adrian1963
Well-Known Member
Arrived just after 10.00am on a dry but chilly morning mind you it was a lot warmer then when I set out, the walk from the bus stop was as stated on the web-site and yes it is a little steep hill leading to the entrance mind you not too bad on the way to the collection but coming back was a different story.
My first impressions of the collection on entering the car park were that it was going to be a good well looked after collection, on the way to the entrance payment area there were a couple of aviaries one containing Snow Owls and the other containing a mix of birds this was a great way to show off what was to come
The collection itself was very, very interesting with many lifer species for myself in captive collections some of the species were very interesting to see for the first time and I didn’t realise how different some of the species actually looked in real life as compared to photographs (which no matter how good have done them any justice).
I found the antics of the White-Headed Buffalo Weavers very interesting to watch as it appeared at least 2 birds were building nests in the upper parts of one of the trees with the Diamond Doves constantly flying around and the Blacksmith’s Plover/Lapwings walking around your feet this made the walk-through very interesting.
If you have the time while in the walk-through then check the shrubs and bushes out as you will find many more species hiding within the foliage also why not have a short rest on one of the benches provided and keep any eye on the feeding table as this brings more species out into the open in general I think this is a very impressive walk-through for a small collection.
Now onto other parts of the collection with so many different species around it was very interesting to note that they also had one or two free flying species while you walked around these included the Military Macaws and Yellow-Backed Chattering Lory this being one of the most beautiful looking species within the collection.
I have never seen so many African Grey Parrots in a collection and to have them in one avairy the size it was made the experience so great and a wonderful insight to the birds actually interacting with each other, there were many more species like this around the collection which made the day so different from collections that have the odd pair of each species.
You can have great views into the hand rearing block which gives you a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes that you usually don’t see was fascinated by the actions of a young Blue and Yellow Macaw in a large plastic box just inside the room from the window this looked very young but wasn’t disturbed by having people looking into the room at any time I was there.
Now onto the Parrot park a great place for young people to get close to such beautiful birds and be educated in the general up keep of these wonderful species and great to have such friendly and knowledgeable staff/volunteers in the area to help people discover the wonderful world of parrots.
Now onto a sore point for some people food the cafe/restaurant caters for both customers and general members of the public which to a small collection like this in a small village is a great way of bringing in extra funds now onto the food itself I must admit I would recommend it to anyone that visits the place as the food was fresh and hot it also looked great and tasted brilliant a little pricey but to someone from the Black Country most places are pricey.
Now onto the negatives must admit only 2 really as this was a wonderful day out firstly I am afraid I am someone who doesn’t like the idea of customers feeding animals no matter what species they are and to let people buy food to feed the birds with and then have notices on the cages stating that the birds within like to bite to me gives out a bad impression, the second negative is the same as most collection there were one or two aviaries that needed a little refurbishment with some of the wooden frontages looking a little worse for wear yet this still didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the day.
Now for my day out rating and experience of the collection rating – with the cost and the entrance fee I will be returning here next month
it must get a 9.5 out of 10
Well done to everyone concerned a great little collection with wonderful staff and a great experience thank you from a very impressed visitor.
AFRICAN GREY APRROT
ALEXANDERINE PARAKEET
BARE EYED COCKATOO
BLACK-HEADED CAIQUES
BLACKSMITH’S PLOVER/LAPWING
BLUE & YELLOW MACAW
BLUE FRONTED AMAZON
CALIFORNIAN QUAIL
CAROLINA WOOD DUCK
CITRON COCKATOO
COMMON OR INDIAN MYNAH
CONGO GREY PARROT
DIAMOND DOVE
ECLECTUS PARROT
EMU
FANTAIL DOVE
FISCHER’S TURACO
GALAHA
GOFFINS COCKATOO
GREEN-WINGED MACAW
GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER
KEA
LAUGHING KOOKABUURA
LEADBEATER COCKATOO
MANDARIN DUCK
MAXIMIANS POINUS
MEALY AMAZON
MEXICAN MILITARY MACAW
NORTHERN CARDINAL
ORANGE-HEADED GROUND THRUSH
ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON PARROT
PATAGONAIN CONURE OR BURROWING PARROT
PEACH-FACED LOVEBIRD
RED BISHOP OR ORANGE WEAVER
RED-BREASTED GOOSE
RED-FRONTED KAKARIKI (MUTATION)
RED-LORED AMAZON
RED-WINGED LAUGHINGTHRUSH
RING-NECKED PARAKEET
SCARLET MACAW
SENEGAL PARROT
SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL
SNOWY OWL
SUN CONURE
TRUMPETER HORNBILL
VILLAGE WEAVER
WHITE-BELLIED CAIQUE
WHITE-HEADED BUFFALO WEAVER
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA
YELLOW CROWNED AMAZON
YELLOW-BACKED CHATTERING LORY
YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW
YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP
We still have 5 species un-named on the gallery so if anyone can help it would be great
hope you enjoyed the review.
