Hang out in a hide!

Ten great bird hides

27th October, 2008

Otter, kingfisher, vole, deer, heron, flocks of pink-footed geese – the sheer number of species you can spot from a bird hide is enthralling. Bill Oddie’s favourite is the Macdonald hide on Brownsea Island in Dorset. This bird hide is built into a lagoon, looked after by Dorset Wildlife Trust, and allows close access to shelducks, teal, black-tailed godwits… the list goes on and, if you get lucky, you might even glimpse some spoonbills too.

Can’t get to Brownsea Island before 8 November? Never mind – there are 2,200 Wildlife Trust reserves spread across the UK, and some brilliant bird hides are nestled away in many of them. Here are just a few of those on offer:

Catcott Lows (Somerset Wildlife Trust)

Catcott Lows is a fen community criss-crossed with ditches and sprung with wild herbs. During the autumn and winter months look for the distinctive crest of the lapwing, or the quick dash of a golden plover, tracked from above by a menacing marsh harrier. From the large bird hide looking out over Catcott Lows you can also see Glastonbury Tor which gives a dramatic backdrop. Formerly arable land, Catcott Lows is one of the lowest points in the Brue Valley. Catcott was once an agricultural field growing crops including carrots and potatoes. It has been restored by Somerset Wildlife Trust and now welcomes nationally important wintering and passaging birds.

Location: 1 mile from the village of Catcott, this is 1 mile from the A39, and 8 miles from the M5.
Map ref: ST 400 415
Wheelchair access: Yes
Open: Year round
Admission: Free
More information: www.somersetwildlife.org  

Weeting Heath (Norfolk Wildlife Trust)

Huddled in a bird hide at Weeting Heath while dusk descends, you might be chilled by the banshee-like wail of a stone curlew, frequently seen at the site. They arrive from southern Europe and North Africa in spring and create shallow stony scrapes on the ground in which to breed. Once the chicks are fledged they depart south again in late summer.

Startlingly violet spiked speedwell is among the rare flower species found at Weeting Heath, along with the perfectly formed maiden pink. Such vivid colours attract bees, and butterflies like the small copper. This was the first nature reserve in the UK to fence rabbits in and use them as a primary management tool. Stone Age farmers, who cleared areas of forest to cultivate crops, first created the open Breck heaths. Rabbits were later introduced by the Normans and their foraging created the short grassland, rich in mosses and lichens, which can be seen today.

Location: West of Brandon on the Norfolk/Suffolk border
Map ref: TL 757 881
Wheelchair access: Access to both hides
Open: Visitor centre and nature reserve open April to September, 7am to dusk.
Admission: There is a small charge for entry; free for children and NWT members.
More information: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Hauxley (Northumberland Wildlife Trust)

With superb views down the coast and good access for wheelchair users, Hauxley is a great all round spot for bird-watching. There is a reception hide and four other bird hides dotted around the various pools at the reserve, including the ‘tern hide’ from which you can watch common and arctic terns on a summer afternoon. Oystercatchers are frequently seen picking through the wetland, and lapwings are also present. Otters are often seen in the pools and the woodland and grassland around the site is an excellent place to spot tree sparrows.

Location: Near Amble, Northumberland
Map ref: NU285023
Wheelchair access: There is access to the reception hide which is heated and staffed.
Open: Open all year dawn-dusk. Reception hide open from 10am daily, closed 3pm winter, 5pm summer.
Admission: Free
More information: www.nwt.org.uk

Halsdon, Great Torrington, Mid Devon (Devon Wildlife Trust)

Buried in a steep-sided, wooded valley, Halsdon Nature Reserve overlooks the River Torridge. Amongst the jostling oak, beech and sycamore trees, sit in the hide and look out for gooseander skimming the water, whilst listening for the distinctive clatter of the woodpecker. This is a significant site for otters - the day after it was built a Wildlife Trust volunteer saw her first ever otter after looking for many years.

Location: Near Great Torrington, Devon
Map ref: SS 554 131
Wheelchair access: Yes
Open: Year round
Admission: Access to the reserve is free
More information: www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Poterric Carr (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

This reserve lies within the Potteric Carr basin, an area of low lying land to the south-east of Doncaster. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded, and around 99 species have bred in the last 40 years – very unusual for an inland site. Autumn brings in the wintering birds and a wide ranging colourful display of fungi. Into the winter months the reserve plays host to large numbers of birds and is an excellent spot to see bitterns, water rails and kingfishers. Around 70 species breed here every year including grasshopper, reed and sedge warblers, three woodpecker species and woodcock.

