I agree with you on Meerkats so maybe I should warn you that Wingz has them and you can buy (I presume you still can) Mealworms to feed them. Unfortunately I have managed only one visit to Birdworld and that was back in 1999 - I enjoyed it very much though. I had hoped to combine a trip to "Think Parrots" with another visit there in June but because I took on an abandoned Yellow-bellied Terrapin (via ZooChatter madgeandshane who initially took it after it had been left in a flat following a moonlight flit) in January I have decided not to take any holidays as, unlike my parrots, it is not practical to take it to a friend's house for the duration.
Jackwow- if you have 'birdy' predelictions, then you shouldn't really miss Paradise Park at Hayle, Cornwall. Its right up your street. It can easily be incorporated in one day with Newquay Zoo.
Birdworld is certainly worth a visit. It is not in the same league as Jurong or Walsrode - nowhere close! - but is the best general bird zoo in the UK (it's not a very cluttered field). The collection is decent, some of the exhibits are well done, the grounds are attractive. As with a lot of UK zoos, it's frustrating because it could be so much better - but it certainly won't be the worst place on your expedition! It also works logistically. It's pretty much on the route from Wildwood to Southampton - or it can be - so, for what it's worth, my advice would be to see Wildwood first (it is certainly not enormous, and while it's nice enough it's not a place you'll be reminiscing about in years to come), then drive round the M25 and down to Birdworld, before heading to the delights of Southampton. Someone mentioned the Isle of Wight. It's do-able, but you'd want to take your car over for the day and that gets pricey - and if it means sacrificing other places on your proposed itinerary, I can't see it'd be worth it. I would certainly echo the comment made above about the Hawk Conservancy, in Weyhill. It's in the area you're exploring, and it's excellent. Three superb flying demonstrations, with some brilliant photo opportunities too. The caged collection is very good too. I can't believe you wouldn't enjoy it a great deal more than the rather mundane New Forest place. Finally, even though I despair of Marwell, and the direction it has taken, I would think it would most certainly be a full day, particularly as a first-time visitor.
I'd always want a full day at Paradise Park myself but I am a parrot fanatic. If you are heading northwards it obviously would be logical to do Paradise Park in the morning and Newquay in the afternoon, BUT that would mean missing both "Flight of the Rainbows" at 2 p.m. (the Lorikeet feeding - maybe not your thing but I love it and always invest in 10 pots of nectar) and the "Free Flying Bird Show" at 3.30 p.m. on the picnic lawn. I presume these events run to the end of the autumn half-term holiday. Earlier in the day there is "Carrot Time" at the Fun Farm and "Eagles of Paradise" too. I usually do not watch much/any of the latter as birds of prey displays are not really my cup of tea, but I used to like the Ground Hornbill in it plus the Seriema. Sadly I never saw the Crowned Crane's performance. It is very easy to spend a whole day at Paradise Park and I have always finished up doing a frantic dash back to the railway station.
Thanks for the comments Sooty, I'll give them all some thought (I'm in Dubai this weekend so too busy to look at all the suggestions, but will be back in Jordan on Monday so will have time then).
I was going to suggest that. Wingham gets better every time i go there. As for Porfell, i like it, but wouldn't fancy traipsing around there in October. Wingz to be fair is a waste of half an hour, nice toilets though. (They won an award.) Have you thought of combining Marwell with New Forest Wildlife park?
I've had a look at this option but don't really think it's going to work. Wildwood opens at 10am, so say I spent 2 hours there and leave at midday. Wildwood to Birdworld is a 2 hour run according to AA Route Planner and that assumes no traffic problems. Allowing for any problems finding it, parking, etc., I wouldn't actually get into Birdworld until 2.30pm at the very earliest giving me 3.5 hours until closing at 6pm. If it's a good bird collection then I would really want to spend longer there. So if I'm going to do it then my only real chance is at the end of my trip on my way from Bristol to Chesham, which would probably mean extending my trip by one day or dropping something out of the trip.
I think you're right so Paradise Park is in but I'm going to have to drop something to fit it in. Possibly Porfell and Wingz.
Thanks Johnny, I'm now thinking of dropping both Porfell and Wingz in favour of a visit to Paradise Park. Marwell and New Forest WP on the same day is a possibility, i.e., go to Marwell first and if I have time then pop in to NFWP.
Marwell and New forest is very much doable there's about an half hour drive between the two, Marwell even though it is a big zoo doesn't take that long to get around 3 hours is more than ample, even if you took 4 you'd still get to New Forest WP by 2.30. Just studied your plans and realised you plan a 3 hour drive to Torquay so you might want to stick with your original idea. Dartmoor is another you should ponder about the worth of going to. I think Bears are the only animal that you wouldn't have seen on your tour. But if you do go you should really try and combine it with a trip to the National Marine Aquarium.
The full seven hours day at Wingz is not enough for me. On each of the three occasions I have visited I have been waiting outside before opening ( each time opening has been brought forward to let me in) and I have then stayed all day before reluctantly departing after 5 o'clock.
All day isn't enough for you Parrots and Johnny Morris thinks Wingz is a waste of half an hour! All very confusing! Perhaps JM isn't a bird man? What is Wingz bird collection like Parrots?
Yes, all the ones I haven't seen! Seriously I'm interested in all birds, although I'm always keen to see new species of wildfowl and I love big birds like hornbills and toucans......and tropical birds.....and pigeons and doves......and.......
I've been twice the first time took about 45 mins, the 2nd half an hour. It's little more than a back garden collection of unwanted pets. It's quaint, but in my opinion you would be better off going to Paradise park. I like all kinds of animals, i like visiting zoos, i was just trying to give a little advice, I'd hate for you to go through your journey of zoo visiting find out you've miscalculated and are forced to miss a gem like Exmoor zoo.
Ha, well from the info you've just given I can give you a taste of what birdworld has... 1.0 southern ground hornbill, 1.1 rhino hornbills, 1.1 Blythe hornbills, 1.1 Malayan black hornbills, 1.1 trumpeter hornbills, 1.1 toco toucans, 0.1 red billed toucan.. Pink headed fruit doves, Luzon bleeding heart doves, Mindanao bleeding heart doves, imperial fruit pigeons, scheepmakers crowned pigeons, Victoria crowned pigeons, socorro doves, black headed fruit doves. The standard pheasants, but salvadori pheasants as well. And of course the popular parrots, a few birds of prey, various starlings, emu, rhea, great bustards, white storks, crowned cranes, White naped cranes, penguins, anymore just ask
The place I would miss out is Dartmoor WP. I think you will be disappointed there by a very limited collection in mostly old housing.
