Posted by szekiat chan on February 2, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Hi, just wondering if anyone here shoots regularly at LVNP? I normally go there around this time of the year to catch a sight of the bittern and nothing much else. Any reccomendations on what else i ought to be looking out for as i go down this time? I'm only asking as transportation is limited to national rail for me and hence i can't visit regularly to do my own surveying....thanks in advance!
regards
szekiat
Posted by Chris Lloyd on February 2, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Hi Szekiat,
I live a few minutes from the park and go most days. There is nothing that I can say you will definetly see, I guess alot of it is luck. Kingfishers are quite abundant within the park, as are woodpeckers. If you are lucky you may spot a fox or weasel, I have spotted a few Bullfinch lately that I had never seen before.
Hope that helps somehow!
Regards Chris.
www.c-m-l.com
Posted by Michael Sayles on February 2, 2007 at 11:05 AM
I used to live fairly near the park, and can't add much to what Chris has written. I visited around 20 times during the years when I lived nearby, and all I ever saw (in addition to the bittern) of note was a kingfisher once!
Michael S
Posted by Nick Railton on February 2, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Hi Szekiat,
I have not visited Lee Valley before I just spoke to a chap at LVNP he said that since they have expanded the reed beds the bitterns are very rarely seen because they have more space to use. perhaps Chris can confirm this?
Cheers
Nick
Posted by Chris Lloyd on February 2, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Hi Szekiat,
Yes the Bittern has only been seen once this year, whereas in previous years it was a regular. They are now re-building the Bittern Watchpoint so this will add to the disturbance, why people can't leave things as they are I will never know!!
There is a Bittern at Great Amwell but it is always too far away and the reedbed is too extensive so you never know where you are going too see it.
Hope this helps
regards Chris.
Posted by szekiat chan on February 2, 2007 at 2:54 PM
oh well......its a pity. The watchpoint was in great condition last year! I'm really more interested in the kingfisher though as i'm curious as too where they hang out in winter. Anyone up for a meetup this weekend?
I visited LVNP last week on the day snow fell around London. Unfortunately with various problems affecting my photography gear at the moment I resigned myself to a walk around to see what was about with no chance to capture any images. Now normally that would mean the bittern jumping around bold as brass showing to anyone who cared to look but with the work being done on the watchpoint and the extension to the reed beds I saw very little.
There seemed to be fewer shoveller, tufted duck etc than I have seen previously at this time of year, however the robins seemed to be as confiding and obliging as usual allowing very close approaches.
For Kingfisher try walkin along the river outside the bittern watchpoint and around seventy acre lake (turning left if you were leaving the hide). I have often seen kingfisher darting up and down here and resting/fishing at the bends.
Also the bridge crossing the canal near Cheshunt Lake is often a good place for long tailed,Blue and Great tits, dunnock, robin, chaffinch and many others attracted by the food left nearby.
For the same reason don't discount the car park at fishers green where sneaky Jay will come out of hiding for nuts etc left by visitors and redwing often feed amongst the leaf litter.
As others have mentioned you can never be sure of what you might see, but I have never come away without seeing something that made the visit worthwhile.
Discussion
6 repliesregards
szekiat
I live a few minutes from the park and go most days. There is nothing that I can say you will definetly see, I guess alot of it is luck. Kingfishers are quite abundant within the park, as are woodpeckers. If you are lucky you may spot a fox or weasel, I have spotted a few Bullfinch lately that I had never seen before.
Hope that helps somehow!
Regards Chris.
www.c-m-l.com
Michael S
I have not visited Lee Valley before I just spoke to a chap at LVNP he said that since they have expanded the reed beds the bitterns are very rarely seen because they have more space to use. perhaps Chris can confirm this?
Cheers
Nick
Yes the Bittern has only been seen once this year, whereas in previous years it was a regular. They are now re-building the Bittern Watchpoint so this will add to the disturbance, why people can't leave things as they are I will never know!!
There is a Bittern at Great Amwell but it is always too far away and the reedbed is too extensive so you never know where you are going too see it.
Hope this helps
regards Chris.
I visited LVNP last week on the day snow fell around London. Unfortunately with various problems affecting my photography gear at the moment I resigned myself to a walk around to see what was about with no chance to capture any images. Now normally that would mean the bittern jumping around bold as brass showing to anyone who cared to look but with the work being done on the watchpoint and the extension to the reed beds I saw very little.
There seemed to be fewer shoveller, tufted duck etc than I have seen previously at this time of year, however the robins seemed to be as confiding and obliging as usual allowing very close approaches.
For Kingfisher try walkin along the river outside the bittern watchpoint and around seventy acre lake (turning left if you were leaving the hide). I have often seen kingfisher darting up and down here and resting/fishing at the bends.
Also the bridge crossing the canal near Cheshunt Lake is often a good place for long tailed,Blue and Great tits, dunnock, robin, chaffinch and many others attracted by the food left nearby.
For the same reason don't discount the car park at fishers green where sneaky Jay will come out of hiding for nuts etc left by visitors and redwing often feed amongst the leaf litter.
As others have mentioned you can never be sure of what you might see, but I have never come away without seeing something that made the visit worthwhile.