Selm Muir Bird Hides

[Willie]

MCCC Bird Hides

We are happy to announce that we have 2 bird hides at Selm Muir Fishery for our members use! One of them is a natural bird hide, made of branches (built by our chairman Fred), and the other is a small hut, generously provided by Mr. John Kelly (Senior) of Selm Muir Fishery http://www.selmmuirfishery.co.uk/.

Bird feeders have been provided, and the club has agreed to help with the cost of the feed. The small hut has a bench seat inside, and the feed is located under this bench.

As you can see from the photo that the feeders are located about 5 meters from the hut, so a telephoto lens would be the best choice. Also a tripod or beanbag to keep the lens steady, is a good idea. The small tree to the right of the main tree is a dead tree, with grubs (natural), and peanuts imbedded in it. This has been placed so that we will be able to get a decent shot of a woodpecker.

It is early days yet and we hope to improve on the hides as the summer progresses.
   

The bird hide with the feeders in place.

 

How to get there

Take the Morton Road south off the A71 at Oakbank Bing, and look for the Selm Muir sign 3 miles up the road on your left.

Please read over the rules for access below. Most of them are common sense. The access is granted to us under the condition that we follow these rules, and not disturb the fishery.

The bird hides are located at the far end of the water (see arial map below).
   

Arial View of the Selm Muir Fishery

Weekend and out-of-hours parking, courtesy of John Walker's Farm http://www.js-walker-automotive.co.uk/.
Please display a small sign in your windscreen indicating that you are from the Mid Calder Camera Club.

The entrance road to Selm Muir Fishery off Morton Road.

    Mid Calder Camera Club Access Rules to the Bird Hides at Selm Muir Fishery

   1. When at the Fishery you must wear your MCCC ID badge
   2. No Parking at the Porta cabin reception area at weekends or Bank Holidays.
   3. Parking is permitted Monday through to Friday when the fishery is open at the following times, as long as you leave a MCCC card on your dashboard (obtained from Exec committee)

      Selm Muir Fishery Opening Hours
      MONDAY 9AM - 8.30PM
      TUESDAY 9AM - 6PM
      WEDNESDAY 9AM - 6PM
      THURSDAY 9AM - 8.30PM
      FRIDAY 9AM - 8.30PM
      SATURDAY 9AM - 8.30PM
      SUNDAY 9AM - 8.30PM

   4. Do not park on the roadside at the entrance to the fishery when open at weekends / bank holidays (no problem when closed) We have parking available, courtesy of John Walker at his farm (the farm on the right before the Fishery entrance) in the small parking area just off to the right of the entrance off the main road (See Map), as long as you not block any gates access. We can use this on weekends and when the fishery is busy. You must leave a club card or a small sign in the window of the car, indicating that we are from MCCC - so he knows who the car belongs too.
   5. Club Members must use the toilet at the fishery which is located at the rear of their car park (This not locked out of hours).
   6. No litter to be dropped or left at the hides.
   7. No Alcohol is permitted on the fishery site.
   8. MCCC members must be responsible for taking care of safety/risk of themselves and others whilst at the fishery.
   9. Any incident taking place while you are at the fishery i.e. Vandalism/Poaching must be reported to John Kelly 07598 701237 / or any MCCC committee member. 075043 99632.
  10. Organisers of any field trips / activities in the Selm Muir area, outside the use of the bird hides must inform Mr John Kelly beforehand.

[Fred]

Hi all,
I was up there Friday morning 21st at 5.00 is very foggy to start with but cleared
and returned home at 8.  I saw the following from the shed hide: Robin, Blue
Tits, Chaffinch, (all feed on the fat balls inserted into the holes in the
tree)  Grey squirrel (sat for ages eating nuts on the floor - Grass in the way
now removed), Great Spotted Woodpecker (came and went a number of
times) a lovely Nuthatch on the live tree but did not stay long enough for
shots. (Bad Hair day) so it is beginning to work.

The Natural Hide is shedding its Pine needles so not a good place to be in
with a DLR just now, I will work on that over the summer months - needs a bit
more thought put into it over the next few months before the winter
(I just wanted to-do what I said we would do even with the lone of his shed )

I have fixed the window in the shed so that the perspex can now be re moved very easily
by removing the top and bottom slates no nails are driven back in the slates are just put in back in place to look
the part, you have to bend the perspex around a small nail and it comes out okay.
Please make sure you replace the perspex before leaving the shed and close the door  and turn the wee latch -
If anyone wants to go and would like me to take them then please email me but give me at least a days warning
Cheers Fred  

[Fred]

 

Hi All,

Not much to report at the moment I have not been up there very much only to fill the feeders. A points worth noting is that I was there on Bank Holiday Monday and it was very busy, which meant that the traffic of fisherman was high passing the hides which did not give the birds / Grey squirrels much of a chance to stay - I have now cut two more holes in the big tree so that the Woodpecker is feeding on the tree and not on a feeder. The other point is that it is open until 10 -10.30 pm depending on who is up there.
Cheers Fred