[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by mickbe74

I'm not trying to put a dampner on the project but just can't see it lasting long especially if it's full of glass,the reserve is looking excellent by the way.

Thats why I said I'd rather have 50 x £1000 hides than one £50,000 hide ( a comment I made on the Upton Warren thread). They would be cheaper to repair and there would always be at least one standing, hopefully.
Since the benches have been put in place I've found they can be just as good as a hide, providing it's not raining of course, see the ones at Fishers Mill Pool and the new reed bed, The screen at FMP looks good but as it has no seats and has limited viewing is not so well used.

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by mickbe74

Is building a 50 grand hide wise,with the area's history of vandalism?

Hi Mick,
Regarding your comments which I forwarded to Head warden RSPB Middleton lakes Nick Martin, I received a reply from Nick today.
The hide is still going ahead and could cost £50,000 and might include lots of glass.
The design and vansalism factor's are being worked on at the moment.
Any future details will be posted on the RSPB website.


You could volunteer for night security Mick.

Regards, John

[Brian Stretch]

Hi John,

Is this £50K hide a bricks and mortar structure or a wooden one? For that money, I hope it's the former!

Brian
________________________________________
Birding Today Midlands Birding Review June 2011

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by Brian Stretch

Hi John,

Is this £50K hide a bricks and mortar structure or a wooden one? For that money, I hope it's the former!

Brian
________________________________________
Birding Today Midlands Birding Review June 2011

Hi Brian,
I wonder if it will be like the new Island Hide at Titchwell, see photo on RSPB Titchwell website, that has some large windows but I believe that cost £250,000 !!
Today I did my first visit for over a week to Midd Lakes, still fairly quiet but a Snipe was my first of the autumn passage. Also around were 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 LRP, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Little Egret.
I was expecting to see some young Common Tern but there weren't any.
On the notice board there was a report of a Stonechat yesterday, anyone know anything about it? This was the first one of the year I believe.
Geoff

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by Brian Stretch

Hi John,

Is this £50K hide a bricks and mortar structure or a wooden one? For that money, I hope it's the former!

Brian
________________________________________
Birding Today Midlands Birding Review June 2011

Hi Brian,
Nick in his e-mail did not mention the materials of the hide other than it might include a lot of glass.

Regards, John

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by geoffw1946

Today I did my first visit for over a week to Midd Lakes, still fairly quiet but a Snipe was my first of the autumn passage.
I was expecting to see some young Common Tern but there weren't any.
Geoff

John Harris says he had a juv. Common Tern on the new reed bed pool on the 20th July, I wonder if it bred on the reserve?
The Snipe was feeding on Fishers Mill Pool.
Geoff

[mickbe74]

Originally Posted by JHDraytonbassettpits

Hi Mick,
Regarding your comments which I forwarded to Head warden RSPB Middleton lakes Nick Martin, I received a reply from Nick today.
The hide is still going ahead and could cost £50,000 and might include lots of glass.
The design and vansalism factor's are being worked on at the moment.
Any future details will be posted on the RSPB website.


You could volunteer for night security Mick.

Regards, John

I might just do that,to keep an eye out for this prohibited skinny dipping if nothing else

[geoffw1946]

Not much change from yesterday though a Ruff on the north pit was new. There were 2 or 3 Little Egret and a Barn Owl was still on view from the wetland trail. 2 Snipe were reported but not seen by me.
Geoff

[rollingthunder]

I also do'nt wish to put a dampner on the RSPB's efforts but i feel that less is more - altho the area is looking better all the time i would put up something less combustible and cheaper and concentrate on habitat management until visitor numbers are regular it also could do with some information where the visitors from the moored narrowboats access the area with regard to breeding birds etc (i speak as a birder and a narrowboat owner). I have also been birding there since about 1998 and the RSPB need to realise the potential for vandalism etc. More people visiting should reduce this sort of thing but i would'nt want to see a large sum of money wasted.

Laurie -

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by rollingthunder

I also do'nt wish to put a dampner on the RSPB's efforts but i feel that less is more - altho the area is looking better all the time i would put up something less combustible and cheaper and concentrate on habitat management until visitor numbers are regular it also could do with some information where the visitors from the moored narrowboats access the area with regard to breeding birds etc (i speak as a birder and a narrowboat owner). I have also been birding there since about 1998 and the RSPB need to realise the potential for vandalism etc. More people visiting should reduce this sort of thing but i would'nt want to see a large sum of money wasted.

Laurie -

Hi Laurie,
Head warden Nick Martin RSPB Middleton lakes said in his last e-mail that he keeps an eye on these forums to make sure no inaccurrate information is circulating and he also said he takes all comments onboard.

Regards, John

[geoffw1946]

The north pit has been really quiet waderwise lately, today I had just 1 Snipe and a Common Sandpiper there. Perhaps things will pick up when the pit gets strimmed and mowed?

[geoffw1946]

Yesterday I decided to have a change and did the Meadow trail but it was quiet with just a few warblers noted. Perhaps I should have checked for waders as there was a good movement across the midlands, even Sheepwash urban park got a Greenshank per DW.
Anyway today I did the Wetland trail. On the north pit were 6 Greenshank with another on Fishers Mill Pool, other waders included 1 Oystercatcher, 3 LRP, 1 Curlew over calling, 1 Redshank, 3 Green Sand (inc. 2 at Hall Lake), 2 Common Sand, a Yellow Wagtail was on FM Pool and 2 Raven were by the farm calling loudly. A Little Egret performed well at the new reed bed pool, chasing fish around.

[geoffw1946]

New in today was a Wood Sandpiper on the new reed bed pool also there were 6 LRP, 1 Oystercatcher and a Greenshank, there were a further 4 Greenshank still on the north pit.
The 2 Raven and a Yellow Wagtail were still around.

[geoffw1946]

Not very pleasant at Midd Lakes today with fumes coming from a big fire in Birmingham (not riot related according to a You Tube video).
New reedbed pool, 2 Little Egret, 2 Greenshank, 1 LRP, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sand, 1 Swift and 5 Raven over calling.
The volunteers were making scarecrows, I thought the reserve was created to attract birds not to scare them away!

[geoffw1946]

Walked as far as the north pit but only birds of note there were a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Yellowhammers.
New reedbed pool held a Little Egret, 3 Greenshank and 2 juv. LRP. There were 3 Green Sand on Hall Lake.
Geoff

[geoffw1946]

Only went as far as the new reedbed pool. There could be many rare waders on the north pit but it's too overgrown to tell.
Still plenty of mud on reedbed pool, there was at least 3 Greenshank there but as they kept flying off into the distance and then reappearing,there could have been more. Also there were 1 Little Egret, 3 Ruff, 1 Wood Sand and 2 juv. LRP plus 2 Black-tailed Godwit were reported flying over earlier.
On the Hall Lake were 2 Green Sand. The Swallows at the farm were all a twitter, perhaps it won't be long before they head south.

[suthyyy]

Just realised that this looks to be the main middleton lakes thread.

Going to be heading up there tomorrow for my first time, would anyone be kind enough to offer advice as to the best spots on the reserve? would be very grateful

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by suthyyy

Just realised that this looks to be the main middleton lakes thread.

Going to be heading up there tomorrow for my first time, would anyone be kind enough to offer advice as to the best spots on the reserve? would be very grateful

Hi Suthyyy, The wetland trail is the best to follow, the meadow trail is a bit boring with very few birds to be seen and you need to be fit to do both. Each trail takes about 2 hours at a birders gait.
You can download a map from off the RSPB Middleton Lake website.
Hope you see some good birds.
Geoff

[geoffw1946]

Not much change from yesterday. On new reedbed pool were 1 Little Egret, 1 LRP, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Greenshank, 1 Wood Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail.
There were a total of 4 Green Sandpiper with 3 on Hall Lake and 1 at the Middle East pool.

[suthyyy]

Hi there,

I was hoping to spot the kingfisher that ive heard is a resident here at middleton but didnt spot it on saturday. Anyone got any tips as to where would be best on the reserve to see it?

Cheers

[TR3K]

Originally Posted by suthyyy

Hi there,

I was hoping to spot the kingfisher that ive heard is a resident here at middleton but didnt spot it on saturday. Anyone got any tips as to where would be best on the reserve to see it?

Cheers

I often see it flying along the river near the new reedbed pool.

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by suthyyy

Hi there,

I was hoping to spot the kingfisher that ive heard is a resident here at middleton but didnt spot it on saturday. Anyone got any tips as to where would be best on the reserve to see it?

Cheers

I haven't seen a Kingfisher since June but the river is the best bet as TR3K says.
Today was groundhog day, same old same old, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank and a juv. LRP on new reedbed pool. 2 Ruff were reported but missed by me.
The woodland trail held Blackcap, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Raven.
Geoff

[TR3K]

Originally Posted by geoffw1946

I haven't seen a Kingfisher since June but the river is the best bet as TR3K says.
Today was groundhog day, same old same old, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank and a juv. LRP on new reedbed pool. 2 Ruff were reported but missed by me.
The woodland trail held Blackcap, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Raven.
Geoff

I keep missing the Ruff hopefully I will have better luck in the week.

[nitram55]

A quick visit this morning 0630 - 0730 produced the following

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch on feeders by car park

Fishers Mill Pool
4 Green Sandpiper

New Reedbed Pool
2 Little Egret
3 LRP
1 Greenshank
1 Wood sandpiper
1 Snipe

Regards
Martin

[suthyyy]

could someone explain to me which pools are named what? Everyone's referring to pools but i'm not too sure which pools you are referring too