Record number of rare birds at Kings Dyke Nature Reserve

Former Forterra clay extraction site sees unprecedented influx of bird species in 2025 

FORTERRA marked World Nature Conservation Day (28 July) with uplifting biodiversity news from their Kings Dyke Nature Reserve in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. The reserve, a former clay extraction site now transformed into a thriving wetland habitat, has seen an unprecedented influx of bird species in 2025.

A total of four new species has been recorded by the site’s dedicated volunteers, which is double the usual yearly average and a record for the site.

Among the new arrivals are two red-footed falcons, spotted as part of a wider national influx into the UK, and a Savi’s warbler, an elusive summer visitor rarely encountered in Britain. A wood sandpiper, a scarce wader, was also recorded in April. Most recently, a purple heron was seen in the reed beds; once a rarity in the UK, this bird is now slowly becoming more established.

These additions bring the site’s identified bird species total to 170, reflecting the exceptional quality of habitat management at Kings Dyke and the long-standing commitment of local conservationists.

Phil Parker, Forterra’s ecological advisor, said: ‘This year’s sightings are a powerful reminder of what carefully managed post-industrial land can offer in terms of biodiversity. The reed beds, open water, and scrub mosaics at Kings Dyke are attracting rare birds and sustaining them. The success of the site reflects decades of community effort and a broader industry shift towards ecological restoration.’

Kings Dyke has long been recognized for its biodiversity value. In 2018, the site hosted a 24h BioBlitz, led by BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, which recorded more than 1,100 species in a single day, far more than any other site surveyed that year.