United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
209 bird species recorded; the most from April to May.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
129 species in January.146 species in February.136 species in March.161 species in April.150 species in May.129 species in June.124 species in July.137 species in August.133 species in September.136 species in October.124 species in November.128 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
VU
NTVU
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NTNTVUVU
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
209 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 209Speciesrecorded more than once
- 94Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 7ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 116,272Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 82 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 11Raptors
- 5Owls
- 34Waders
- 20Gulls & seabirds
- 36Ducks & geese
- 14Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 69Songbirds
- 19Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 209 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors11 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Waders34 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
Gulls & seabirds20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatus
Ducks & geese36 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Falcated DuckMareca falcata
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Marbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNT
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
Herons, ibises & grebes14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds69 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
Other birds19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- CootFulica atra
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- European SwiftApus apus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from April to May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan6°/1°58 mm
- Feb7°/1°50 mm
- Mar10°/2°49 mm
- Apr13°/4°44 mm
- May17°/7°59 mm
- Jun20°/10°66 mm
- Jul22°/12°69 mm
- Aug21°/12°72 mm
- Sep19°/9°49 mm
- Oct14°/7°72 mm
- Nov10°/4°66 mm
- Dec7°/2°64 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits.
Protected area in Northamptonshire, England
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
209 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 116,272 open records.
The most recorded are the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Common Wood Pigeon and the Mute Swan.
48 species come for the summer, 44 for the winter and 2 only pass through.
7 are threatened worldwide, including Common Pochard, Grey Plover and European Turtle Dove.
The most species are recorded from April to May.
Get there and watch
- Wicksteed Park Campingcampsite · 8.8 km · 4 within 10 km
- Travelodge Wellingborough Rushdenplace to stay · 1.8 km · 29 within 10 km
- Irthlingboroughnearest town · 2.4 km in a straight line
- London Luton Airport (LTN)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 52 km in a straight lineCar hire at LTN airport (Luton, Luton)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 8bird hides within 6 kmCharles Towler Hide, Paul Britten Hide, Pioneer Hide and 5 more
- 4marked trails within 4 kmNene Way, Ditchford Muddy Boot Trail, Lakes and Meadows Trail and 1 more
- 2visitor centres within 6 kmNene Wetlands Visitor Centre, Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre
- 2viewpoints within 5 kmThe Quarry Face, The Dragline View Point
- 67car parks within 3 km
- 47restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 4campsites within 10 kmWicksteed Park Camping, Grendon Lake Camping and 2 more
- 29places to stay within 10 kmTravelodge Wellingborough Rushden, The Old House, The Green Dragon and 26 more
- observation towers within 6 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Lakeyas1 lakes within 15 kmSywell Reservoir0.3 km² · 10 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
United Kingdom
- 79Birdyas Score
- 209Species
- 94Migrants
- 7Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q28407031) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 116,272 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Islandyas, Lakeyas, Riveryas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit 
mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit