Your favourite hide.

[Deb London]

I love the modern Butts hide (is it really called that ) at Rainham Marshes.
Warm, light, great views, silent window opening, disabled access.

Strangely, I also find the atmosphere at the one on Wilstone Reservoir very comfortable and relaxing. This one's far more basic, spiderified, pokey (cosy?), with not so much as cushions on the seats.

I'm quite influenced by the "feng shui" of a hide. I know I should choose the position for best birdwatching when inside, but find myself drawn to the warmest, lightest spot, often in a corner, where I can open windows facing different ways to get a better, all-round view.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I love the modern Butts hide (is it really called that ) at Rainham Marshes.

LOL! In case anyone doesn't know, "The Butts" refers to the area of a rifle range where the targets are located. In my youth, my first saturday job was "butt marking" at Bisley, which involved (among other things) poking a fluorescent disk on a piece of wire into the bullet hole to let the shooter see where his shot had gone. That was where I used to see adders regularly, basking on the sandbanks at the back of the ranges.

It's a lovely hide alright but a bit high for photographing the waders and wildfowl.

Dave P.

[Jersali]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Just out of curiosity, have you got a favourite bird hide? Where is it and why?

After visiting Slimbridge, I really was taken with Kingfisher hide. 3 different habitats -wood, water with reedbed and field. Like the central bit with the greenery too. Different chair heights, and room to move around without disrupting others.

I live in the South East, Sandwich SBBO is 20 mins or so away,
Restharrow scrape is a series of interconnecting shallow pools, the "viewing area" is banked on 3 sides with rough meadow to the rear. there are some great birds spotted there all within reach of my bridge camera.
With a short walk from the road, my dad loved it too
Have you been there?
What about Grove ferry/Stodmarsh?
Al

[JeffH]

My very favourite hide would have to be my own portable dome hide which has served me very well for several years and has given me ultra close-up views of Kingfishers, Barn Owls, Badgers and many other species.

But in terms of public hides I have two favourites:-

1. The Tower Hide at Wicken Fen - gives spectacular views over the mere, reedbeds and surrounding treetops and in late afternoon in winter is often the best place to watch for Hen Harriers coming in to roost.

2. The main observatory at Welney WWT reserve - carpeted, heated and giving excellent views of thousands of Swans during the floodlit swan feeds - birding in comparative luxury

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[htcdude]

Not sure of my favourite, but the biggest eye-sore has to be the modern thing at Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk!! Sure it's warm, but it looks hideous

Nige

[BucksMike]

My favourite hide is the Bittern hide at Lea Valley. Go when it is cold and ice around and almost certain to see one or more Bitterns.
Now to give a small nudge to Island Mere hide for the pleasure it has bought me not least the last time I went back early September. I took my wife, son and his g/f. Now it was the first time she had been anywhere like a nature reserve so I have to be carefull what I may say. We had walked around Minsmere and in reality it was a poor day with not much to see especially for a beginner but we had spoken about what could be seen like Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Adders, Grass Snakes and otters to name several. We went into the Bittern Hide and said G/F (No Names here) pointed out an otter. Lots of looking and she could still see it. This otter was more moorhen shaped with wings, red and yellow beak and white tail so lets sday not otter but hey so what. Next was a grass snake as we had said grass snakes swim. Now this siad grass snake was perhaps 50 metres out in the water so it was a bloody great grass snake more akin to perhaps Anaconda size or the bit of log that was floating around on the edge of the reeds. Getting a little embarrassed as others in the hide were also looking for the Otter and huge grass snake we wandered off towards the Island Mere hide. Pointing out several things on the way we entered the hide and started scanning around. Lots of people in there and saying not a lot about at all, usual coot, moorhen etc. Suddenly G/F says about an otter just in front. Now me not one to cast aspersions on her sight or ability to name anything just casually looks in reeds at front to see this friendly creature and just get time to fire a few pics of as the rest of the hide gasped and otter went. Now G/F was the first to see it and we didnt believe her

[Adam Cheeseman]

The best hide in the world is the swimming pool bar at the Beira Mar Hotel in Baga, Goa, India. You go in, buy your Kingfisher beer, sit on the bar stool and watch the Cinnamon Bitterns, Painted Snipe, various Kingfishers etc on the marshes below. Bloomin marvellous place!

Cheers,

Adam

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

.....Kingfisher beer.....Cheers, Adam

I'll drink to that

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by BucksMike

Now to give a small nudge to Island Mere hide for the pleasure it has bought me not least the last time I went back early September.

Great story Mike, and definitely knocks Island Mere even further out in front as my favourite hide. Must get back there again soon...

Dave P.

[nick5943]

I am afraid the old island hide at Minsmere is gone but the new one has just opened surposed to be better and sticks out much further going to check it out tomrrow

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