NEW HIDE AT WHELFORD POOLS

A new hide has been constructed to replace a dilapidated old one at Whelford Pools, a Gloucester Wildlife Trusts reserve near Fairford   and I decided to check it out today. It was a mild and fairly sunny afternoon with little wind as I parked in the small deserted car park. 

The hide in question is only a hundred yards or so from the car park, so I soon located it. Built with similar features to the previous hide, it overlooks a small pond on one side, and has views to the lake in front of it. Sadly the lake is at a distance and I think it would benefit from a feeding station in front of the hide to attract the birds. There was little wildlife on the lake itself, a few swans and a raft of black headed gulls were all that could be seen from the hide.  

A path through some a wooded area leads to a second hide, which has better views of two lakes with an area of scrub between them. Again only a few great crested grebes and cormorants were on the lakes but I sat for a while, enjoying the antics of a group of long tailed tits close in front of the hide. A wren also made a brief appearance as well as a few blue and great tits. 

the new hide