It is the equivalent of a migrating bird motel - but for the managers of Southwold Boating Lake, their temporary guests are not good news. Over an extremely dry summer the water in the boating lake has slowly but surely been disappearing.

It is the equivalent of a migrating bird motel - but for the managers of Southwold Boating Lake, their temporary guests are not good news.

Over an extremely dry summer the water in the boating lake has slowly but surely been disappearing. At the end of June the water was so low, Paul and Pam Jackson, who lease the lake from Waveney District Council, could no longer hire boats out for fear of people getting stuck in the mud.

But while children eager for a go in a pedalo left long-faced, flocks of wading birds en route to sunnier winter climes spotted the shallow water and started dropping in for a rest.

Now, instead of holidaymakers hiring boats popping into the couple's café on the lake, it is birdwatchers keen on spying a rare species.

Mr Jackson said: "We haven't been able to put the boats out since July, and even when we could put the boats out we have had to rescue a few bigger people who got stuck in the shallow water.

"We have had a lot of wading birds and birdwatchers coming in. You can see the birds walking around on what should be a three feet deep lake in less than six inches of water.

"We don't mind the birds, but in reality we want our boats on the lake.

"Between the water levels and the beach closure we have had a terrible year. There is a sea connection, so the lake can be topped up with sea water, but it has broken.

"Now we are hoping the council will do something about it before we lose our entire season."

Waveney District Council spokes-man, David Holland, said: "We are aware that there has been a problem with the water levels in the boating lake and we had it dredged two years ago, so this latest drought is a problem.

"We are currently investigating the possibility of doing something such as pumping seawater into the lake but we need to look at feasibility and costs."

Meanwhile, the mud flats and shallow water could remain a wading bird habitat into the autumn.

RSPB spokesman Chris Durdin said: "This is quite typical. Wading birds will often look for temporary habitats at this time of year because they are migrating long distances from north to south.

"And because this boating lake is by the coast on the migration route, birds are more likely to find it.

"Many will be travelling from Iceland and Scandinavia, often on their way to parts of Africa. They will probably stay a few days and rest and then fly off again."

Last night Chris Bell, weather forecaster for WeatherQuest, said: "I'm not surprised the water is low.

"To begin with, last winter was very dry - areas were running at 30 to 40pc below average for rainfall which is when lakes would stock themselves.

"Then we have had a dry summer. It has stayed dry through July and on top of that it has been very, very hot which will have enhanced the problem.

"But we have rain predicted for the rest of this week, and we have had a wet August so far so in general the situation should improve."