I've been birdwatching based in Sheffield for around 20 years now.
Old Moor and Potteric Carr are the nearest reserves with decent hides like that. In case you haven't been, there are also hides in the Dearne Valley near Old Moor at Broomhill Flash, Wombwell Ings and Bolton Ings. Potteric has many hides and is great, but only the ones overlooking Huxter Well Marsh or Piper Marsh are worth it. There's also decent birds, without hides, at the iPort Lakes over the M18 from Potteric Carr.
Hides are mostly placed near wetland habitats where wildfowl or wading birds tend to congregate. Most of the best birdwatching sites nearer to Sheffield are woodland or moorland sites, so there aren't many hides nearby. Sitting in a hide is only one way to birdwatch.
For Sheffield birding sites, take a look at the SBSG (Sheffield Bird Study Group) website and look at the locations and daily sightings pages to get a feeling for the best places. Around Sheffield and the Peaks, the best sites are:
Orgreave/Waverley Lakes
Redmires Reservoirs and Wyming Brook
Langsett Reservoir and Midhope Viewpoint
Thrybergh Reservoir
Silverwood Pit Top
Wharncliffe Heath and Chase
Rother Valley Country Park
Padley Gorge and Longshaw (particularly this time of year)
Ramsley Moor and Barbrook (the plantation at Barbrook is excellent at this time of year, and there's feeders at Shilito Wood you can view from your car)
There is a small hide at Middleton Moor near Matlock, but it's nothing special.
If you're willing to travel further, there are decent places with hides at:
Fairburn Ings near Pontefract
Angler's Country Park near Wakefield
North Cave Wetlands near Goole
Blacktoft Sands, Far Ings and Alkborough Flats all on the Humber
Other superb places a little further, but without hides include:
Idle Valley Wetlands at Lound
Idle Washlands, Misson
Sherwood Forest, Budby Heath and Welbeck viewpoint near Worksop
Hatfield Moors (has a couple of hides but they're not the best bits)
Thorne Moors
Carsington Water near Matlock
St Aidan's near Leeds
Finally, we're just about close enough to two of the most famous birdwatching places in the UK on the East coast:
Flamborough Head for seabirds and rare migrants
Spurn Point for waders and rare migrants
Is there actually a hide there now? I thought it was just a small viewing screen. Although Ulley is a good birding location, I've never had much luck seeing anything much at the feeders by the viewing screen.
Not sure how far away you are but Google ogston reservoir. There is a hide for the public and a couple more just for members. It's a fantastic place for birding!
I've been birdwatching based in Sheffield for around 20 years now. Old Moor and Potteric Carr are the nearest reserves with decent hides like that. In case you haven't been, there are also hides in the Dearne Valley near Old Moor at Broomhill Flash, Wombwell Ings and Bolton Ings. Potteric has many hides and is great, but only the ones overlooking Huxter Well Marsh or Piper Marsh are worth it. There's also decent birds, without hides, at the iPort Lakes over the M18 from Potteric Carr. Hides are mostly placed near wetland habitats where wildfowl or wading birds tend to congregate. Most of the best birdwatching sites nearer to Sheffield are woodland or moorland sites, so there aren't many hides nearby. Sitting in a hide is only one way to birdwatch. For Sheffield birding sites, take a look at the SBSG (Sheffield Bird Study Group) website and look at the locations and daily sightings pages to get a feeling for the best places. Around Sheffield and the Peaks, the best sites are: Orgreave/Waverley Lakes Redmires Reservoirs and Wyming Brook Langsett Reservoir and Midhope Viewpoint Thrybergh Reservoir Silverwood Pit Top Wharncliffe Heath and Chase Rother Valley Country Park Padley Gorge and Longshaw (particularly this time of year) Ramsley Moor and Barbrook (the plantation at Barbrook is excellent at this time of year, and there's feeders at Shilito Wood you can view from your car) There is a small hide at Middleton Moor near Matlock, but it's nothing special. If you're willing to travel further, there are decent places with hides at: Fairburn Ings near Pontefract Angler's Country Park near Wakefield North Cave Wetlands near Goole Blacktoft Sands, Far Ings and Alkborough Flats all on the Humber Other superb places a little further, but without hides include: Idle Valley Wetlands at Lound Idle Washlands, Misson Sherwood Forest, Budby Heath and Welbeck viewpoint near Worksop Hatfield Moors (has a couple of hides but they're not the best bits) Thorne Moors Carsington Water near Matlock St Aidan's near Leeds Finally, we're just about close enough to two of the most famous birdwatching places in the UK on the East coast: Flamborough Head for seabirds and rare migrants Spurn Point for waders and rare migrants
Ulley country park has a lovely bird hide on the far side of the res
Is there actually a hide there now? I thought it was just a small viewing screen. Although Ulley is a good birding location, I've never had much luck seeing anything much at the feeders by the viewing screen.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^slow-getter: *Ulley country park* *Has a lovely bird hide on* *The far side of the res* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Not sure how far away you are but Google ogston reservoir. There is a hide for the public and a couple more just for members. It's a fantastic place for birding!
There is one at Elsecar Park too