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29-08-2006, 10:20 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Potteric Carr
Anyone been out to this reserve? Our local RSPB group are heading there on October 29th, and would like an idea what to expect. Website gives a good map around, but would value other's experiences. |
29-08-2006, 10:40 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,718
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj Anyone been out to this reserve? Our local RSPB group are heading there on October 29th, and would like an idea what to expect. Website gives a good map around, but would value other's experiences. | I went there for my very first time about three weeks ago and to be honest wasn't impressed. True, I chose a bad day to go. Rain and very windy conditions but I just didn't have a good feel about the place.
The potential looks great but I can't see it being put to the test in October.
I hope I am wrong about that. To be honest we had far more birds on the nearby Lakeside but even that will not be as good in October.
If you do go I would be interested in how you got on.
John |
29-08-2006, 10:45 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
It's a well laid out site with good paths and plenty of hides. It can take ages to get in though, there's only one person dealing with arrivals and it can be a bit slow. The Visitor Centre is a disappointment, it's always closed when we go. The cafe isn't too hot either, so best go with your own provisions.
They have feeders by a couple of the hides, so you can get some good sightings. Overall it's worth a visit. |
30-08-2006, 08:53 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
To be honest, the one trip that's making me drool (figuratively speaking) is South Stack, but that's next June. They're a good bunch we go with and entertaining. Good tip about butties - that time of year our thermos is always full! |
30-08-2006, 08:57 AM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
In many ways I agree with John, it can depend a lot on the weather and what's there to be seen, that applies to everywhere.
I've had good and bad days there. What I don't like is the useless visitor centre that hardly ever seems to be open.
Still think it's worth a visit though. |
30-08-2006, 10:01 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,373
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
I lived in Doncaster for 6 months and (no offence to anyone from the area as my other half is) but it was a bit of gem in place that i hated / the urban jungle. Didn't get to go much and was 3 years ago so I can't really say how it rates but it wasn't bad. |
30-08-2006, 03:47 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,718
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj To be honest, the one trip that's making me drool (figuratively speaking) is South Stack, but that's next June. They're a good bunch we go with and entertaining. Good tip about butties - that time of year our thermos is always full! | That is a trip to drool over. Will you just be doing South Stack or will you be venturing to other sites.
John |
30-08-2006, 04:07 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
John, believe it's just SS. Last june's trip may ring a bell with many, as it was to Bempton, with the opportunity to start at flamborough head and meet at Bempton, so could do something similar at South Stack. Not too early to start a wab meet for then is it? |
30-08-2006, 05:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,562
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Went last winter and it was ok, the feeding station hide is pretty good, and we had water rail only 10ft away  |
30-08-2006, 05:37 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,718
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj John, believe it's just SS. Last june's trip may ring a bell with many, as it was to Bempton, with the opportunity to start at flamborough head and meet at Bempton, so could do something similar at South Stack. Not too early to start a wab meet for then is it? | We are hijacking this thread a bit but I would love to organise a meet in Anglesey for next year. The only problem I have is that I have just organised exactly the same thing a few weeks ago and the only WAB members that turned up were Barbara and her husband plus my friends Diane (WAB member) and her husband Keith who were going anyway.
Remind me early next year and we will put it on the calendar. I would honestly hope for a far better response though before I went through with it.
John |
30-08-2006, 09:03 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly Went last winter and it was ok, the feeding station hide is pretty good, and we had water rail only 10ft away | I went there today, this thread made me curious to see what it was like at the moment.
For once the cafe was open! (Until 2pm) The Visitor Centre is really nothing much to shout about, it's more of a staff centre!
Excellent pathways throughout, it's a good site for anyone in a whelechair, most paths and hides have easy access.
Waterbird numbers were very low. They've got an impressive sightings list, but we saw none of them! Just about managed to see a few Mallards, Coots,Swans a couple of Little Grebe's that are supposed to have a yougster, but it was well hidden today. That was about it!
We did see some Dragonflies, Damselflies, Darters etc. I've put a few shots from there into the Gallery. We also saw a good variety of Fungi, if your interested.
I think the site will be much better once the tree leaves have fallen and the weeds and rushes have died back. I remember last year being very impressed with the list of birds we saw there in Autumn.