My first impressions of the collection on entering the car park were that it was going to be a good well looked after collection, on the way to the entrance payment area there were a couple of aviaries one containing Snow Owls and the other containing a mix of birds this was a great way to show off what was to come
The collection itself was very, very interesting with many lifer species for myself in captive collections some of the species were very interesting to see for the first time and I didn’t realise how different some of the species actually looked in real life as compared to photographs (which no matter how good have done them any justice).
I found the antics of the White-Headed Buffalo Weavers very interesting to watch as it appeared at least 2 birds were building nests in the upper parts of one of the trees with the Diamond Doves constantly flying around and the Blacksmith’s Plover/Lapwings walking around your feet this made the walk-through very interesting.
If you have the time while in the walk-through then check the shrubs and bushes out as you will find many more species hiding within the foliage also why not have a short rest on one of the benches provided and keep any eye on the feeding table as this brings more species out into the open in general I think this is a very impressive walk-through for a small collection.
Now onto other parts of the collection with so many different species around it was very interesting to note that they also had one or two free flying species while you walked around these included the Military Macaws and Yellow-Backed Chattering Lory this being one of the most beautiful looking species within the collection.
I have never seen so many African Grey Parrots in a collection and to have them in one avairy the size it was made the experience so great and a wonderful insight to the birds actually interacting with each other, there were many more species like this around the collection which made the day so different from collections that have the odd pair of each species.
You can have great views into the hand rearing block which gives you a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes that you usually don’t see was fascinated by the actions of a young Blue and Yellow Macaw in a large plastic box just inside the room from the window this looked very young but wasn’t disturbed by having people looking into the room at any time I was there.
Now onto the Parrot park a great place for young people to get close to such beautiful birds and be educated in the general up keep of these wonderful species and great to have such friendly and knowledgeable staff/volunteers in the area to help people discover the wonderful world of parrots.
Now onto a sore point for some people food the cafe/restaurant caters for both customers and general members of the public which to a small collection like this in a small village is a great way of bringing in extra funds now onto the food itself I must admit I would recommend it to anyone that visits the place as the food was fresh and hot it also looked great and tasted brilliant a little pricey but to someone from the Black Country most places are pricey.
Now onto the negatives must admit only 2 really as this was a wonderful day out firstly I am afraid I am someone who doesn’t like the idea of customers feeding animals no matter what species they are and to let people buy food to feed the birds with and then have notices on the cages stating that the birds within like to bite to me gives out a bad impression, the second negative is the same as most collection there were one or two aviaries that needed a little refurbishment with some of the wooden frontages looking a little worse for wear yet this still didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the day.
Now for my day out rating and experience of the collection rating – with the cost and the entrance fee I will be returning here next month
it must get a 9.5 out of 10
Well done to everyone concerned a great little collection with wonderful staff and a great experience thank you from a very impressed visitor.
SPECIES SEEN TODAY
AFRICAN GREY APRROT
ALEXANDERINE PARAKEET
BARE EYED COCKATOO
BLACK-HEADED CAIQUES
BLACKSMITH’S PLOVER/LAPWING
BLUE & YELLOW MACAW
BLUE FRONTED AMAZON
CALIFORNIAN QUAIL
CAROLINA WOOD DUCK
CITRON COCKATOO
COMMON OR INDIAN MYNAH
CONGO GREY PARROT
DIAMOND DOVE
ECLECTUS PARROT
EMU
FANTAIL DOVE
FISCHER’S TURACO
GALAHA
GOFFINS COCKATOO
GREEN-WINGED MACAW
GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER
KEA
LAUGHING KOOKABUURA
LEADBEATER COCKATOO
MANDARIN DUCK
MAXIMIANS POINUS
MEALY AMAZON
MEXICAN MILITARY MACAW
NORTHERN CARDINAL
ORANGE-HEADED GROUND THRUSH
ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON PARROT
PATAGONAIN CONURE OR BURROWING PARROT
PEACH-FACED LOVEBIRD
RED BISHOP OR ORANGE WEAVER
RED-BREASTED GOOSE
RED-FRONTED KAKARIKI (MUTATION)
RED-LORED AMAZON
RED-WINGED LAUGHINGTHRUSH
RING-NECKED PARAKEET
SCARLET MACAW
SENEGAL PARROT
SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL
SNOWY OWL
SUN CONURE
TRUMPETER HORNBILL
VILLAGE WEAVER
WHITE-BELLIED CAIQUE
WHITE-HEADED BUFFALO WEAVER
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA
YELLOW CROWNED AMAZON
YELLOW-BACKED CHATTERING LORY
YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW
YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP
We still have 5 species un-named on the gallery so if anyone can help it would be great
hope you enjoyed the review.
