Best place in my area to see....

[chaz g harrison]

Can I suggest a topic?

A place and season when, from your own experience, a particular species is a reliable or occasional presence.

A few "rules" (well, guidelines)
1 It must be a place where you often go
2 It must be a species you have seen there several times
3 The bird doesn't have to be a rarity but I suggest avoiding those that crop up everywhere!

So, I will kick this one off with...........

Best place in my area to see...

Green sandpipers
Lower Test Marshes, Totton, nr Southampton.
Birds present on the scrape and often visible from the hide.
Often just a single bird, but I have seen six together.
Present most of the year.

Chaz

[Twitcheruth]

I'm very lucky in that my local nature reserve (Marbury Country Park,Cheshire) is within easy walking distance and is the best place to see;
Bittern,Kingfisher,Water Rail and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.
Another local reserve is reliable for Green Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plovers at the right time of year!

[JONNY74]

Inner Marsh Farm RSPB, Cheshire. Guaranteed to see Little Egret. Good chance to see Water Rail. And at this time of year great chance of Hobby.

[chaz g harrison]

Nice ones, Jonny and Ruth.............keep 'em coming!

Chaz

[PeterB]

My regular haunt is College Lake, near Tring.

Redshank, Lapwings, Common Terns, Oyster Catchers, LRP and a million Canadian Geese.

I also get Long Tailed Tits, my favourite and all the usual Peckers, Warblers and Buntings. Kingfishers and all the normal hawks including a pair of Hobbys (or is it Hobbies).

[chaz g harrison]

Best place in my area to see

Crossbills

In the car park at Beaulieu Road railway station, in the New Forest. There is a stand of pine trees on both sides of the railway and crossbills occur here from time to time. I was there briefly yesterday and missed 'em but on my previous visit there were several showing, both in the trees and taking water from a large puddle.

Chaz

[JONNY74]

Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire. Bearded Tit and Bittern both present and very possible with a little luck. And at this time of year guarantee of Marsh Harrier and even a chance to see the male and female food pass in the air!

[chaz g harrison]

Best place in my area to see ospreys

Regular sightings at the Lower Test Marshes, Totton nr Southampton in mid-september. They often stay for a week or more. If I'm lucky I will get a decent snap this year!

Chaz