Elmley Marshes tips and advice please

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

I intend heading to Elmley Marshes RSPB site at the end of the week. I've never been there and it's a bit of a drive so was hoping I could maximise my time by asking if anyone had tips for the area.

I'll be turning up very early with my camera and hoping to snap anything of interest.

Appreciate any help.

TobyH

[Tobyh]

Anyone?

Small bump

[GCN lova]

i have seen house martins there as well as pheasants, hares, marsh frogs and lapwings and i think a grouse. ive only been there once so i dont know many areas for wildlife there

[Wild-Woman]

The drive in can be very productive- eg marsh harriers, little egrets and lapwings. The walk down to the first hide is quite long but usually good for hares, peregrine falcon, waders. Take a drink/lunch if you're going out to the furthest hide as that is a very long walk! All worthwhile and I've never known Elmley not to throw up a goodie. A month or so back, I had a short-eared owl circle my car...awesome. Good luck- let us know how you got on.

[Tobyh]

Thanks for the replies. I'll let you know what I find

One question - the drive in - is it possible to pull in and use the car as a hide anywhere? Is the road too busy to do that or are we talking a quiet road that it would be fine to park a short while on? I'll be there very early so hopefully that should help the situation.

Ta!

TobyH

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Thanks for the replies. I'll let you know what I find

One question - the drive in - is it possible to pull in and use the car as a hide anywhere? Is the road too busy to do that or are we talking a quiet road that it would be fine to park a short while on? I'll be there very early so hopefully that should help the situation.

Ta!

TobyH

The road is just about wide enough for 2 cars and not that busy. its is only used to access the reserve and car park there. I and many other stop to photograph and look at teh wildlife along the road. Be warned though there are some rough bits where the tarmac is falling away!

[pressld2]

My best bit of advice is to be ready from the moment you turn on to the access road - camera with long lens fitted and bean bag on the passenger seat. On my first visit I had a kestrel sitting on the posts by the side of the first bridge and my camera was still in my backpack on the back seat. The bird sat there patiently while I got it out and attached my 80-400 but as soon as I raised it to my eye he was gone. Other than that, take it slowly and keep your eyes peeled. Little egrets, lapwings and redshank are reasonably easy to spot but skylarks, meadow pipits and brown hares can be a bit trickier and snipe, as always, are a nightmare.

As Neil says, pretty much everyone who ever visits stops to watch or photograph from their car so no one will mind (there's a sign at the entrance which encourages it) and unless you've stopped directly adjacent to someone else other vehicles will still be able to get past.

Have fun and don't forget to let us see what you get.

Dave P.

[Tobyh]

Many thanks, really looking forward to it

I'll let you know how I get on.

TobyH