Was a the Bunting hide this morning could say it had a little water present, got there just as the ranger ws putting out the seed she didn't venture to the middle as she didn't bring her chest waders - but there was a pair of Swans paddling around which was a first for me at the Bunting Hide,Blue ,Great and long tailed tits present, Pengy's had a Tufted and a large Heron.

dave broome wrote:

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Three Sisters has a screen/hide hybrid which is belting for watching several million grey squirrels from

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I agree with you there Dave... it's pretty good I reckon... I saw my first G.S. Woodpecker there too.

There's also a screen/hide hybrid in Haigh Country Park (near the mini railway thingie)... although it'll not keep the wind and rain out there's a bench there and some feeding stations... that too is a place I saw my first Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch.

Have to say though... my favourite is at Pennington Flash and is the Bunting Hide... I've told a lot of people across the www - many are envious re: the population/frequency of visits by Bullfinch there - have to say, it's great for seeing passerines - love the place... that is, when it's not waterlogged... last time I went it was like a ruddy swamp - the Mallard and Moorhen didn't seem to mind though.

Neil.

There is a hide near Rock Hall at Crompton Lodges, several screens in the Wigan Flashes (unfortunately all facing south, not the best direction for looking into). Hope Carr used to have one, but determined attacks by vandals, even though brick built, meant that it had to be pulled down. The Etherow CP is public.
The tall hide on the S side at Pennington Flash (the Cormorant Hide as it was called), and reached by stairs, was great for the gull roost, because the sun was behind you. Inevitably it was vandalised though never actually burnt down. As I remember it was rot that caused its demise.

Steve Scrimgeour wrote:

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That lovely aroma that welcomes you at Broad Ees just makes you want to return time and time again doesnt it.....NOT.

It has fond memories for me does that hide Steve, after I entered it one morning and a Great White Egret was wading around in full view, ah the memories

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 15:48, 2008-04-10

does anyone know if the Eastwood hides are still standing? One of these was an antique from 1913 I think??

That lovely aroma that welcomes you at Broad Ees just makes you want to return time and time again doesnt it.....NOT.

Trafford Park Ecology Park,

Has a Hide, but not the variety of birds that everywhere else seems to have....

Steve

There is a brick-built hide overlooking Broad Ees Dole, Sale WP which is gradually coming round again having been drained off to remove an invasive plant. It tends to be a bit public and scrotes sometimes use it to smoke dope or **** in! A few years back there was a very good wooden hide on the N side of the Dole but surprise, surprise said scrotes - sorry 'disadvantaged youth' - burnt it to the ground

Gentlemen, lunatics, with and without fringes you are doing this thread proud and showing the ringers of the world that we are indeed proud of our hides.
But are we trying to acquire advanced news from the woosey/warford report.

As Mr Woosey says pennington holds 7 hides and I think we can all agree that Horrocks hide is the epicentre of GM birding.

However ,a leak from the report does take into consideration the permit hides as well, for these are formidable brick structures.

The Audenshaw hide which I always reach just after a storm

The Heaton park concreate cell, currently under investigation by the health and safety mob after warfy hurt his finger closing the steel door

The very exculsive shell nature reserve,has hides hand built by an extremely talented craftsman, the new extension the to main hide puts it on a par with Horrocks hide.
Public brick strutures do include the mersey valley and a fine one overlooks broad ees dole.

Also to be taken into consideration is the portable hide, the ever present White van at rarity sites in gm as seen used by our very own Birder of the year at the desert wheater to shelter behind while taking his photos is a hide in its own right.

I feel additons to this thread will be welcomed and an inevitable plaque will be voted for.

KEEP.....HIDING

Three Sisters has a screen/hide hybrid which is belting for watching several million grey squirrels from

Craig Higson wrote:

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Just dawned on me - and this is likely to be largely related to the fact that I usually turn into a toad if I leave the borough of Wigan (unless I'm east coast bound) - but I cant actually think of that many places in GM that have publicly accessible hides. Screens yes, but hides?

Please enlighten me.

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Hides (non permit) that I can think of ;

Pennington - 7
Watergrove Res - 1
Hollingworth Lake - 1
Etherow CP - 1 (?) This too might be CWT permit only ?

The locals might know better..........

I`m like you Craig - the only hide I use is a pie wrapper pulled over me yed !

Just dawned on me - and this is likely to be largely related to the fact that I usually turn into a toad if I leave the borough of Wigan (unless I'm east coast bound) - but I cant actually think of that many places in GM that have publicly accessible hides. Screens yes, but hides?

Please enlighten me.

Nowt wrong with the Lapwing Hide-a good solid structure giving shelter from the elements!

Its the lack of birdlife seen from it thats the problem

Horrocks Hide - got to be.

Does anyone else remember Lapwing hide atPennington being nominated for worst hide in the country, or was that just an urban myth?

it,s a matter of personal taste but i prefer the screen that over looks bryn marsh for it,s early morning solitude and potential(somthing will turn up one day).I can guess that statiscally horrocks hide is the most productive and mr hulmes chair the comfyist,are there many better out there??(mr.broomes dads vantage point obviously is 5 star birding and is ruled out as a residence) cheers geoff