Escomb Lake

About the Site

Escomb Lake is a large lake situated on former sand and gravel workings. An impressive bird community is developing at the site and 56 species have been recorded to date. These include five species of goose; the greylag, the pink-footed, the bean, the barnacle and the Canada goose.

The Canada goose has been introduced from North America, and is now well established in Britain. It breeds successfully and can often outnumber native bird species. All other goose species found on the site are British natives. The barnacle goose is primarily an arctic species, and is at the southerly edge of its range here at Escomb Lake.

The lake is also home to great crested grebe, which have bred here in some years, little grebe, bittern and 12 species of duck, including wintering smew and common scoter. Waders include little ringed plover, redshank, greenshank, common sandpiper and green sandpiper. Common tern, osprey, kingfisher, swift, swallow, sand martin and house martin are amongst other species found on the lake.

Trees have been planted around the lake including oak, alder, rowan and field maple with shrubs such as willow, rose, hawthorn, hazel and guelder rose. The flora is not yet well developed, although features of interest include a small amount of reed canary grass on the northern side and wild carrot, which has colonised at the eastern end. Three species of rush occur in the lake margins. These are soft, hard and articulated rush. Brooklime can also be found at the site.

Escomb Lake

Location

Access to the site is by footpath from the village of Escomb. Escomb is located to the west of Bishop Auckland. Leave Bishop Auckland on the B6284. Turn right when the road meets the B6282 and right at the cross roads towards the village of Escomb. The footpath is located beside the public house. Grid reference: NZ 185 305

Facilities

None.

Enquiries

RMC Aggregates (Northern) Limited
Tirrem House
16 High Street
Yarm
Cleveland
TS15 9AE
Tel: 01642 787024