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: Bittern, Jack Snipe and Water Pipit.
However, the main purpose of today's visit was to hopefully see some spring/summer migrants. I was relatively successful adding 2 species to my 2025 UK year list taking it to 124 species: Sand Martin and House Martin
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 wader scrape, collecting nesting material and flying to/from the nesting bank. House Martin was less expected so very welcome but unfortunately I failed to see Little Ringed Plover or Yellow Wagtail, both of which had been reported in recent days. During my April visit last year, I saw Whinchat, Wheatear and Common Sandpiper but no such luck this year.
The most notable sightings from my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Sand Martin (at least 30), House Martin (c.10), Chiffchaff (at least 5 singing males with 1 seen), Blackcap (1 singing male), Cetti’s Warbler (at least 10 singing males with 2 seen), Reed Bunting (1 male), Kestrel (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (at least 10), Lapwing (1), Oystercatcher (2), Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (at least 5), Tufted Duck (at least 30), Mallard (at least 30), Gadwall (at least 20), Teal (at least 10), Shoveler (at least 10), Great Crested Grebe (3), Coot (at least 20 including a pair with 5 juveniles), Moorhen (at least 20), Mute Swan (8), Canada Goose (at least 20), Greylag Goose (at least 20), Cormorant (8), Herring Gull (at least 100), Lesser Black-backed Gull (at least 20), Black-headed Gull (at least 10)
In addition, I saw the following: Brimstone (at least 5)
Here are some photos
from my visit:
Photo: Grey Heron
Photo: male and female Tufted Ducks
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Photo: male and female Gadwall
Photo: male and female Gadwall
Photo: male and female Gadwall
Photo: Great Crested Grebe
Photo: Great Crested Grebe
Photo: Coots
Photo: Sand Martins
Photo: Ring-necked Parakeet
Photo: Ring-necked Parakeet
Photo: Ring-necked Parakeet
Love nature .... act now
