Your favourite local Reserves, Parks, Wildlife habitats etc...

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hi there

I thought I would open this thread about Reserves.

What are your favourite places very close to where you stay.

I will start here {ones that we know about already}

RSPB Headquarters, Sandy

Putnoe Local Nature Reserve

Paxton Pitts

Castlemill Sluice

Priory Park

Marston Vale

Others will come to mind no doubt

Regards

Kathy and Dave

  • Unknown said:

    Hi Seymour, I like it that way though, being out in the sticks to get anywhere here I travel alot of little country roads, you get to see an awful lot of wildlife just travelling in the car, normaly whilst slamming on your brakes to avoid it.

     

    Yup, I agree-  I have little quiet spots I can take visitors to for species like grey partridge, corn bunting, bullfinch, yellowhammer, grey wagtail etc :)

     

    S

    For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 14/03/2010 06:25 in reply to seymouraves

    Hi Seymour

    I have been told that there is a useful Coast hopper bus service which stops outside all of the best reserves Cley etc... along the main beach line.   Do you ever use the service?

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    http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=NCC044190

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

    seymouraves said:

     

    Hi,

    the problem with east anglia is , no big fast route across it. Good routes along the bottom, up both sides and across the top but try getting to Minsmere from say.... Peterborough.... and it's terrible.

    It's best to work a corner at a time:)

    S

     

  •  

    Hi,

    the coast hopper is useful if ya want to work the coastal footpath for a while then bus back to where you left your car:)

    I think pensioners may get a free bus pass- so one day I may do it :)

    The 2 car method with 4 people is handy too:) I like to be up there at dawn in spring and autumn and the buses dont run early enough.

    S

     

    For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

  • seymouraves said:

    Hi Seymour, I like it that way though, being out in the sticks to get anywhere here I travel alot of little country roads, you get to see an awful lot of wildlife just travelling in the car, normaly whilst slamming on your brakes to avoid it.

     

     

    Yup, I agree-  I have little quiet spots I can take visitors to for species like grey partridge, corn bunting, bullfinch, yellowhammer, grey wagtail etc :)

     

    S

    [/quote]

    Yes they don't all live on reserves do they. I saw some birds today whilst driving between some arable fields, it was a small flock, flew accros the road in front of me they had been sitting in the field before I startled them and they flew, it happened so quick I didn't get a real good look at them, all I saw was lots of a deep vivid yellow and black, it was too deep a yellow to be siskin and it seemed to much yellow to be Goldfinch, is it too early to be getting Yellow wagtails here yet. I think I shall have to go back with my cameraand take some shots ( if their not goldfinch ).

    There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 14/03/2010 16:28 in reply to Bishy-barney-bee

    Hi Seymour

    I found out about the Coast Hopper Service through someone who has not got a car, and he is a keen bird watcher.

    He seems to manage to get around independently, and does not feel shy to use the service - he is just a youngster too in his 30's.

    I would the service.... if Dave and I go to Norfolk if it came down to it (Dave and I enjoyed a night on the town and Dave could not drive).  So it has its plus points.

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

    seymouraves said:

    Hi,

    the coast hopper is useful if ya want to work the coastal footpath for a while then bus back to where you left your car:)

    I think pensioners may get a free bus pass- so one day I may do it :)

    The 2 car method with 4 people is handy too:) I like to be up there at dawn in spring and autumn and the buses dont run early enough.

    S

  • Hi all

    After TJ's recommendation we went to Dinton Pastures near Reading yesterday.

    We saw an egret that was hidden by too many bush twigs to photograph, but I did capture a red kite and a grey heron. The heron kept posing facing away from me behind a bank, but I did my best:

    The red kite was very high and my new lens was very heavy, so I hope to get a better shot next time.

    Best wishes Chris

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos

  • Thanks Chris. Lovely photographs,even if your lense is very heavy for the red kite, you still caught it very well. 

  • Woodpecker said:

    After TJ's recommendation we went to Dinton Pastures near Reading yesterday.

    We saw an egret that was hidden by too many bush twigs to photograph, but I did capture a red kite and a grey heron. The heron kept posing facing away from me behind a bank, but I did my best:

    Well done ,Woodpecker. Did you find the hide at Lavell's Lake? I meant to tell where it was.

    Great shot of the Grey Heron. The Red Kite may have been high but you still managed a good photo. Can you see the yellow tags on the wings? This means it was tagged as a chick in the nest.

    Regards

    Tony

     

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • Hi TJ and all

    We went past the turn off for Lavells Lake, but we plan to investigate that on the next visit.

    Thanks for telling me about the tags on the wings of the red kite. I wondered what they were.

    Thanks guys, It was my first outing with this new and heavy lens.

    Some of the gold in my jewellery box was sold in order to buy it.

    Best wishes Chris

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos

  • Hi Woodpecker Brilliant shots

    Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.
    ~ Mark Twain