London Wetland Centre - visit

[BeowulfIII]

Hi, I wanted to recommend and share and experience from last weekend. I went to the London Wetland Centre last Saturday and took the introduction to bird watching course. It was an excellent day and my first real birding experience. The guide was very knowledgable and it is a remarkably large expanse with numerous species right in central london.

Below are some photos that I took on the way with a pretty rubbish digital camera. The group was of about ten from hardcore birders hoping to see one particular species to newbies like us. No one had cameras but all had bins (the bushnells worked a treat).We first went to the observatory section which overlooks the main lake. we saw a number of species; tufted ducks, mallard, shoveler ducks, grey herons, cormorants, potchard, lapwing, moorhens and coots (see photo).

We then walked through towards the birdfeeder and saw a male reed bunting singing at the top of a tree for a mate (three short tweets) (see photo), then saw a Water Vole swim across from a nest in the sedge (see photo) across to some reeds where there was also a nest. Apparently 250 Water Voles were introduced in 2003 but Minks have cleaned up most of them so this was apparently a good siting as was getting so close to the reed bunting which we got to see through the scope set up by the guide - it is a beautiful bird!

At the birdfeeder, we saw a beautiful jay, blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, green finches, chaffinchs. This is also the best place to spot a water rail but no luck there.

On the way around to go back, we spotted a Great Crested Grebe and dropping off the back of the group, the girlfriend and I went into one of the many hides that are placed along the side of the main lake and one of the nice gents inside with a scope had located a bittern. It was standing stock still watching a crow go back and forwards above and even through the scope was well camoflaged. He had sat there for three hours before he spotted it.

The breakfast at the end was great btw. Also, the guide John was excellent and very knowledgable. I recomended WAB and hope he gets on board.

Hope you enjoy the photos and well recommend the experience for those close enough!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by BeowulfIII

Hi, I wanted to recommend and share and experience from last weekend. I went to the London Wetland Centre last Saturday and took the introduction to bird watching course. It was an excellent day and my first real birding experience. The guide was very knowledgable and it is a remarkably large expanse with numerous species right in central london.

Below are some photos that I took on the way with a pretty rubbish digital camera. The group was of about ten from hardcore birders hoping to see one particular species to newbies like us. No one had cameras but all had bins (the bushnells worked a treat).We first went to the observatory section which overlooks the main lake. we saw a number of species; tufted ducks, mallard, shoveler ducks, grey herons, cormorants, potchard, lapwing, moorhens and coots (see photo).

We then walked through towards the birdfeeder and saw a male reed bunting singing at the top of a tree for a mate (three short tweets) (see photo), then saw a Water Vole swim across from a nest in the sedge (see photo) across to some reeds where there was also a nest. Apparently 250 Water Voles were introduced in 2003 but Minks have cleaned up most of them so this was apparently a good siting as was getting so close to the reed bunting which we got to see through the scope set up by the guide - it is a beautiful bird!

At the birdfeeder, we saw a beautiful jay, blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, green finches, chaffinchs. This is also the best place to spot a water rail but no luck there.

On the way around to go back, we spotted a Great Crested Grebe and dropping off the back of the group, the girlfriend and I went into one of the many hides that are placed along the side of the main lake and one of the nice gents inside with a scope had located a bittern. It was standing stock still watching a crow go back and forwards above and even through the scope was well camoflaged. He had sat there for three hours before he spotted it.

The breakfast at the end was great btw. Also, the guide John was excellent and very knowledgable. I recomended WAB and hope he gets on board.

Hope you enjoy the photos and well recommend the experience for those close enough!

I'm glad you had a good time at LWC-it's a fabulous place. I think you were misinformed on one fact. Last week the first EVER Mink was trapped on site- it was a young male which had penetrated the collection area + killed 6 birds in there, including 2 Smew. Water Voles are doing ok, but not always to see, but there is predation from Foxes (which are controlled) + Herons.

[BeowulfIII]

interesting, our guide indicated that the Mink was the main predator though also mentioned the heron's and foxes. Aeshna, you appear to know the area, aside from Richmond Park, are there any other local spots that you would recommend for a daytrip?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by BeowulfIII

interesting, our guide indicated that the Mink was the main predator though also mentioned the heron's and foxes. Aeshna, you appear to know the area, aside from Richmond Park, are there any other local spots that you would recommend for a daytrip?

I'm quite heavily involved with LWC so know it very well + do various wildlife courses there. Not far from there is a small Local Nature Reserve managed by Richmond Council called Lonsdale Road LNR (also called Leg of Mutton due to it's shape) where we have a min. of 4 pairs of Herons nesting on rafts at water level- the only place I know where they breed like this. We also normally have 1 or 2 pairs of Common Tern, though sadly they didn't breed last year. Usually plenty of Cormorants, breeding Dabchick, common wildfowl, Breeding Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, currently a pair of Tawny Owl, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps.

It's also excellent for bats-especially Daubenton's as well as a variety of exotics such as Red-eared Terrapin, Marsh Frog + Ring-necked Parakeet. If you like you can pm me as I'm leading a public walk there in late May which will be a general natural history tour.

If you want to explore more places around London have a look at the programme of the London Natural History Society on their web page.

