deeside info required

[gordon hamlett]

I've just heard about a new hide in Deeside and was wondering if someone could supply chapter and verse as to exactly where it is..

The only info I have was taken from a brief BBC news story.

'A New bird hide offering visitors a chance to view important wetland breeds has opened on Deeside.

The new hide, next to Tarland wastewater treatment works, was established by the 3DeeVision Project.'

Thanks in advance

Gordon

[Capercaillie71]

Hi Gordon

This news story gives a bit more info. I can drive home that way this evening and check out the exact location for you if nobody else does sooner.

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=17113135&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

[Capercaillie71]

There is a photo of the wetland on this site (under Tarland Waste Water Treatment Plant):

http://www.3deevision.org/tarland_gallery.asp

[Ken Hall]

I've had a look a few times before the hide was officially opened. To be honest, I wouldn't go too far out of my way to visit it. Maybe in time it will improve, but all there is, is a little bit of marshy vegetation, with a few Mallards. Possibly of interest to Lapwings and Redshanks, and the area used to be very good for wintering grey geese, but not since the treatment works got under way. The hide is at ground level: some elevation would have helped. It's on the road out of the centre of Tarland, heading east, signposted to Coull. I hope my opinion of it proves wrong, and that it survives the Tarland youth. There are many sites in the area which are more interesting.

[Capercaillie71]

OK, I had a look on my way home this evening. As Ken says, you maybe wouldn't want to come too far to visit, but if you were visiting Deeside anyway, it might be worth a visit. I didn't have any optics with me, but there were a couple of pairs of lapwings, a couple of curlews, 3 redshanks, a pair of mallards and a heap of black headed gulls at the far end (possibly nesting?). It is a nice bit of wet grassland habitat, and I suppose it may attract more unusual things from time to time.

On the negative side, the hide was actually locked, and there was no indication of when it is open. This didn't matter though as there was little screening around the hide, so you could just stand next to it and get exactly the same view! In fact, the hide was a bit too far from the wetland area, which meant that it doesn't really give you a closer view than you would have had from the road, just a more comfortable place to sit (if it was open).

The exact location on this map is below and to the right of the "d" in Tarland, on the yellow road immediately to the south of the pond with the golf course flag next to it, at the end of the track that leads down to the Tarland burn NJ 4878 0430

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=350000&Y=805000&width=700&height=400&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=253&multimap.y=250

[gordon hamlett]

The exact location on this map is below and to the right of the "d" in Tarland, on the yellow road immediately to the south of the pond with the golf course flag next to it, at the end of the track that leads down to the Tarland burn NJ 4878 0430

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=350000&Y=805000&width=700&height=400&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=253&multimap.y=250

Thanks for the prompt help guys. I wasn't expecting too much of the site but I thought that I would check it out as I was coming up to explore some of the lesser known bits of the area in May.

Gordon

[pcurpb]

I've just heard about a new hide in Deeside and was wondering if someone could supply chapter and verse as to exactly where it is..

The only info I have was taken from a brief BBC news story.

'A New bird hide offering visitors a chance to view important wetland breeds has opened on Deeside.

The new hide, next to Tarland wastewater treatment works, was established by the 3DeeVision Project.'

Thanks in advance

Gordon

Not at all in answer to your question, Gordon, but having just returned from Speyside I wanted to say how useful I found your book. Some of the sites I knew, others were new to me; either way, your accounts are clear, accessible & above all accurate!

Incidentally, 'Black Isle'... a further explanation of the name (from a local) is that perhaps because it is (virtually) an island, it tends not to get snow when the mainland does - hence appearing black in the surrounding white.

And, out of interest, there was scarcely a crossbill to be had in the Abernethy Forest. I hear, however, that there are plenty in the Borders. Maybe we should subdivide the Scottish crossbill into Highland & Lowland... then again, maybe not!

[griffin]

And, out of interest, there was scarcely a crossbill to be had in the Abernethy Forest. I hear, however, that there are plenty in the Borders. Maybe we should subdivide the Scottish crossbill into Highland & Lowland... then again, maybe not!


Peoples just ain't looking hard enough then ! ;) With the vast forest tracts of Abernethy, Glenmore, Rothiemurchus not to mention the Spey Valley it should be heaving with them. I am over there soon ( some esteemed Birdforum members have been invited to join me but have so far not got back to me - you know who you are !) :-C Maybe I smell or something. If I don't see or hear a crossbill within an hour of getting out of the car I would be amazed. (Last time I was getting out the car and a male Parrot flew over ).

The theory that all crossbills north of Perth were Scottish and those to the South of Perth were Commons actually prevailed until very recently - possibly still does in some quarters. Then people started catching them, recording them and really studying them.

Not sure there are Scotties in borders though - there are records but I am sceptical.

Linz

[Ken Hall]

I've just heard about a new hide in Deeside and was wondering if someone could supply chapter and verse as to exactly where it is..

The only info I have was taken from a brief BBC news story.

'A New bird hide offering visitors a chance to view important wetland breeds has opened on Deeside.

The new hide, next to Tarland wastewater treatment works, was established by the 3DeeVision Project.'

Thanks in advance

Gordon

The hide is now open, and has turned out to be better than I had expected. Today there were several pairs of Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Lapwings, Curlews, Mallards, all with young, plus lots of Sand Martins, Black-headed and Common Gulls and Starlings. The hide logbook shows it is well used, and reports Snipe, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Yellowhammer and other common farmland birds. OK, so nothing rare or unusual, but the water levels are controlled, there is both open water and wet grassland, with surrounding fields and woodland. The hide is very nice, with seating for 6 - 8 people, plus lots of info. It is south facing (not so good) but the water is closer than I expected. It could be good for passage migrants, unless being 30 miles inland is a drawback. I'll be keeping an eye on it.