With a small Heronry on the island, visible from the visitor centre, the mere is worth a visit at any time of year. In the winter it is particularly good for gulls with a large roost often containing some of the rarer species, and usually has a range of wintering ducks including Goosander, Smew. Wintering Cormorants have a roost here but keep an eye open for the occasional diver.
Ellesmere is well-known for its collection of glacial lakes, including the Mere, but just a short distance away lies a man-made lake which in just a few years has become one of the best bird-watching sites in Shropshire.
In five years, Wood Lane has become a haven for long-legged water birds, with spring and autumn visitors including greenshank, redshank, whimbrel, dunlin, green sandpiper and little stint. These use the site as somewhere to rest during migration, while the variety of ducks to be seen are visitors all year round.