Prior's Fen
by George Walthew, revised 6/2/02 by Steve Dudley
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PBC Where to Watch Birds Prior's Fen by George Walthew, revised 6/2/02 by Steve Dudley |
| Sightings for past week: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past month: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past year: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
Prior's Fen lies just east of Peterborough between the A47 in the north, the River Nene in the south, the B1040 road from Thorney to Whittlesey in the east, and Willow Hall Lane in the west. A ditch known as Thorney Dike runs from Prior's Farm on Willow Hall Lane to Stone Bridge Corner on the B1040 and forms the northern boundary of the site.
Gravel extraction began at the site in the late 1980s immediately behind Prior's Farm on Willow Hall Lane and the latest workings are now close to the B1040. Much of the older workings have been filled in and returned to agriculture but four areas of water remain. At the western end of the site are Farm Pit (small pit next to the public footpath) and West Pit (with many islands but sadly private) - which together are also known as Prior's Farm Lakes. Further to the east are Middle Pit and East pit (Stone Bridge Lakes) which form a larger area of water. East Pit has several islands. These were once one large lake, but in the spring of 2001 it was divided into two with a track across the shallowest part. Gravel extraction is now continuing to the south of these lakes.
This site has arguably become the local bird "hotspot" since the demise of the other gravel pits along the Nene (North Bank, Tanholt, Drysides, Ferry Meadows, not to mention the old Sewage Farm at Fengate). Largely overlooked during the nineties during the decline of the other gravel pits, it was only "rediscovered" in 2000/1 and seems to be living up to the reputation of the Nene pits of the 1980s!
Very good for waterfowl in winter with good numbers of Tufted Ducks and Coots. Mute Swans by the hundred, with Bewick's and Whoopers, are drawn by potatoes dumped by the lakes, possibly deliberately to attract them. Other ducks such as Pochard and Goldeneye are present in smaller numbers along with a flock of 300 or more geese. Scaup were recorded in 2001 and a group of six Smew were present in January/February 2002.
At migration time any wader can turn up, with such locally rare species at Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Grey Plover all recorded in 2001. A good flock of Ruff with numbers into the thirties was present in the autumn of 2001 from late July. Other local rarities seen in 2001 included Black Tern, Bearded Tit and Lapland Bunting.
In summer there are the usual wetland species with good numbers of Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and even Corn Bunting. A feature of the site in summer is a colony of Black-headed Gulls on the lakes' islands, which has attracted Mediterranean Gull in the past.
The site is accessible via the footpath which follows Thorney Dike between Willow Hall Lane and the B1040. The site is best accessed from the Thorney to Whittlesey Road (B1040). Willow Hall Lane is a single-track road with and parking is restricted around the access point at Prior's Farm.
Park at Stone Bridge Corner junction with Thorney Dike Road (the only surfaced road leaving the B1040 eastwards) near the telephone box. Cross the B1040 to where the path is marked with a fingerpost and style. Cross Thorney Dike by the World War II pillbox and walk along the south bank of the dike across two arable fields to the pits. A grass track continues along the dike westwards becoming a dirt track at the end of the East Pit which continues past Middle and Farm Pits to Prior's Farm.
East, Middle and Farm Pits are all viewable from the public right of way. There is no public access to West Pit.
The best areas for waders are the western end of Middle Pit where shallow islands appear when the water is low, and the shallow edges of the large islands and shoreline of East Pit.
