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Home How to Join Photo Gallery Bird News Club News Where to go Birding County List Rarity Decisions Talks Walks Links		HANKRIDGE FARM, TAUNTON Click here to open up a map of the site. Note that you can move around the area by using the buttons around the map and enlarge or reduce the scale by using the buttons below the map. Click on your back button to return to this page. MAP REFERENCES O.S. Landranger 193 Taunton and Lyme Regis Car Parking in the area of ST255255 INTRODUCTION Taunton will never rival Weymouth for urban birdwatching. Nevertheless, birds as interesting as spotted crake, golden oriole and wryneck have been seen close to the town centre. Along the River Tone, which bisects the town, and the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal, which begins at Firepool Locks, reed and sedge warblers breed. Scrub along the railway holds whitethroat, blackcap and a variety of common species. Spectators at the County Cricket Ground have been treated to soaring buzzards, hobby, sparrowhawk and peregrine, which are regularly seen around the church towers. At Hankridge Farm, flood prevention works have created an interesting area of lake and slow moving water, bordered by reedbed, in a parkland setting. Far enough removed from traffic noise, a peaceful two hours or so birding can be enjoyed here . ACCESS There is ample free parking at, or around, the entertainment and eating complexes at Hankridge (Odeon, MacDonald's etc) and it is possible, though hardly necessary, to park safely at points on the main access roads. A circuit of the lake can be made by crossing the stile on to the A38 by Bathpool Bridge and walking left at the Creech Castle traffic lights, returning to the lakeside behind the Italian restaurant. If time is not pressing, public footpaths along the river in both directions can be walked, towards Ruishton and Creech St.Michael eastwards, or directly into the town centre. Just beyond the motorway bridge and underpass, an area of scrub borders a public footpath next to the Blackbrook. In winter, a short walk along here (towards the main J25 exit roundabout) may produce wintering chiffchaffs and mixed tit flocks, oblivious to the thundering traffic a few yards away. SPECIES TO BE SEEN With its varied habitat, the site attracts a good number of common resident breeding species and summer visitors. Mute Swan and great crested grebes attempt to breed most years, but are often thwarted by flooding. There is a healthy population of reed and sedge warblers. The bushes hold whitethroat, blackcap and, on migration, lesser whitethroat which may have bred here or nearby. Kingfishers are regularly seen, have bred, and probably do so here or not far away most years. Disturbance does affect wader passage, but greenshank, green and common sandpipers and little stint have all been recorded. Doubtless dawn visits in season would be fruitful. Many of the local mallards are, as in most parks, of dubious pedigree and enjoy being fed. The occasional pochard and tufted duck drop in from time to time, but rarely stay long. The area has the potential to attract a genuine rarity, and scarce species recorded include red-necked grebe and marsh harrier. A small party of waxwings paused here briefly during the recent invasion. TIMING Spring and summer sees the greatest variety of species. Breeding hirundines, and those on passage, hawk insects above the water and may, rarely, attract the attention of a hobby in late summer. A small gull roost peaks in early spring, and could well repay regular observation. Small numbers of chiffchaff and blackcap may be seen in winter. Very early morning and late evening visits avoid casual walkers and people exercising dogs. ATTRACTIONS NEARBY Nearby there is a small colony of Sand Martins. Open fields between the Creech Castle Hotel and Taunton still hold at least a pair of skylark, but they will soon be lost to encroaching development. The nearby large, modern, Blackbrook Housing Estate, typical of so many is, at the very least, a lucky place for birders. Waxwings have invaded Chestnut Drive on two separate occasions (albeit at different ends!) and rose-coloured starlings have also visited. OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST Herbicides are used sparingly, and botanists could well find plants of interest. The site is good for dragonflies and other insects. Otters transit, but the chances of seeing one are very slim. Mink are much more likely. Foxes pillage the rubbish bins, often topped to overflowing with fast-food leftovers. Despite the urban proximity, roe deer are frequently seen on late summer evenings, especially in fields on the opposite bank of the River Tone. The area is excellent for bats, and until recent bridge strengthening occasioned their removal, bat boxes adorned the motorway underpass. Brian Hill
(c) Somerset Ornithological Society

HANKRIDGE FARM, TAUNTON

Click here to open up a map of the site. Note that you can move around the area by using the buttons around the map and enlarge or reduce the scale by using the buttons below the map. Click on your back button to return to this page.

