Another Hello from Reading

[RacingSnake]

Hi all,
Not sure how active this forum is?! but found it whilst trying to find a good spot for owl spotting in/around Reading.
I live in Lower Earley, and whilst we get an abundance of kites/buzzards and a selection of garden birds, I'm finding the owls are rather elusive!


Looking forward to reading through some of the things on here and seeing what I can find out

Gav

[rolf]

Hi Gav, welcome to the forum. Not the busiest in the world, but always someone about.

Not so sure about Owl sites, although I'd like to spot some myself.

[joe]

Hi Gav, There is a barn owl box at Dinton Pastures visible from the path leading tp Bittern hide
Joe

[Catherine]

Welcome from me too, Gavin!

I live too far south of you to be able to help.

Although we hear many Tawny Owls in the Oak trees around here at night, we very seldom see them.

I hope you have more luck up in the Reading area!

[RacingSnake]

Cheers guys,
Joe, I've seen that box up there, but have always wondered if it's actually used? there are always kids trying to scrabble up that tree

I'll keep checking back here from time to time, as at least there are some locals here!!

[rolf]

Here's a photo of it taken by one of our members.

[RacingSnake]

erm, that's clearly not the same one I'm thinking of... I was thinking of the box that's mounted on the big oak tree on the corner of the lake, about 200 yards further round from the rowing club.
Will definitely head out there for a gander then.
I hear they've got kingfishers at dinton too, that's also on my list for 2013

[rolf]

That's on the car park side of Lavell's lake, where there are also Kingfishers.

[RacingSnake]

*heads off to google maps*

[RacingSnake]

Ok, the other side of Sandford Lane, and I see there is a car park too.
Awesome. Thanks guys!

[rolf]

Yep, a great little lake, two hides available and if you join the Friends of Lavell's group, there's a brand new third hide on the adjacent Lea Farm Gravel pit.
http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/p...e-reserve.html

[RacingSnake]

Brilliant Rolf, thanks for the heads up.

[RacingSnake]

Yep, a great little lake, two hides available and if you join the Friends of Lavell's group, there's a brand new third hide on the adjacent Lea Farm Gravel pit.
http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/p...e-reserve.html

Joined

[rolf]

Also worth doing Gav, is to follow them on twitter, then enable text alerts for rarities, from memory you need to pay another couple of quid a year, but well worth it, have seen some interesting birds because of it and also berksbirdnews on twitter, alerts are as shown below.

You will of course need a twitter account which is easy to set up.

[RacingSnake]

I'm actually already on twitter - I use it to complain to Orange, or Ebay! lol
So I'll add those 2 to my 'following' list.

Thanks!

[joe]

Gav, just a warning the carpark by Lavell's is a pay and display, tickets from the machine at the multi activity centre.
Joe

[RacingSnake]

Gav, just a warning the carpark by Lavell's is a pay and display, tickets from the machine at the multi activity centre.
Joe

Well, That couldn't have been more apt...
I have only just 10 minutes ago got back from a quick trip up there to make sure it was where I thought, see where the owl box was etc... and I couldn't see the blasted machine so wrote a note and put it in my windows saying I don't know where the machine is! so thanks for that!!

On a different note, it is damned waterlogged over there at the moment, I didn't even get to the teal hide as it just got too muddy (and I was in Trainers).
Still the objective was to check the place out, so I know for next time!