Langford Lakes Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve, 9 August 2026

Above: Migrant Hawker © Phillip Delve

Leader: Phillip Delve

Langford Lakes Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserve lies on the River Wylye flood plain, some 12 miles north west of Salisbury. Seven of us met at the reserve car park where we were lucky to see a Marsh Tit  feeding on Elderflower berries.

From here, we followed a permissive path across a sheep-grazed meadow, then followed a chalk stream. Brown Hawkers were flying over the open flood plain here, where plants including Purple Loosestrife, Hemp Agrimony, Comfrey, Common Valerian and Wild Angelica were growing. Into the reserve proper, we followed a wooded path, along the south side of the reserve, to a hide overlooking Long Pond. Out on the lake were Mallards and Tufted Ducks in moult, Coot and Great Crested Grebes with chicks. Close to the hide, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral butterflies were attracted to flowers of  Common Fleabane and Mint growing among the sedges.

Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Emperor Dragonflies patrolled the lakeside. At the east end of Long Pond we stopped at a second hide.  A Common Blue and Small Heath were added to our butterfly list. Behind the hide we found both a Wall butterfly and a Jersey Tiger moth at rest.

At the east end of the reserve is a reed bed, created to process sewage from Hanging Langford and enhance biodiversity.  Beyond is another hide, constructed to overlook a purpose-made scrape. Birds seen from this hide: Green and Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, roosting Lapwings, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, and very many Canada Geese.  Swallows and House Martins occasionally visited the pool, but were generally distant and flying high.

We returned to our cars westward, following the track along the north side of Long Lake, and south of the other lakes on the reserve. The lakes to the north are bounded by tall trees, mainly poplars, providing a different habitat.

Additional species seen included: Long Tailed, Great and Blue Tits, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Robins, Wrens, Magpies, Crows, Wood Pigeons. A Kingfisher was nice to see along with Cormorants, Mute Swans, Herons on Brockbank Lake. There were also Red-eyed Damselflies on lily pads here.

We finished our meeting by the River Wylye near the reserve entrance. From a small wooden bridge we could see several Trout in this chalk stream; then from the road bridge a Grey Wagtail. Rob Hargreaves also saw a Spotted Flycatcher here.

Phillip Delve 

Rob Hargreaves noted the following from 49 taxa:

4 Sand Martin
6 Barn Swallow
5 Western House Martin
10 Common Chiffchaff
13 Long-tailed Tit
2 Eurasian Blackcap
2 Goldcrest
2 Eurasian Treecreeper
4 Eurasian Wren
1 Eurasian Blackbird
2 Spotted Flycatcher
3 European Robin
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtail
2 Common Chaffinch
1 European Greenfinch