Birds and Walking at the Lower Mill Estate

picture of the cottages

Thames Path Cottages provides an ideal spot to start your exploration of Old Father Thames as they are on the Thames Path and within striking distance on foot to the source some 5 miles away near the Thames Head pub where the river begins its 154-mile journey to London Bridge.

For the bird watcher who wishes to have a relaxing few days the 450 acre estate with three private hides on your doorstep has an abundance of bird varieties to see and for those wishing to go a little further the Cotswold Water Park and surrounding area provides even greater opportunities to see some UK rarities like the Yellow-browed Warbler, Squacco Heron, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Black Tern, both male and female Red-footed Falcons, Pied-billed Grebe (Wiltshire only) Spoonbills and Little Egrets.

A neighbour of ours (keen bird watcher) has kindly given us his list of the birds he has seen since moving in 2001 and we hope you will manage to find them on your stay as well.

picture of the cottages

All Year

Great Crested Grebe,Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red Headed Potchard, Coot, Moor Hen, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Barn Owl, Chaffinch, Dunnock, LongTailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Buzzard

Spring

Garganey, Common Tern,Black Tern, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Swift

picture of the cottages

Summer

Hobby,Red - Footed Falcon, Cuckoo, Nightingale, Sedge warbler, Reed Warbler,Reed Bunting, Garden warbler, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Purple Heron, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Various Waders

Winter

Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Goldeneye, Smew, Goosander, Water Rail, Stonechat, Red Throated Diver

picture of the cottages

Seen at Waterhay Hide

Ruff, Turnstone, Shellduck, Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Settis Warbler, Garder Warbler, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Ringed Plover, Lapwing