Good birding locations: Oxfordshire

aerobandit · 24 Jul 2011

Ive noticed thread with landscapes location so I thought I'll ask for birding in Oxon or nearby. I know about Otmoor and Farmoor but is there anything else worth a long walk?

Laffles · 24 Jul 2011

There are these public toilets in Hampstead, London that are exellent. oh wait, BIRDING, ignore me.

aerobandit · 25 Jul 2011

Laffles said:
There are these public toilets in Hampstead, London that are exellent.

Thanks but I'm not intersted in your love life. I asked about places to watch birds.

Byker28i · 25 Jul 2011

I'm not sure that way out, but Slimbridge is only about 75 mins from you? A great place to spend the day.

Or South Cerney lakes. A little hit and miss at times but there's some great new hides.

aerobandit · 25 Jul 2011

Byker28i said:
I'm not sure that way out, but Slimbridge is only about 75 mins from you? A great place to spend the day.

Or South Cerney lakes. A little hit and miss at times but there's some great new hides.

I didnt know about hides near south cerney lakes. Thanks

Im planning to visit Slimbridge in near future. I've heard that its a great location.

chewyuk · 26 Jul 2011

Go to Stokenchurch and watch Red Kites all day.

footman · 26 Jul 2011

chewyuk said:
Go to Stokenchurch and watch Red Kites all day.

Good day out that, more specifically, Watlington Hill.

Byker28i · 26 Jul 2011

sthwild said:
I didnt know about hides near south cerney lakes. Thanks
Im planning to visit Slimbridge in near future. I've heard that its a great location.

We went walking the dog around there. There's a huge new one that's been designed, a beautiful leaf like structure with enormous windows, called Reed Hide.
I can't find a picture but I found some info which says
Reed Hide, so called because it is sited in a newly planted waterscape of some 5 hectares of reeds, is superbly located with uninterrupted views of Reed Lagoon that is habitat to a huge variety of bird life. Cleveland Lakes is already attracting sedge, cettis and reed warblers, common sandpiper, kingfisher, marsh harrier, swan, geese, pochard, widgeon, tufted duck, coot, mallard, tern, and grebe. Moreover the new habitat has been designed to fulfil the Water Parks Biodiversity Action Plan and benefit rarer visitors, such as bittern, in the hope that they remain and eventually breed in this stunning environment. The Reed Hide overlooks one of the largest heronries in the South West an extraordinary sight in spring when the herons are nesting in the high trees opposite.

Maps are available here: http://www.waterpark.org/gen/water_park_map.html