In earlier blogs you'll have read that the much loved old Island Mere Hide and boardwalk are no more. Consigned to the great recycled wood pile so that we can reuse any suitable planks. Gone, but not forgotten.
For those who recall treasured memories of incredible wildlife views from Island Mere Hide, there is good news. Progress on building the new Island Mere Hide is going really well. Ron Gilliard and his team have erected the walls and the frame of the roof this week and the new structure is clearly visible from the Whin Hill viewpoint and the sluice.
From the photos I've seen, I'm really excited about the new hide. The views across Island Mere and the reedbed will be even better, especially once we've opened up an old ditch to the right of the hide. This will once again become the best place in the UK to sit and watch reedbed wildlife: bitterns fishing silently in front of the hide or flapping lazily in search of new feeding areas; marsh harriers quartering on raised wings or swooping through the skies in their roller-coaster like display flight; Bewick's swans arriving at dusk to roost among flocks of coots and ducks; a water pipit, snipe or even jack snipe hiding in the cut reed; perhaps even the telltale wake behind an otter as it swims stealthily after prey, submerged bar its head, or arching its back pre dive. The extended boardwalk will be an excellent spot for watching bearded tits and Cetti's warblers flitting among the reeds, or glimpsing hobbies scything through the sky after dragonflies.
Work is going to schedule with the fine weather and the new hide should be opening in mid to late November. The path to Island Mere will remain closed while the works take place but the circular route from Bittern Hide and Scott’s Hall will be open at weekends.
Inside the frame of the new hide looking out to the mere
The new hide with the construction team from Gilliards (above)
The hide rises from the reedbed (all photos by Adam Rowlands)
Interesting point about the benefits of the horizontal bar. However, in many cases this bar can prove a major obstruction to viewing, especially for those standing up. One of the biggest problems for anyone standing in bittern hide is that the bar between the windows is in direct line of site. Another problem there is that those standing have to look through two panes of glass - hence the new approach taken. It's not possible to have deep windows suitable for all users in the traditional style. I'm sure you'll find the new windows work well and you'll be glad of the improved viewing when the hide is full and you ahve to stand to look out.
Thanks Ian. Bit of a shame really - I can't help seeing complicated windows like this are inviting expensive future maintenance costs but I guess only time will tell on that one. On a practical note, that horizontal bar is actually quite useful as it allows you to get your eyes into the shade when the sun is out and shining straight at you!
The windows will be similar to those in Parrinder Hide. The lower pane of glass winds down, the upper pane opens outwards on a pulley. This means that there is no wooden bar between them,s o everyone has uninterrputed views across the mere, whether sitting or standing. The shelf depth will be smaller than that in Parrinder Hide though to suit scopes and cameras better. I'm sure you'll still get some great photos of bitterns and water rails from here.
Good to see some pictures - I saw the new hide at the wekend from the path and it didn't look as large as it does here - should be plenty of room. It's a shame there isn't a lower level - that used to be really good for getting pictures of water rail etc in the winter, but I appreciate the need for height once all the reeds grow up.
Are we going to have good old-fashioned opening windows or modern high-tech ones aka Titchwell Parrinder hide?
Ian thank you for keeping us up todate. Now that's what you call a bird hide. Well done
Ian