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Watermead
Watermead is on the outskirts of Aylesbury, and has two lakes that attract a lot of waterfowl. You can walk round 90% of the two lakes, most of it being a footpath through trees, shrubs, grass and marshy land. It's not too far from the town centre, and has a regular bus service.
On one side of the largest lake are some benches, the Riviera restaurant (and coffee shop), and the old artificial ski slope. Coffee's not a bad price, and you can sit outdoors to look over the lake. Quite often I've seen Muntjac deer on the grassy ski slope at dawn.
Bear brook runs across the front of the Riviera and it's car park. There is a public car park on the opposite side of the largest lake, as well as a pub with outdoors lake side seating, a newsagents (sells bread!), a craft/gifts shop, chip shop, vets, dentists, hairdressers, and a fountain. Beside the fountain are some benches and large steps which go down to the lake and that you can sit on. This is a popular place for families to feed the wildlife.
Heading round the lake from the Riviera is a grassy area where the Canada Geese like to graze. A couple of benches provide the ideal place to sit down, take some photos, and meet the local waterfowl. As with waterfowl anywhere, be sure not to feed them mouldy bread - it is poisonous to them.
The photos opposite are taken from those benches. There are Canada Geese, Swans and Black-headed gulls in their winter plumage in the top photo. The other side of the lake is the residential and shops area. A footpath takes you between the housing and the lake most of the way, but there is a short stretch where you have to take to a roads pavement.
A Cormorant is often to be seen on the white buoy over towards the shops side. I was very surprised the first time I saw it. And still am really. More recently i've seen it flying above the Broughton Crossing Lakes and nearby stretch of the Aylesbury Arm.
Cormorant
Black-headed gulls Heading on round the lake you pass through a lightly wooded section popular with Great Tits and Magpies, before coming to Robins Bay, where you will find a memorial bench. There's a clear stretch down to the water which makes it a nice place for a picnic, watching wildlife, or just to sit down. It's also quite a good spot for sketching or painting.
Great-crested Grebe
The Bear Brook follows the footpath round to the back of the lake, passing through another lightly wooded area which includes some Silver Birch. Fields stretch off one way beside the road towards Buckingham. And a few unofficial paths take you down to the lake or Bear Brook to the right, before the footpath ends and you have to take the pavement to continue round the other side of the lake.
More photos:
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