Rogerstown hides

swifts need our help!

Does anyone have any opinions on which bird hide is better - north or south hide?

Half-cocked

This time of the year you will have the sun in your eyes if you are in the north hide. South hide gets more crowded but you will probably see more from it.

swifts need our help!

Thanks. Is there camera room on a busy day? Is it best to get down asap?

Desmo

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Thanks. Is there camera room on a busy day? Is it best to get down asap?

I have only been there (south hide) a few times and it has been quiet enough (normal saturday at say 2.00pm). Over the holidays it does sound busy (sat sun over the weekend?) but normally it is no prob.
The hides overlook the mudflats. If you want to see the harriers etc., they are out and about and the hides make no difference. Look out for groups of people with huge lenses :-)

tororosso

Half-cocked wrote: »

This time of the year you will have the sun in your eyes if you are in the north hide. South hide gets more crowded but you will probably see more from it.

Only out there recently but both times with the sun low and coming from the south you really don't want to be in the north hide (also not having to walk through the muddy field is a bonus!) but it is easy to see how the South hide can be full! Funnily enough was down there with another photographer and noticed that a guy with a big lens and tripod was getting great shots of a kestrel from halfway up the lane to the hide. It would have been hard to get those shots from inside the restriction of the hide. On my second visit I noticed two Red Kites flying over on the right hand side above the forests on the approach lane to the south hide. From what I gather it is better to be out and about for some of the bigger birds (albeit with camoflage and a bit of stealth) than in the hide but the hide is fantastic to observe the birds that will situate themselves on the mud as the tide goes out! Hope this is of some use!! I am speaking from a photography perspective only as the hide is perfect for observing everything out there!

P.S: Happy New Year

Half-cocked

Have to agree, you can get some great birding on the walk to and from the hide.

swifts need our help!

thanks for the advice