Bird Collections

Bwassa

Bwassa

Well-Known Member
I have been looking at the photos from Harewood House and Lotherton Hall( 2 places I've never been to), and realise that these places are but a short drive from home. I was wondering what specialist bird collections you guys and girls would recommend visiting? I've already been to Eagle Heights; Newent Bird of Prey Centre; Blackbrook Zoo; Martinmere, and Slimbridge. I'm definately visiting Lotherton as soon as they re-open.
 
Birdland in the Cotswolds has a nice collection , in particular breeding king penguins , nearby Cotswold wildlife park also has a very good bird collection .
 
Harewood,Lotherton and Birdland are worth a visit,on my last visit 2 Birdworld a couple of years ago thought it was going down hill a bit.
 
Birdworld is supposed to spending a lot of money on new exhibits, we shall ahve to wait and see what happens there. They said this a few years ago and the only new exhibit built was the large free flight macaw/ parrot aviary. Would go along with David and say that Blackbrook is definitely the best UK bird collection at present. Birdland has done a lot of rebuilding of cages etc which I haven't seen yet, hope to see it in a few weeks when I am down that way. Another good UK bird collection is the Tropical Bird Gardens in Desford which has been gradually improving over the years.
 
Thanks guys. Apart from the King Penguins, what other species of interest are at Birdland? Anything unusual, or not commonly seen? Like the Piping Guans at Lotherton.
 
Bwassa said:
Thanks guys. Apart from the King Penguins, what other species of interest are at Birdland? Anything unusual, or not commonly seen? Like the Piping Guans at Lotherton.
Click to expand...
Grey Tree Pies spring to mind apart from that it just in a nice setting.Thats not say the other birds aren`t intresting its a good collection quite well balanced.
 
I've not been to Birdworld for some time but when I last went I thought it was excellent. As for Harewood - I used to go every year or two, but stopped a few years ago as it was really going down the pan. Most of the best species seemed to die off and not be replaced, in fact it seemed like half the collection was made up of Bali Starlings!!! They also got rid of the small tropical exhibit at the entrance and replaced it with some educational displays (i.e. information boards). :(
 
Another nice species at Birdland is the carmine bee-eater in a small Desert House . There is a Tropical House but last year there were very few birds in it . There is a lot of fast flowing water with trout in a lake .
 
Cotswold Falconry centre has some unusual species on show, as does Bay Tree Owl centre near Spalding which has a few odd owl species there. Another specialist collection is the National Parrot Sanctuary just the other side of Boston in Lincs which although a mainly rescue sanctuary has a lot of Parrot species.
 
Bele said:
Another nice species at Birdland is the carmine bee-eater in a small Desert House .

Always wanted to see this species! Birdland is sounding very likely for a visit this year! Thanks to everyone who posted replies, keep 'em coming.:)
Click to expand...
 
There is also a bird park on the isle of wight which has ornate lorikeets apparently... I don't know any more though...
 
There is Flamingo Park ( think that is what is is called ) at Seaview on the Isle of Wight . They have a lot of waterfowl , penguins , pelicans , 3 species of flamingo in sparate aviaries ( with breeding Chilean and Carribeans ) some parrots . There is a large Tropical House though when I was there a couple of years ago not many birds in it . Also beavers . Bit of a strange place I think .

There was a Tropical Bird Garden at St. Lawrence but that is long closed . Amazon World has some very choice bird species but in far from ideal housing .
 
Harewood and Lotherton Hall definitely have bird collections worth seeing. I would also add for waterfowl (and others) Blackbrook, for birds of prey and displays Hawk Conservancy Trust, and parrots Paradise Park in Cornwall.
 
Bwassa said:
twycrosszoo said:
Cotswold Falconry centre has some unusual species on show

Such as ....... Any Eagles or Vultures?
Click to expand...
Bateleur Eagle,African White-backed Vulture,Ashy-faced Owl,Bald Eagle,African Goshawk,Harris`s Hawk,Swainsons Hawk,Secretarybird,Mountain Caracara,Striated Caracara,Crested Caracara,Yellow-headed Carcara,Chimango Caracara,American Kestrel,Greater Kestrel,Turkey Vulture they also have at least another 6 or 7 species of Owl and a few other species of Hawks and Falcons.Sorry i cannot remember any more than these hope its enough for you.
Click to expand...
 
Bwassa said:
twycrosszoo said:
Cotswold Falconry centre has some unusual species on show

Such as ....... Any Eagles or Vultures?
Click to expand...

There's about 60 species including 5 species of Caracara, Pairs of Secretary Birds, Swainson's Hawks, Greater Kestrels, 20+ species of owls.
Interesting species currently not on public view Jackal Buzzard, Harlan's Hawk, Wahlberg's Eagle, African Goshawk most likely to join displays later in year.

Eagles & Vultures
Bateleur, Golden, Bald, Indian Tawny, Black Chested Buzzard Eagles
Rueppell's, White Backed, Palm nut, Turkey Vultures

Pair of Hooded Vultures to go on view in near future.
Click to expand...
 
zoogiraffe said:
Bwassa said:
Bateleur Eagle,African White-backed Vulture,Ashy-faced Owl,Bald Eagle,African Goshawk,Harris`s Hawk,Swainsons Hawk,Secretarybird,Mountain Caracara,Striated Caracara,Crested Caracara,Yellow-headed Carcara,Chimango Caracara,American Kestrel,Greater Kestrel,Turkey Vulture they also have at least another 6 or 7 species of Owl and a few other species of Hawks and Falcons.Sorry i cannot remember any more than these hope its enough for you.
Click to expand...

They had a worlds first captive breeding last year with the yellow headed caracara.
Click to expand...
 
kiang said:
zoogiraffe said:
They had a worlds first captive breeding last year with the yellow headed caracara.
Click to expand...

Believed UK first breeding in 2006, Parc Paradisio in Belgium had definately bred them before Cotswold Falconry. Young were exchanged in 2007.

Below is a list of species bred at Cotswold Falconry

Common Buzzard
Common Kestrel
Barn Owl
Lanner Falcon
Crested Caracara
European Eagle Owl
MacKinder's Eagle Owl
Boobook Hawk Owl
Tawny Owl
Great Horned Owl
Peregrine Falcon
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Striated Caracara
White-faced Scops Owl
Bateleur Eagle
Chaco Owl
Turkey Vulture
Ferruginous Hawk
Harris Hawk
White-eyed (Greater) Kestrel
Yellow headed Caracara
Black Kite
Brown Wood Owl
Long Eared Owl
Common Scops
American Kestrel
Snowy Owl
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top