Thatcham Reed Beds Nature reserve

**rolf** · 06-07-2007

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.

**rolf** · 06-07-2007

These were fairly close to the shore.

**Chocky** · 10-09-2007

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

**rolf** · 13-09-2007

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.

**Chocky** · 13-09-2007

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

**rolf** · 13-09-2007

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.

**Chocky** · 13-09-2007

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

**rolf** · 13-09-2007

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.

**Chocky** · 13-09-2007

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

***ladylouise62*** · 14-09-2007

Nice chap? He's a bit of an ogre I've heard.. makes him work all hours in all weathers :-)

**Chocky** · 14-09-2007

Well some has to win the bread.

**Babs** · 17-09-2007

Wonderful photo's rolf looks a great place and the first time I have seen a great crested grebe juvenile

**rolf** · 17-09-2007

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.

**Chocky** · 17-09-2007

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

**Billy** · 03-02-2010

i was looking to going to this place, has anyone been there recently... it looks a good place to go get some pictures - spoke to someone in larvell lake hide which recomended going here... just need a photo day...

**rolf** · 03-02-2010

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?

**Billy** · 03-02-2010

i have a long lens 500mm with a 2x thing on it if i need to, i use a olympus e410- 14-42mm and a 40-150mm lenses.. plus some filters and a tripod i got for a tenner, need to upgrade tht its not strong enought to hold the long lens..

***ladylouise62*** · 03-02-2010

Ooh, another Olympus user - yay!

**Billy** · 03-02-2010

Originally Posted by ladylouise62

Ooh, another Olympus user - yay!

are we in a minority?? i wanted a cannon but got the chance to get camera, two lenses, two batterys bag ect for a bargin price so couldnt say no...

***ladylouise62*** · 03-02-2010

are we in a minority??

It seems to be a 'Canon' world. I'm on Flickr and almost all of my friends there have Canons. Apart from hating being one of the crowd, one reason I don't is that when I moved on to the proper camera I took into account the fact that Rolf (my brother) had an Olympus so I could borrow all his lenses

**Billy** · 03-02-2010

Originally Posted by ladylouise62

It seems to be a 'Canon' world. I'm on Flickr and almost all of my friends there have Canons. Apart from hating being one of the crowd, one reason I don't is that when I moved on to the proper camera I took into account the fact that Rolf (my brother) had an Olympus so I could borrow all his lenses

now thats the best reason ever to get one!!

**Billy** · 06-02-2010

i went there, and i personally am not impressed with there signage to the parking for the hide. Poor cars got go fast stripes in mud all over it, due to having to go up and down the road several times till i found it. Then its a fair walk to it, to find it close - proberly should of got a key!

But to be honest, the main lake by the center you cant beat i was able to sit and let them come to me i got some amazing shots. geese came right next to me so i could get close ups and well the swan was a bit grumpy

.. which if the sun had been right i might of got better shots. Got to say i did improve my photos while there so thanks guys for the tips i put them into practice!