Location: Potteric Carr Nature Reserve is located half a mile from Junction 3 of the M18, just south of Doncaster.
Map Ref: SE599003
Wheelchair access: Yes
Open:  The reserve is open seven days per week, 9am to 5pm. Low Ellers Junction café is open 10am to 4pm.
Admission: Adults £2.50, concession £2.00, child £1.50, family £6.50
More information: www.ywt.org.uk  

Whitacre Heath (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust)

Whitacre Heath in North Warwickshire is astoundingly diverse, with habitats ranging from reedbeds and ungrazed meadow to willow sprung woodland. From the bird hide here bats can be seen flitting low over the pools. You might also see a petite jack snipe bouncing through the reeds as it hunts for prey.

Location: 0.5km southeast of Lee Marston
Map ref: SP 209931
Wheelchair access: No wheelchair access to reserve
Open: Year round
Admission: Access restricted to members only

More information: www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

Loch of the Lowes (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

The bird hides at Loch of the Lowes are most famous for the view you get of breeding ospreys (March to September). But the hides have lots more than this to offer all year round. Great crested grebes, tufted duck and goldeneye can all be seen at the loch, and binoculars and telescopes are provided in the hides for an even closer look. You may also see fallow and roe deer roaming the banks. In the visitor centre you can see highlights of the ospreys during the last season thanks to amazingly clear high definition footage from the nest.

Location: By Dunkeld – 15 miles North of Perth
Map ref: NO050440
Wheelchair access: Yes
Open: Open daily all year round,10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The visitor centre is closed 25 – 26 Dec and 1-2 January.
Admission to the visitor centre: Adults (concessions) £3.50 (£2.50), Family ticket (2 adults up to 4 children) £7.00, SWT members free.
More information: www.swt.org.uk  

Balloo Wetland Reserve (Ulster Wildlife Trust)

Balloo Wetland Reserve has been recently acquired by Ulster Wildlife Trust and much hard work has been put into transforming this former waste ground into a wildlife haven. The bird hide here is a curved, ‘open plan’ design and offers views of numerous wildfowl. There is a sense of anticipation at the reserve as wildlife return to the restored habitat – what might be sighted next? Glimpses of kingfisher over the pools are just the beginning.

Location: Bangor, Co Down
Map ref: NW633333
Wheelchair access: Yes
Open: Year round
Admission: Free
More information: www.ulsterwildlifetrust.org  

Gelli-Hir Wood (Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales)

Ash, sweet chestnut and sycamore cast shadows over this ancient woodland reserve near Swansea. The damp earth of the reserve at the edge of Fairwood common is also home to a pond rich in wildlife. The hide here overlooks the pond, and species such as mallard, moorhen and green sandpiper can be seen.

Location: Fairwood Common, Gower, Swansea
Map ref: SS562924
Wheelchair access: Yes, to central ride
Open: Year round
Admission: Free
More information: www.welshwildlife.org

Montrose Basin (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

A bird haven situated in the heart of Angus on the edge of a tidal estuary, the Basin is of international importance for over 50,000 migratory birds each year. The winter spectacle of over 30,000 pink-footed geese arriving is not to be missed! See wildlife through telescopes and binoculars from the comfort of the visitor centre or enjoy a leisure walk to one of three hides around the reserve.

Location: 1 mile south of Montrose.
Wheelchair access: Yes
Map ref: NO690580
Open: Open daily: 15 March – 15 November from 10.30 am – 5.00 pm, 16 November – 14 March (Friday – Sunday only) from 10.30 am – 4.00 pm. The visitor centre is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.
Admission to the visitor centre: Adults (concessions) £3.50 (£2.50), Family ticket (2 adults up to 4 children) £7.00, SWT members free.
More information: www.swt.org.uk

To find out more about bird watching, why not track down your local Wildlife Trust? Visit the your local Trust page for a map of Wildlife Trusts across the UK.
For more information about Autumnwatch and Wildlife Trust autumn events click here

Story by RSWT

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