Let's just say that I paid for a years membership whilst I was there! |
30-08-2006, 10:01 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Ironically Graham, Amber's a yorkshire lass, but Doncaster was just a stop before reaching family at Scunthorpe. Think they time the outing to hit migrations - I hope |
30-08-2006, 10:50 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Anston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Posts: 369
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Hi all
We have been a few times to Potteric Carr (we're only beginner wildlife spotters) but we did see black necked grebes, a greater spotted woodpecker, cormorant, common sandpiper, willow tit, etc. We've always found it pleasant - there are nice walks around the site. I have a shield bug photograph on WAB that I spotted there. Unfortunately while we were there I was bitten by some insect on my hand which became infected and I ended up on antibiotics but don't let that put you off  There is also a squirrel and a rat that hangs around the feeding station hide.
There are worse so called Nature Reserves about.
Jenny
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With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world,
Be cheerful, strive to be happy :) |
18-10-2006, 09:55 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
We're booked up for the 29th. Anyone in the area, would love to bump into you there! |
18-10-2006, 10:08 AM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj We're booked up for the 29th. Anyone in the area, would love to bump into you there! | I'll see if I can arrange to be there for then, weather depending of course. |
18-10-2006, 02:26 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Leeds
Posts: 93
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
I took a trip to Potteric Carr earlier in the year, end of January I think. Went specifically to see bitterns. At the time there were up to 6 seen on the reserve as they were wintering there.
There has been sighting in last few weeks or so, but a little later in the year, Dec-Feb would give you a better chance of seeing bittern.
Overall i was a little dissappointed when I went. If it wasn't for seeing the bittern I would have been well fed up to be honest. All 3 species of woodpecker are present and I saw green woodpecker around the area of the visitor centre.
I think the place can be a bit hit & miss. But isn't everywhere.
The link to the thread about my visit there is below: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...n-bonanza.html
Last edited by glsammy; 18-10-2006 at 03:23 PM.
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18-10-2006, 02:30 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Actually read sighting reports for october - and many different species on show. But isn't all wildlife watching hit and miss?
Would love to see you there Graham - remember the name badge though! |
18-10-2006, 03:29 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj Actually read sighting reports for october - and many different species on show. But isn't all wildlife watching hit and miss?
Would love to see you there Graham - remember the name badge though! | You can't miss me Carl, fat old ugly fella with a 20D and Bigma slung round my neck! 
I'd also be with my Mrs. who's not fat and ugly! |
18-10-2006, 03:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by glsammy fat old ugly fella with a 20D and Bigma slung round my neck! | Narrow it down Graham, that's 90% of Canon owners! |
29-10-2006, 07:03 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Well, we both enjoyed our trip round. Birds were a bit hit and miss, but the numbers of dragonflies were staggering. Plenty of fungi around too.
Talking of fungi - Big hi to Graham! Nice to meet you at last - but would you stop flaunting the bigma Great to put a face to a name - hope the woodpecker shot came out reasonably well!
Amber and I enjoyed rekindling old friendships and of course new ones too! Now, Barnsley in January....how enticing is that :P |
29-10-2006, 07:17 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Quote: |
Originally Posted by carlj Well, we both enjoyed our trip round. Birds were a bit hit and miss, but the numbers of dragonflies were staggering. Plenty of fungi around too.
Talking of fungi - Big hi to Graham! Nice to meet you at last - but would you stop flaunting the bigma Great to put a face to a name - hope the woodpecker shot came out reasonably well!
Amber and I enjoyed rekindling old friendships and of course new ones too! Now, Barnsley in January....how enticing is that :P | Good to meet you two Carl! As for stopping flaunting the Bigma, no chance! The woodpecker shot were predictable, i.e. rubbish! I didn't expect much really the light was never right. I kept going back to the main hide, hoping to see you again but no luck. We did see the Bittern though! I won't show you the shot I got, it's embarrassingly bad, but at least we saw it.
Got a decent peacock, Rabbit and squirrel shot though! |
29-10-2006, 10:51 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,562
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
Is the main hide the one with the feeders out in front of the cafe?
That was the best part of my trip to the place last year, saw more sat there than in the rest of the site |
30-10-2006, 08:37 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Potteric Carr
That's the one. Amber was enthralled by the woodpecker, I was enthralled by the Bigma in the corner  | |
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