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19-02-2007, 01:33 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 69
| | | London Wetland Centre
Hi, a friend and I are heading to the London Wetland Centre this weekend to take the Introduction to Bird Watching Course (with complimentary English breakfast  ) and to enjoy the sites and sounds. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on where to go inside and what to look out for at this time of year?
Does anyone know if there is a chance of spotting a kingfisher?
Cheers for any help. |
19-02-2007, 01:42 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorchester, Dorset
Posts: 511
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Sadly not as I swapped London for Dorset 17 years ago. However, I do go back from time to time and I would be really interested to read a report on the Centre after your visit.
__________________
Best wishes, Neil
Who's Afear'd |
19-02-2007, 03:08 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 126
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Funnily enough we saw the centre featured on the tele last night. Can't remember if it was the Peter Scott program or Bill Oddie, and we thought at the time that might be a good place to visit, so I'd be interested to hear anything about it too. Don't even know exactly where it is?
Madz |
19-02-2007, 03:30 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE London
Posts: 151
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
I often go to the London WWT, and I would recommend all of it! It doesn't take long to visit all the hides as it is quite a small area, yet it is possible to see at least 45+ species in a day. (The collections are also worth looking round if you have time - both for the exotics themselves, and the wild birds in the surrounding trees and bushes). The star attraction is probably the bittern which can currently be seen from the Headley Hide. You are also likely to see parakeets very close on the feeders by the side of the hide in 'wildside' area. There is also a very tame heron which can normally be found in the wildside, and is good for photographs.
Water rails are possible almost anywhere (even the feeders in the collections!), but they are secretive. And keep an eye in the sky over the lake and marsh, especially when the lapwing all take off together, as a peregrine often hunts over the site.
It is possible to see kingfishers, but I am not sure of the best area - I have only seen them a few times there.
Hope you enjoy your visit!  |
19-02-2007, 03:31 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE London
Posts: 151
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madz  Funnily enough we saw the centre featured on the tele last night. Can't remember if it was the Peter Scott program or Bill Oddie, and we thought at the time that might be a good place to visit, so I'd be interested to hear anything about it too. Don't even know exactly where it is?
Madz | It's in Barnes. |
19-02-2007, 03:59 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mayford, Surrey
Posts: 311
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madz Funnily enough we saw the centre featured on the tele last night. Can't remember if it was the Peter Scott program or Bill Oddie, and we thought at the time that might be a good place to visit, so I'd be interested to hear anything about it too. Don't even know exactly where it is?
Madz | Full details here: Welcome to the WWT official website |
19-02-2007, 04:40 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,641
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeowulfIII Hi, a friend and I are heading to the London Wetland Centre this weekend to take the Introduction to Bird Watching Course (with complimentary English breakfast ) and to enjoy the sites and sounds. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on where to go inside and what to look out for at this time of year?
Does anyone know if there is a chance of spotting a kingfisher?
Cheers for any help. | This winter Kingfisher has been very erratic in appearances unlike last year when there was a very obliging bird.
There is a Bittern on site, which sometimes shows well, you should see 8 or 9 species of duck with Teal, Shoveler + Tufted most numerous, 100+ Lapwing ( they are skittish + it may be a Peregrine putting them up, but much more likely to be Sparrowhawk), c20 Water Rails- don't expect to see more than 1 or 2 though, a few Snipe + chance of Jack Snipe (less reliable this winter than other years).
Hope you have a good morning + the food's good! |
19-02-2007, 05:02 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mayford, Surrey
Posts: 311
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 This winter Kingfisher has been very erratic in appearances unlike last year when there was a very obliging bird.
There is a Bittern on site, which sometimes shows well, you should see 8 or 9 species of duck with Teal, Shoveler + Tufted most numerous, 100+ Lapwing ( they are skittish + it may be a Peregrine putting them up, but much more likely to be Sparrowhawk), c20 Water Rails- don't expect to see more than 1 or 2 though, a few Snipe + chance of Jack Snipe (less reliable this winter than other years).
Hope you have a good morning + the food's good! | This kingfisher was very obliging on 17th December 2005 - but I think I was the last person in the hide to see this skulking bittern on 18th March 2006! (The photos were taken by my husband).   |
19-02-2007, 05:10 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,490
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
This is one of those reserves that I have intended to visit for some time but have nver got round to.
Thank you for the information provided to date on this message thread.
I would guess that a visit reasonably soon would be required to see the wintering Bittern as it will be off and away shortly.
BeowulfIII .... please do let us know more about your visit.
Richard |
19-02-2007, 05:10 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 69
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Great photos, will keep a look out for both. That kingfisher looks decidedly well-fed. I will send a report through on the trip.
Off topic a little, but I live in Acton in London and have seen on a number of occasions green parakeets in large numbers only in the Acton area. I thought these were a tropical species and are not to my knowldege visitors to the UK. Presumably they have escaped?  |
19-02-2007, 05:23 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,919
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeowulfIII Great photos, will keep a look out for both. That kingfisher looks decidedly well-fed. I will send a report through on the trip.
Off topic a little, but I live in Acton in London and have seen on a number of occasions green parakeets in large numbers only in the Acton area. I thought these were a tropical species and are not to my knowldege visitors to the UK. Presumably they have escaped? | The Rose ringed Parakeets have long since been established breeders here and are now in their thousands. The Esher Rugby club hosts approximately 7,000 of these birds (or did) and they have been seen right up the northern regions of England.
They were originally escapees but have certainly found their niche.
