Porth Reservoir - a haven for wildlife, walking and fishing

The reservoir is a haven for wildlife, whether you are into bird watching, fishing or simply walking and enjoying the view.

The reservoir boasts walks and a nature reserve which has been designated a wild bird sanctuary. Grab your binoculars and cameras and capture some of this abundant avian community. Permanent residents throughout the year are the Mallard Duck, Coots, Tufted Duck and Moorhens, which glide peacefully over the water, occasionally ducking and diving for food. Be prepared for the quick blue flash of the Kingfisher as it hunts for its daily meals. This nifty little bird is not much bigger than a house sparrow, but with its bright turquoise wings and back, orange “underpants” and white bib, it stands out bold and clear against the water. Although it is something of a speed merchant, it does occasionally hover above the water's surface, so be sure you have your camera at the ready!

In the trees you may hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering away, or the sweet trill of a Goldcrest, the UK's smallest songbird. You’ll have to watch closely to see this songster because its back is dull green, which is perfect camouflage in woodland areas, although if you look carefully you will see the distinctive orange or yellow stripe on the crown. It is a sociable little bird, and in winter will join with flocks of tits and other woodland species.

If you’re serious about bird watching you will pay close attention to the seasons to spot the migratory birds. During the spring and summer you can expect to see Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Nuthatch. As the autumn moves in, so do the Water Rail and Pochard, and coming down from the north in the winter are the Widgeon and Goosander, although these are rare birds and you will have to be either very lucky or very vigilant to spot them. Buzzards, Sparrow Hawks and the occasional Osprey also fly over the valley. The bird hides around the reservoir will allow you to watch unobserved and a telephoto lens on your camera should ensure some cracking natural wildlife shots.

Birds are not the only species to watch out for. Be vigilant as you tread on the grass: you may be stepping on a slow worm or common lizard. It is also not impossible to encounter a grass snake from March to October when they emerge from hibernation. Take care, although these slithery reptiles will play dead if they think you are a predator and their venom is supposed to harm only small animals, children have been known to have suffered bad swellings if bitten. The Cornwall Reptile and Amphibian Group is conducting a survey at present on the grass snake and its habitat as it seems to be an elusive character, even though it is pretty fussy about where it lives. The snake grows to a metre or more and has a bright yellow collar behind its head. If you do spot one while in Cornwall the group would love to hear from you. Log onto www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/crag/ for more information.

Dragonflies and Damselflies make their home in the grasslands and around the open water. Try and spot the Brown Hawker Dragonfly, a large red-brown insect with two pale yellow stripes on its throat and yellow tinted wings, which has a penchant for water and open ground but is not averse to towns either, so keep a check on your back garden when you return home. The Common Blue Damselfly looks like a very elegant lady in a bright blue and black striped shift dress, hence its name. If you own an SLR camera, use a telephoto lens to capture this beauty because if you come too close she will escape you.

The Speckled Wood butterfly also flutters among the foliage near the water’s edge, a home it shares with many varieties of moths. The mild spring this year meant these creatures appeared far sooner than they have in the past, and this looks set to continue. Similarly, while they migrate during the winter months, warmer autumns mean they should now stay around past their normal migratory date of late October. If we saw roses, as I did in my garden last December, who is to say we won’t see dragonflies as well?

If you are an angler, you will be in your element here, whether you are competitive or just want to fish for fun, and you won’t be short of space either. Two miles of the bankside is open 24/7, all year round, for coarse fishing. Expect to hook Bream, Rudd, Tench and Carp. Permits are £5 a day for each person from the self-service permit room in the car park, with a free pass for children under 12 when accompanied by a fee-paying adult. There are platforms with linked surface paths leading from the car park to the water’s edge for wheelchair users.

It’s important that you use the appropriate techniques and tackle according to the species of fish you are trying to catch, and you can ask advice from a South West Lakes Trust ranger on 01209 860301 or at any local tackle shop. For further information on the reservoir and angling, log onto www.swlakestrust.org.uk