pduxon
Quacked up Member
What is it?
A bird reserve owned jointly by the RSPB and Herts & Middlesex wildlife trust.
Where is it?
Near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire. Either leave the A414 signposted Roydon, if coming from the East (it is down a toll road cost 50p) or if coming from the A10 follow the signposts which lead you through Hoddesdon.
Facilities?
There is a visitor centre with a whats about board a coffee machine and WCs(thank you thank you!!). It also sells bird food. Entrance is now free. The RSPB portion of the reserve is open daily 10am – 5pm (except Christmas & Boxing Day) the HMWT portion is open anytime I believe.
There are 10 hides, 7 belonging to the RSPB and 3 HMWT (one of these is in the RSPB portion of the reserve). There is a nature trail that will lead you around the hides. Access to the HMWT portion of the reserve from RSPB reserve is by a one way turnstile. It is a 40 minute walk back to the car park from the turnstile.
The Birdwatching?
There are a variety of different habitat, including, lakes, rivers, marsh and a flood meadow.
The quality of birds can be best be described as patchy, some weeks it can seem devoid of life others lots happening, its hard to predict.
The most consistent hide has been the Draper Hide. The water meadow can be excellent if there’s been heavy rain.
Birds?
Common finches, tits, Corvids, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Pied & Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, both whitethroats (only seen Common myself) Reed and Sedge Warbler, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Common Ducks, Ruddy Duck, Goldeneye, Great Crested & Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper (generally 3 or 4 about), Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Water Rail, Bittern (allegedly – never seen one myself), Common Tern, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Some of the above are, obviously, seasonal.
A bird reserve owned jointly by the RSPB and Herts & Middlesex wildlife trust.
Where is it?
Near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire. Either leave the A414 signposted Roydon, if coming from the East (it is down a toll road cost 50p) or if coming from the A10 follow the signposts which lead you through Hoddesdon.
Facilities?
There is a visitor centre with a whats about board a coffee machine and WCs(thank you thank you!!). It also sells bird food. Entrance is now free. The RSPB portion of the reserve is open daily 10am – 5pm (except Christmas & Boxing Day) the HMWT portion is open anytime I believe.
There are 10 hides, 7 belonging to the RSPB and 3 HMWT (one of these is in the RSPB portion of the reserve). There is a nature trail that will lead you around the hides. Access to the HMWT portion of the reserve from RSPB reserve is by a one way turnstile. It is a 40 minute walk back to the car park from the turnstile.
The Birdwatching?
There are a variety of different habitat, including, lakes, rivers, marsh and a flood meadow.
The quality of birds can be best be described as patchy, some weeks it can seem devoid of life others lots happening, its hard to predict.
The most consistent hide has been the Draper Hide. The water meadow can be excellent if there’s been heavy rain.
Birds?
Common finches, tits, Corvids, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Pied & Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, both whitethroats (only seen Common myself) Reed and Sedge Warbler, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Common Ducks, Ruddy Duck, Goldeneye, Great Crested & Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper (generally 3 or 4 about), Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Water Rail, Bittern (allegedly – never seen one myself), Common Tern, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Some of the above are, obviously, seasonal.