Chew Valley Lake is a semi-natural reservoir ten miles south of Bristol, and is the largest lake in south-west England.

What to see in summer at Chew:

Mute Swan - Usually at least 100 birds as non-breeders arrive to moult.
Canada Goose - Numbers build up from June as moulting birds arrive to spend the summer.
Gadwall - Look out for them on Herriott's Pool - numbers should increase through June and July.
Common Scoter - Perhaps surprisingly, June is the best month - we often get small groups of drakes drop in for a day.
Black-tailed Godwit - The last few years have seen small groups spend a few days on Herriott's Pool - perhaps we may get some again this year?
Green Sandpiper - Usually the first 'proper' passage wader to come through - they should start to appear by July.
Black-headed Gull - Look out for the first juveniles from the third week of June.
Yellow-legged Gull - One or two non-breeding birds should appear; look for them perched on bouys in the middle of the lake first thing in the mornings.
Common Tern - Usually a few birds pass through, either late migrants or failed breeders. Any Chlidonias terns in June should be carefully checked!
Swift - Poor weather brings several thousand feeding birds to the lake.
Reed Warbler - Chew's commonest breeding bird - the reedbeds will be full of them.


Other flora and fauna:

Black-tailed Skimmer - Look for them from mid-June; places like Herriott's and Heron's Green Pool are usually good.
Red-eared Terrapin - Usually seen basking on emergent branches in the channel at Herriott's Bridge - up to six were seen last year.
Purple Hairstreak - Usually reliable in the old Nunnery car park by the B3114; climb to the top of the gravel pile at the far end and look on the ash trees.
Painted Lady - Often good numbers if we get an influx; places like Villice meadows and Moreton are quite good - look for stands of fleabane or water mint.
Silver Y - As above - often flushed from any long grass or other lakeside vegetation