Friday, 22 August 2025
Warburg Reserve - Friday 22nd August 2025
Managing expectations at Warburg Reserve - Today I visited the hide overlooking the pond at 0600hrs. There were already three people in attendance. By 0700hrs it was standing room only. The hide itself is small and has only three viewing windows. At a push four can sit.
People were being turned away. Photographers and Birders are travelling long distances to see the family of Hawfinches. Of course the issue arises that there is no set time for the birds arrival. Today Male adult and Juvenile late morning, female mid-afternoon. So seats were taken for many hours. The car park itself is small. The weather this Bank Holday weekend is set fair and Warburg will be expecting quite a few visitors families etc. Just a heads up - you may be disappoined and it may be to your advantage to come later in the week.
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Unfortunately there is a bottomless pit of listers and photographers who never contribute anything to the birding scene off their own back but are ready and waiting to visit someones quiet local patch to get instant success and then to post their photos and reports on numerous sites and bathe in the glory. I would keep your sightings private or maybe release the info at a later date.
ReplyDeleteSo you're complaining about people not contributing anything to the scene, and your solution to this is not to contribute anything to the scene?
DeleteOh the irony of you posting this anonymously
ReplyDeleteNature is for everyone. Today those in the hide were not wanting to bathe in glory or report on numerous sites. They were interested only in witnessing and perhaps photographing a bird they had not seen previously seen or been able to photograph before.
ReplyDeleteWell said.It is such a shame there is so much negativity and even hostility associated with birding these days
ReplyDeleteAre you for real 😂
DeleteI would just like to make one more comment. I am not at all worried about listers and photographers who contribute to social media even if they were present in the hide. All are welcome at Warburg. It is extremely good for their own well being and mental health. All lists are very welcome here at Warburg. We keep records going back many years which gives an understanding of how to maintain the reserve going forward.
ReplyDeleteI watched the birds coming to the pond last Saturday. It was one of the most exciting birding experiences that I've had this year. To see so many birds at such close quarters was amazing. True, the Hawfinches were the cream but it would have been very satisfying without them. We joined four other people in the hide just after midday, and they graciously made room so that we could have a seat at one of the windows. Obviously the posts via this blog have increased the exposure for the site, I deliberately didn't post exact details on my own post, but to be fair the cat was already out there. I myself, acted on your own posting of the juvenile Hawfinch some weeks ago. The only question I'd ask is, should admittance to the reserve be for BBOWT members only? If it was then that detail could be broadcast to save folk travelling long distances to see the birds. Most of all though, thank you for creating such an active pond that the birds, other wildlife, and visitors can enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI visited on Friday morning at 08:00 am and realised the hide was full so went to Otmoor. I returned around 15:00 and the hide quickly emptied. By the time I departed about an hour later it was empty. I had fabulous views of all the target birds including Hawfinch. Thank you for creating such a magnificent site.
ReplyDeleteReally 🤔
ReplyDelete