Monday, 29 April 2024

Trip away from SS15 - WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London - 29th April 2024

WWT London Wetland Centre is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the Barnes area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London.

The site occupies more than 40 hectares of land which was formerly occupied by 4 disused Victorian reservoirs tucked into a loop in the Thames. These were converted into a wide range of wetland features and habitats before the site opened in May 2000. It was the first urban project of its kind in the UK. In 2002 an area of 29.9 hectares was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The site is important for resident, passage and wintering bird species, many of which can not be found anywhere else in London. In addition, there is a collection of captive wildfowl.





























WWT London Wetland Centre is a site that I visit at least once a year, usually in winter to see 3 particularly elusive species: BitternJack Snipe and Water Pipit.

However, the main purpose of today's visit was to hopefully see some spring/summer migrants. It was very successful and I added 4 species to my 2024 UK year list taking it to 138 species: Sand Martin, Whinchat, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper

I was fully expecting to see Sand Martin since this species had returned to the on-site breeding location a few weeks ago and birds were always in view flying over the main lake and lagoons.

The other 3 species were somewhat unexpected with at least 3 each of Whinchat and Wheatear visible for around an hour foraging from and around the electric predator fence surrounding the grazing marsh and a single Common Sandpiper seen briefly on the edge of the main lake.

The most notable sightings from my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics)Sand Martin (at least 50), Whinchat (1 male and 2 females), Wheatear (2 males and 1 female), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Blackcap (1 singing male), Reed Warbler (at least 5 singing males), Cetti’s Warbler (at least 5 singing males), Reed Bunting (1 singing male), Ring-necked Parakeet (1 plus a few heard calling …. a surprisingly low number for this site!), Common Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (1), Oystercatcher (1), Grey Heron (4), Tufted Duck (c.20), Mallard (c.20), Common Pochard (8), Gadwall (1), Great Crested Grebe (1), Coot (c.20 including an adult with 4 juveniles), Moorhen (c.10), Mute Swan (c.10), Canada Goose (c.10), Greylag Goose (c.10), Cormorant (5), Herring Gull (at least 100), Lesser Black-backed Gull (at least 10), Black-headed Gull (c.10)

In addition, I saw the following: Common Lizard (1), Brimstone (6), Small White (5)

Here are some photos from my visit:















Photo: Common Lizard















Photo: Wheatear















Photo: Wheatear















Photo: Wheatear















Photo: Whinchat















Photo: Great Crested Grebe















Photo: Great Crested Grebe















Photo: Great Crested Grebe















Photo: Coot and juvenile















Photo: Moorhen















Photo: Mute Swan















Photo: Mute Swan















Photo: Mute Swan















Photo: Tufted Ducks















Photo: Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gull















Photo: Lesser Black-backed Gull















Photo: Lesser Black-backed Gull

Love nature .... act now
Restore and rewild our natural world
Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Sunday, 28 April 2024

Record from my flat - Grey Heron

Grey Heron is a species that I occasionally see flying past my flat, possibly commuting to/from the lake at nearby Gloucester Park.

However, this evening at 6 p.m., I saw a Grey Heron standing on the roof of one of the houses at the rear of my block of flats, evidently requiring a rest on its commute!

Unfortunately, by the time that I returned to my window with my camera, it had decided to fly off.

Love nature .... act now
Restore and rewild our natural world
Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature


Friday, 26 April 2024

Trip away from SS15 – Swan Wood, Stock, Essex

I am a long-standing supporter and member of the Woodland Trust.

The nearest site owned or managed by the Woodland Trust is Swan and Cygnet Woods in Stock in Essex which I visited for the second time this morning following my first visit in May 2023.

When I visited Swan and Cygnet Woods last year, the bluebells were past their “best before” date so I had planned an April visit this year. I was not disappointed and there was a beautiful show of bluebells throughout much of the wood.

The bluebells were the main focus of my visit but I also saw a fly-over calling Common Buzzard, a single calling and foraging Nuthatch and a few of the commoner resident woodland birds.

I heard at least another calling Nuthatch, at least 2 “drumming” Great Spotted Woodpeckers, several singing male Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and a calling Stock Dove.

Here are some photos from my visit …. 






























































































Love nature .... act now
Restore and rewild our natural world
Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature