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Axe Estuary (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ranger James
- Start date
Today between Colyford Common and Black Hole Marsh there were six Wood Sanpiper, two Greenshank, 12 Green Sandpiper. ten Dunlin, five Ringed Plover, ten Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Stint.
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mollymawk
Well-known member
The new facilities at Blackhole Marsh are proving very good. 360 degree viewing and interesting birds. Its proving popular too. I've made three visits in the last 2 weeks (from South Somerset) and despite the rather cloudy conditions, I've had some nice shots.
I try to be tolerant particularly when young children arrive and for the most part they have been very well behaved - there is no substitute for starting young. My problem is not with the youngsters but with people old enough to know better.
On each occasion, while I have been awaiting waders coming close enough to photograph, I have had to endure loud (and I mean loud) conversations about pasties, car reliability and air conditioning that is occasionally leavened with loud complaints about the distance the birds are from the hide and how difficult it is to photograph them. Yesterday was a case in point. Eventually as these noisy 'senior citizens' left, the wood sandpipers, greenshanks and knot came close enough. But only after it had gone quiet.
What about a sign along the lines of 'QUIET - THIS INCLUDES YOU'.
I try to be tolerant particularly when young children arrive and for the most part they have been very well behaved - there is no substitute for starting young. My problem is not with the youngsters but with people old enough to know better.
On each occasion, while I have been awaiting waders coming close enough to photograph, I have had to endure loud (and I mean loud) conversations about pasties, car reliability and air conditioning that is occasionally leavened with loud complaints about the distance the birds are from the hide and how difficult it is to photograph them. Yesterday was a case in point. Eventually as these noisy 'senior citizens' left, the wood sandpipers, greenshanks and knot came close enough. But only after it had gone quiet.
What about a sign along the lines of 'QUIET - THIS INCLUDES YOU'.
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Ranger James
Well-known member
I'm sure that was intended to be a little tongue-in-cheek?
The nicest thing about the hides on the Axe is that they've never been (and hopefully never will be) silent boxes into which you tiptoe and fear to enter.
Certainly there is a level above which enthusiastic chatter and discussion spills over into shouting and disturbance to other visitors, but a bit of talking only keeps the birds out of super-close-up photography range temporarily. They are always within identifiable binocular view.
Just imagine, if the local authority were to slap up signs bossing everyone about, every 100 yards or so - it would be terrible!
James
The nicest thing about the hides on the Axe is that they've never been (and hopefully never will be) silent boxes into which you tiptoe and fear to enter.
Certainly there is a level above which enthusiastic chatter and discussion spills over into shouting and disturbance to other visitors, but a bit of talking only keeps the birds out of super-close-up photography range temporarily. They are always within identifiable binocular view.
Just imagine, if the local authority were to slap up signs bossing everyone about, every 100 yards or so - it would be terrible!
James
Lot of sympathy with both sides here.
Slimbridge did very well a long time ago with its "geese have ears" signs outside and inside the hides. Not "bossing people about" but suggesting a good way to behave.
Every sympathy re the loud "senior citizens": I have experienced similar from so-called wardens on reserves, yelling about last weekend's party and the next.
But children, that's a different matter, you can't expect silence, and trying to enforce it could mean they'll never want to try it again.
Slimbridge did very well a long time ago with its "geese have ears" signs outside and inside the hides. Not "bossing people about" but suggesting a good way to behave.
Every sympathy re the loud "senior citizens": I have experienced similar from so-called wardens on reserves, yelling about last weekend's party and the next.
But children, that's a different matter, you can't expect silence, and trying to enforce it could mean they'll never want to try it again.
Ranger James
Well-known member
Its a really tricky one to balance, my preference is conversation rather than signs, but not everyone is comfortable with that.
"These greenshank will come really close to the hide if we keep our voices down..." is much more engaging than a sign suggesting hushed tones, however it does raise the possibility of a rude reply!
Its a good job the best time of day to photograph from the island hide is late evening - when far fewer people are about anyway!
"These greenshank will come really close to the hide if we keep our voices down..." is much more engaging than a sign suggesting hushed tones, however it does raise the possibility of a rude reply!
Its a good job the best time of day to photograph from the island hide is late evening - when far fewer people are about anyway!
mollymawk
Well-known member
These are interesting comments.
During my most recent visit (and I am a great fan), there were a number of interested if not experienced birders who were able to work through some of the identification challenges of autumn waders and do it quietly. And I managed some pleasing shots.
So it can be done.
During my most recent visit (and I am a great fan), there were a number of interested if not experienced birders who were able to work through some of the identification challenges of autumn waders and do it quietly. And I managed some pleasing shots.
So it can be done.
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I suppose this is the tongue in cheek bit...
What is the point of a hide unless it is to get closer to the birds and/or allow the birds to come closer without disturbance to give views to all visitors whether or not they have expensive optical equipment? (e.g. children?)
There is no need for the hide if it is the domain for people with scopes anyway, they can surely see almost everything from walking around the perimeter of a lake/marsh.
Whilst some birds do not seem to mind a bit of noise, I still think the quietness & whispering tones in a hide adds to the overall experience of possibly something a little special for non regular visitors.
What is the point of a hide unless it is to get closer to the birds and/or allow the birds to come closer without disturbance to give views to all visitors whether or not they have expensive optical equipment? (e.g. children?)
There is no need for the hide if it is the domain for people with scopes anyway, they can surely see almost everything from walking around the perimeter of a lake/marsh.
Whilst some birds do not seem to mind a bit of noise, I still think the quietness & whispering tones in a hide adds to the overall experience of possibly something a little special for non regular visitors.
mollymawk
Well-known member
I find myself in full agreement.....
I asked myself the question as to whether the sightings of Little Stint on Thursday and Saturday were of the same bird. Sue Smith kindly provided an excellent photo of her Little Stint on Thursday which I compared with a photo taken on Saturday which showed that two birds were involved.
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![Susans Little Stint 101[1].JPG](/data/attachments/314/314514-37fb708242d516cc061ad26ac41eaca9.jpg)
Ranger James
Well-known member
Cuckoo flew overhead as I was leaving site yesterday, from estuary corner of BHM and shot down into the hedge at the far end of Stafford Marsh, has anyone caught up with this species with a camera this autumn on the wetlands?
As for hide noise, I think we are all in broad agreement that there is an optimum level of noise which doesn't involve silence or raucousness, but somewhere in the middle.
James
As for hide noise, I think we are all in broad agreement that there is an optimum level of noise which doesn't involve silence or raucousness, but somewhere in the middle.
James
Phil Abbott
Well-known member
Thats the best i could do im affraid,
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Ranger James
Well-known member
Cheers Phil - well, its definitely a cuckoo! Obviously prospecting for next year's breeding attempt... !
Phil Abbott
Well-known member
A distant shot of Sundays osprey which only stayed for 10 minutes.
Ranger James
Well-known member
Young hobby over Stafford Marsh Wed afternoon, got a few pics which I will post later, but no great shot.
Sky was full of hirudines, thousands of them! Quiet on Black Hole Marsh lagoon.
James
Sky was full of hirudines, thousands of them! Quiet on Black Hole Marsh lagoon.
James
