Thread: Thatcham Reed Beds Nature reserve

Took a few more pictures when I managed to find a spare hour.

This really is a nice place to spend a couple of hours on a warm day, whether just feeding the Ducks, Geese, Moorhens and Coots, or sitting and watching the Grebe and Tufted Ducks on the main lake.

There are several long walks available, they skirt the lakes and reed beds, the visitor centre is being refurbished at the moment due to flood damage, but when finished wiill provide refreshments, teaching facilities, a powerful spotting scope and much more.

Below is a panorama of the main lake and an infrared photo. Plus I've added some photos from subsequent visits, which include Tufted ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Cormorant, Pochard, Brown Rat and Canada Geese.

These were fairly close to the shore.

Nice place to visit. Will have to look into this area when I visit my son in Yateley.

Here's a scan of the site plan, was a little too big for the scanner, so had to stitch it together, not very well as it happens.

That's right up my street. Will be visiting Yateley in the fall . Will have to look at the area and pop over there

Bit of a shame, I went down there today and borrowed the key to the hide, but after 20 minutes of trying to get the door open I had to give up, looks like the kids have been trying to force it with a very large screwdriver and damaged it. So a bit of a wasted afternoon with no photographs.

Ahhhh
That is so tiresome. I think it's down to lack of parental influence

Don't get me started on that.

I was looking forward to a couple of lazy hours overlooking the reedbeds, but I'm sure I'll get another chance.

You will.
Just ask the boss. He seams a nice enough chap. I'm sure he'll give you an afternoon off.

Well some has to win the bread.

It was a first for me as well Babs, in fact it wasn't until I'd been there that I'd seen A Great Crested Grebe as well.

The nice thing there is that they come in relatively close to the shore, not as close as the other wildfowl, but close enough to get a decent shot.

They visit the estuary now and then but are too far out to get a good pic
So Yes you did very well

Haven't been there for a while Billy, but it is a good place to practice with different lenses, as there are both close and long shots available.

Do you have a tripod and what lens do you use?

Yes, the hide is a bit of a hike, particularly if you're carrying a tripod and cameras, not been back to it since I couldn't get in.

Glad you found the main lake useful though, I've enjoyed photographing birds there on may occasions.