Tring Reservoirs attract all kinds of wildlife and are recognised as one of the best sites in the region for wintering wildfowl. The reed beds hold breeding warblers and Reed Buntings in the summer and one of the largest heronries in Herts is at Wilstone Reservoir. Autumn and spring migration can bring in some exciting birds making Tring Reservoirs worth a visit at any time of year. The area around the reservoirs is also rich in canal heritage with numerous locks and colourful narrow boats.There are four reservoirs, Wilstone, Marsworth, Startops and Tringford, each with a different character. A network of footpaths and canal towpaths make it possible to take a short walk around one of the reservoirs in an hour or two or explore the reservoirs fully in a day. See the map below for possible routes.
 | ||
| W=Wilstone Reservoir | S=Startops End Reservoir | M=Marsworth Reservoir |
| T=Tringford Reservoir | wtw=Thames Water Lagoon (water treatment works) | |
| Winter : Large numbers of wintering
wildfowl on the open water including Shoveler, Teal, Goldeneye, Goosander, Smew (occasional) Thousands of gulls come to roost on open water and Starlings,
Reed Buntings and Corn Buntings roost in the reed beds especially at Marsworth. Lapwing and Golden Plover flocks rest at Wilstone reservoir when not feeding in the surrounding fields. Bittern and Water Rail are in the reed beds and may be heard in the early morning or as evening draws in. Little Owls breed around the reservoirs but are most easily seen in the winter, sitting in the old leafless willows. | Spring : Grey Herons build large nests in the small trees at the heronry at Wilstone and by
April the first scruffy chicks can be seen from the bank. Watch for Hobbies and hundreds of Sand Martins, House Martins, Swallows and Swifts catching insects over the water, feeding up after their long journey north. Migrating Arctic Terns, Black Terns and Little Terns pass through in spring while Common Terns arrive for the summer. Passage birds include Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Redshank and Osprey. Singing Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats establish their territories in the hedgerows along the canals and Orange Tip butterflies are common. Yellow Wagtails are often seen on the grassy banks and in the horse fields surrounding Marsworth reservoir. | |
| Autumn : Passage waders can be numerous if water levels are
low, exposing the mud to Greenshank, Redshank, Little Stint, Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpipers. Hobbies gather to prey on the large flocks of hirundines and spectacular views may be had from the hide at Wilstone. Wildfowl such as Wigeon and Shoveler start to arrive back from their breeding grounds. Large rafts of Great Crested Grebes gather at Wilstone. Meadow and Rock Pipits are found around the edges of the reservoirs on passage. Comma butterflies feed on blackberries. Large Migrant Hawker dragonflies patrol the paths around Wilstone. |
| |
| Summer : Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and
Reed Bunting nest in the reeds. Cuckoos call from their perches in the trees above the reed beds. Herons fish along the canals and by mid summer the adults will be joined by young herons in their greyer plumage. Look closely at the Great Crested Grebes they may be carrying a black and white striped chick on their back. Black-tail Skimmers and Common Blue Damselflies hover over the water margins and grassy banks, while Ruddy and Common Darters can be found sunbathing in the hedgerows. Watch out for Common Terns fishing over the reservoirs and canals. | ||
There are two pubs and a tearoom by the Startops Reservoir car park and other pubs in Marsworth village, Wilstone village and at Bulbourne. They all serve food and can be incorporated in a circular walk using footpaths and canal towpaths. After you have finished your visit to the reservoirs, why not visit the Walter Rothschild Natural History Museum in nearby Tring?