[Wilko]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I'm quite heavily involved with LWC so know it very well + do various wildlife courses there. Not far from there is a small Local Nature Reserve managed by Richmond Council called Lonsdale Road LNR (also called Leg of Mutton due to it's shape) where we have a min. of 4 pairs of Herons nesting on rafts at water level- the only place I know where they breed like this. We also normally have 1 or 2 pairs of Common Tern, though sadly they didn't breed last year. Usually plenty of Cormorants, breeding Dabchick, common wildfowl, Breeding Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, currently a pair of Tawny Owl, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps.

It's also excellent for bats-especially Daubenton's as well as a variety of exotics such as Red-eared Terrapin, Marsh Frog + Ring-necked Parakeet. If you like you can pm me as I'm leading a public walk there in late May which will be a general natural history tour.

If you want to explore more places around London have a look at the programme of the London Natural History Society on their web page.

I'll second the Leg o' Mutton, I did some work down there recently with BTCV. A couple of dabchicks and what I thought might have been a glimpse of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were the highlights of my day.

Shame I'm away Aeshna, otherwise I'd have been interested in a guided walk there.

Slightly closer to the wetlands centre, I'd also say Barnes common is worth a walk round. Quite a large Badgers sett there, amongst other things.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Wilko

I'll second the Leg o' Mutton, I did some work down there recently with BTCV. A couple of dabchicks and what I thought might have been a glimpse of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were the highlights of my day.

Shame I'm away Aeshna, otherwise I'd have been interested in a guided walk there.

Slightly closer to the wetlands centre, I'd also say Barnes common is worth a walk round. Quite a large Badgers sett there, amongst other things.

Wilko, you may well have seen a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker there,; a few years back a pair attempted to breed in one of the large poplars + they are in the general area- just never easy to see, unlike their larger cousins!

[PreciousPrincess]

Thank you BeouWolf for posting those pics. I am quite new to the area (and the site) and never thought that there were such great conservation projects in London. They really are wonderful pictures, and i am inspired to make a visit soon (not only because of the breakfast recommendation). Do you know when they are running another birdwatching course?

[Ben!]

Great reports, I love them pictures too, I look forward to going there if I get a chance. Looks like a very nice place.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by PreciousPrincess

Thank you BeouWolf for posting those pics. I am quite new to the area (and the site) and never thought that there were such great conservation projects in London. They really are wonderful pictures, and i am inspired to make a visit soon (not only because of the breakfast recommendation). Do you know when they are running another birdwatching course?

Hope you don't mind me responding. The next bird course will be winter wildfowl this Friday pm. There's a whole range of events so go to WWT website, click on LWC + then on events programme.

If you're new to area you may want to check out local RSPB groups, London Natural History Society + London Wildlife Trust- all of whom can introduce you to some great sites + some friendly faces too!

[PreciousPrincess]

Thank you for that information aeschna5, the most amazing thing about this site is how much effort people go to help each other out, posting pics of trips, responding promptly - if only we are all lived our lives like this (as opposed to being indifferent and being late ALL the time) the world would be a better place!!!

i will definitely try to make my way to one of those courses, though it is so hard with work commitment. I noted you said you are heavily involved with the wetland centre, what type of work do you do? is it easy to get involved? i might have a friend who would be interested...

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by PreciousPrincess

Thank you for that information aeschna5, the most amazing thing about this site is how much effort people go to help each other out, posting pics of trips, responding promptly - if only we are all lived our lives like this (as opposed to being indifferent and being late ALL the time) the world would be a better place!!!

i will definitely try to make my way to one of those courses, though it is so hard with work commitment. I noted you said you are heavily involved with the wetland centre, what type of work do you do? is it easy to get involved? i might have a friend who would be interested...

LWC has c120 volunteers who do all sorts of useful functions from greeting, helping in shop, office work, grounds maintenance + guided tours, so are an important part of the smooth running of the site- a happy bunch of people. I've been involved at the site since it was a building site (+ used to bird there when it was Barn Elms Reservoirs), initially monitoring things such as butterflies + dragonflies as well as general records. I'll be leading the winter wildfowl walk I mentioned tomorrow + lead a number of wildlife walks for the public, volunteers + staff- something I really love doing. I'm also part of the plant monitoring group which is active in summer, collect records, bird counts + write some of the insect reports for the bird + natural history report. Hope you get along soon- it's a fabulous place- as it warms up you'll probably be greeted by chorus of Marsh Frogs.

[PreciousPrincess]

Hope the walk went well today and its a shame i couldnt make it. Next time you are doing one, please post it, i would most definitely be interested and Wilko mentioned something about a guided tour - so that would make at least three of us!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by PreciousPrincess

Hope the walk went well today and its a shame i couldnt make it. Next time you are doing one, please post it, i would most definitely be interested and Wilko mentioned something about a guided tour - so that would make at least three of us!

Had 2 walks today- a morning one for volunteers + public walk in pm. Latter group was lucky to get excellent views of Bittern. We had 11 Pintail which is a high site count, 1st year Caspian Gull-not pretty, but good bird, pr Stonechats + the usuals. Always fun watching the Teal displaying.

There are general tours everyday led by friendly informative guides- though many are not birders/naturalists, but will have a rough idea of what's about.