-natural reservoir ten miles south of Bristol, and it's the largest lake in south-west England. This website contains frequently updated news and information on its birds and wildlife, access, maps, photos, historical records and the definitive Chew bird list.

JULY at Chew
Moulting flocks of Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Gadwall and Great Crested Grebe should be noticeable - there might even be a few scarcities such as a Garganey or Common Scoter. The increasing evening flocks of gulls should include the first Mediterranean Gulls of the autumn, and if the water levels start to drop, then Bernard King hide and Villice Bay might be the best places to look for waders. Green Sandpipers will be among the first to appear, along with 'local' species such as LRP, Lapwing, Redshank and Common Sandpiper. Perhaps the first Black Terns will be through by the end of the month.

You might see these:
Canada Goose - A big moulting flock should be on the lake. Check them for the occasional exotic!
Gadwall - There should be a build-up of moulting birds as the month goes by - there could be over a hundred on Herriott's Pool by the end of the month
Ferruginous Duck - Check the Aythya flocks at Stratford Bay and Herriott's - the usual male is likely to be around somewhere
Common Scoter - Sometimes a few appear for a day as they move through (usually drakes)
Hobby - Keep an eye out as they could be around any time
Coot - Numbers should build up to well over a thousand as birds arrive to moult
Green Sandpiper - The first returning ones should trickle through at anytime
Yellow-legged Gull - One or two birds should appear; look for them perched on bouys in the middle of the lake first thing in the mornings
Common Tern - Usually a few birds pass through

Also:
Red-eared Terrapin - An introduced species. In hot weather they like to sun themselves at the waters edge - check any exposed logs or branches looking north from Herriott's Bridge
Purple Hairstreak - Usually reliable in the old Nunnery car park by the B3114; climb to the top of the gravel pile at the far end and look on the ash trees
Lunar Hornet Moth - Difficult to find, but check the base of sallows in the morning and you may catch one of these impressive wasp-mimics after they hatch out from inside the tree trunk!