Neatholme Scrape (IVNR)

Access limited to two viewing screens along the western boundary fence, from a bench overlooking the scrape from Neatholme Lane and at several points along the River Idle eastern flood bank track. Former gravel quarry now fully restored. The grazing of cattle and sheep on this area helps to keep vegetation down but willow and birch regrowth needs to be kept in check. The scrape is large, deep in places with lots of shallow margins and plenty of established reed pockets.

Breeding wetland birds include Avocet, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, Wigeon and Common Tern. The scrub and grassland surrounding the scrape holds breeding Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. Raptors can be seen here throughout the year with Hobby and Marsh Harrier often hunting here in spring and summer with regular Peregrine sightings in winter. Winter also finds large numbers of wildfowl present plus roosting Whooper Swans, gulls and geese. Short-eared Owl, Bittern, Stonechat and Hen Harrier have often been recorded during winter months. Spring and autumn migration see good numbers of passage terns, gulls and waders, most notably Arctic Tern, Black Tern, Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Turnstone and Temminck’s Stint.

Rarities

Rarities have included:

• Ring-billed Gull (1990)
• Red-necked Phalarope (1991)
• Razorbill (1992)
• Caspian Tern (1998)
• Gull-billed Tern (2006 and 2015)
• Lesser Scaup (2013)
• American Wigeon
• Green-winged Teal and Great White Egret (2016).

Scarcities

Scarce species have included:

• Garganey
• Black-necked Grebe
• Red-necked Grebe
• Tundra Bean Goose
• Pectoral Sandpiper
• Grey Phalarope
• Shag
• Cetti’s Warbler
• Bearded Tit (2016)