Orchardleigh Lake

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Orchardleigh Lake (grid reference ST779508) is an 11 hectare artificial lake in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate, just north of Frome, Somerset, England. It was formed by damming a tributary of the River Frome. Today, the lake is used for angling, and also birdwatching.

[edit] Orchardleigh Lake birds

In 1932 a pair of Black-necked Grebes bred at the lake, the only occasion on which this species has been recorded breeding in Somerset. The lake regularly hosts small numbers of common waterfowl, including breeding Little and Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swan, and wintering Tufted Duck and Pochard.

Rarer species have been found occasionally: in March 1997 a drake Ring-necked Duck was present, and in September 2005 a Great White Egret occurred.