MAP REFERENCES

O.S. Landranger 193 Taunton and Lyme Regis

Car Parking in the area of ST255255

INTRODUCTION

Taunton will never rival Weymouth for urban birdwatching. Nevertheless, birds as interesting as spotted crake, golden oriole and wryneck have been seen close to the town centre. Along the River Tone, which bisects the town, and the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal, which begins at Firepool Locks, reed and sedge warblers breed. Scrub along the railway holds whitethroat, blackcap and a variety of common species. Spectators at the County Cricket Ground have been treated to soaring buzzards, hobby, sparrowhawk and peregrine, which are regularly seen around the church towers. At Hankridge Farm, flood prevention works have created an interesting area of lake and slow moving water, bordered by reedbed, in a parkland setting. Far enough removed from traffic noise, a peaceful two hours or so birding can be enjoyed here .

ACCESS

There is ample free parking at, or around, the entertainment and eating complexes at Hankridge (Odeon, MacDonald's etc) and it is possible, though hardly necessary, to park safely at points on the main access roads. A circuit of the lake can be made by crossing the stile on to the A38 by Bathpool Bridge and walking left at the Creech Castle traffic lights, returning to the lakeside behind the Italian restaurant. If time is not pressing, public footpaths along the river in both directions can be walked, towards Ruishton and Creech St.Michael eastwards, or directly into the town centre. Just beyond the motorway bridge and underpass, an area of scrub borders a public footpath next to the Blackbrook. In winter, a short walk along here (towards the main J25 exit roundabout) may produce wintering chiffchaffs and mixed tit flocks, oblivious to the thundering traffic a few yards away.

SPECIES TO BE SEEN

With its varied habitat, the site attracts a good number of common resident breeding species and summer visitors. Mute Swan and great crested grebes attempt to breed most years, but are often thwarted by flooding. There is a healthy population of reed and sedge warblers. The bushes hold whitethroat, blackcap and, on migration, lesser whitethroat which may have bred here or nearby. Kingfishers are regularly seen, have bred, and probably do so here or not far away most years. Disturbance does affect wader passage, but greenshank, green and common sandpipers and little stint have all been recorded. Doubtless dawn visits in season would be fruitful. Many of the local mallards are, as in most parks, of dubious pedigree and enjoy being fed. The occasional pochard and tufted duck drop in from time to time, but rarely stay long. The area has the potential to attract a genuine rarity, and scarce species recorded include red-necked grebe and marsh harrier. A small party of waxwings paused here briefly during the recent invasion.

TIMING

Spring and summer sees the greatest variety of species. Breeding hirundines, and those on passage, hawk insects above the water and may, rarely, attract the attention of a hobby in late summer. A small gull roost peaks in early spring, and could well repay regular observation. Small numbers of chiffchaff and blackcap may be seen in winter. Very early morning and late evening visits avoid casual walkers and people exercising dogs.

ATTRACTIONS NEARBY

Nearby there is a small colony of Sand Martins. Open fields between the Creech Castle Hotel and Taunton still hold at least a pair of skylark, but they will soon be lost to encroaching development. The nearby large, modern, Blackbrook Housing Estate, typical of so many is, at the very least, a lucky place for birders. Waxwings have invaded Chestnut Drive on two separate occasions (albeit at different ends!) and rose-coloured starlings have also visited.

OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST

Herbicides are used sparingly, and botanists could well find plants of interest. The site is good for dragonflies and other insects. Otters transit, but the chances of seeing one are very slim. Mink are much more likely. Foxes pillage the rubbish bins, often topped to overflowing with fast-food leftovers. Despite the urban proximity, roe deer are frequently seen on late summer evenings, especially in fields on the opposite bank of the River Tone. The area is excellent for bats, and until recent bridge strengthening occasioned their removal, bat boxes adorned the motorway underpass.

Brian Hill