John |
19-02-2007, 05:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,490
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
There are also quite a few Ring necked/Rose ringed Parakeets down in north east Kent around Margate and Ramsgate .... well established but still quite exotic amongst all the commoner birds.
Richard |
19-02-2007, 06:43 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,641
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by John The Rose ringed Parakeets have long since been established breeders here and are now in their thousands. The Esher Rugby club hosts approximately 7,000 of these birds (or did) and they have been seen right up the northern regions of England.
They were originally escapees but have certainly found their niche.
John | The roost at Esher is no longer that size, if it's still there- as population has expanded there are various smaller satellite roosts. It's estimated that the population is growing at between 15-30% per annum. |
19-02-2007, 06:46 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,919
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 The roost at Esher is no longer that size, if it's still there- as population has expanded there are various smaller satellite roosts. It's estimated that the population is growing at between 15-30% per annum. | I bet the locals are pleased with that after the racket they used to make.
John |
19-02-2007, 06:47 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,919
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlchew There are also quite a few Ring necked/Rose ringed Parakeets down in north east Kent around Margate and Ramsgate .... well established but still quite exotic amongst all the commoner birds.
Richard | I know the flock in Ramsgate well as I used to visit friends there. My photos of these birds I have in the gallery are from there.
John |
19-02-2007, 06:48 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,641
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeowulfIII Great photos, will keep a look out for both. That kingfisher looks decidedly well-fed. I will send a report through on the trip.
Off topic a little, but I live in Acton in London and have seen on a number of occasions green parakeets in large numbers only in the Acton area. I thought these were a tropical species and are not to my knowldege visitors to the UK. Presumably they have escaped? | Last month I arrived at Wormwood Scrubs, not far from you + counted just over 250 Ring-necked Parakeets leaving their roost!
This species occurs naturally in Africa + India, though apparently most of the UK birds are one of the Indian races whch occur up to the foothills of the Himalayas, so are pretty robust + cope with cold better than some of our smaller native birds.
I'm sure you're seeing (mainly) Ring-necked Parakeets, but other species occur, but in small numbers; Monk Parakeet being the next most likely species. |
19-02-2007, 09:02 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Molesey, Surrey
Posts: 1,455
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 The roost at Esher is no longer that size, if it's still there- as population has expanded there are various smaller satellite roosts. It's estimated that the population is growing at between 15-30% per annum. | Hi Aeshna,
The parakeets are still at Esher Rugby Club but as you say not in the numbers they used to be. They did up-sticks to Stanwell near Heathrow last year, but quite a few have returned as they are now flying over my house again in early morning and late afternoon.
Cheers,
Adam |
19-02-2007, 09:34 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
There are plenty in Richmond as well, especially around the Ham area.
There are always Ring-necks at The Copse just behind Ham House.
Worth going down there for the Green Woodpeckers too. |
19-02-2007, 10:07 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 126
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elizabeth B | From Chris 'It's in Barnes.'
Thanks guys
(ps don't know how you manage to include 2 quotes in one reply - when you go back to do the second one then return to the reply box, the first one's gone!!!) |
20-02-2007, 06:53 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,641
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilko There are plenty in Richmond as well, especially around the Ham area.
There are always Ring-necks at The Copse just behind Ham House.
Worth going down there for the Green Woodpeckers too. | Hi Wilko- welcome I see it's your first post. Last Thursday evening there was a short piece on the BBC London news in Richmond Park looking at the Ring-necked Parakeets + how they may be excluding Starlings from nest holes, though the science was appalling as the figures given for Starling decline were national BTO figures - so hardly a result of parakeet activity!
Richmond Park is a fabulous place- I was at a bird group meeting there last Friday + it was discussed that RNP are difficult to census there, but we reckon there are about 4-500 birds there- impossible to ignore them. From our survey work, doing a fixed transect walk,. the numbers of RNP seem to be almost doubling each year. What's interesting is that none of the other hole nesters are yet to show any decline + some are increasing too, such as Stock Dove + Jackdaw.
Richmond Park is blessed with many veteran trees so there is an abundance of cavities. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. |
20-02-2007, 10:08 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 69
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
That is very interesting, I had no idea they were that common. They are beautiful birds to watch though I do wonder how they cope in the Winter in such large populations not just with the cold but in terms of wild food resources. Certainly in my area, I have never seen them scavenge around bins and understand they are seed & berry eaters?
The RSPB suggests that the population may have been orginally founded by two birds released on Carnaby Street by Jimi Hendrix in the sixities... |
20-02-2007, 10:41 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,641
| | | Re: London Wetland Centre
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeowulfIII That is very interesting, I had no idea they were that common. They are beautiful birds to watch though I do wonder how they cope in the Winter in such large populations not just with the cold but in terms of wild food resources. Certainly in my area, I have never seen them scavenge around bins and understand they are seed & berry eaters?
The RSPB suggests that the population may have been orginally founded by two birds released on Carnaby Street by Jimi Hendrix in the sixities... | That story was mentioned on the BBC piece, but the truth is no one really knows + there are various stories- another is birds were released following jungle scenes at Elstree film studios, another is birds escaping from an aviary at Syon. I suspect the origins are various.
The first positive breeding recorded in London was as recent as 1971, though there are earlier records of free-flying birds. At that time birders just dismissed these birds as escapes so not many records were collated. There are probably a minimum of 15,000 birds around London now + they feed on tree buds, flowers, shoots, fruits + seeds as well as taking advantage of feeders in gardens.
They are well adapted to our climate + have no real predators in their current range, so breeding sites would probably be the controlling issue for them. If they expand into agricultural areas they could become a pest of grains + orchards where no doubt they will be controlled if need be. | | |
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