I had volunteered to help out with this weekend event, acting
as one of the ‘Guides in the Hides’ to help show visitors the birds, help with
identification, and provide some information.
This Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve, which has been developed
with wildlife in mind on the site of the Barn Elms Reservoirs, is another one
of the ‘gems’ found within the urban sprawl of Greater London. The various shallow pools provide ideal habitat for a variety of waders and waterbirds, and the extensive vegetation around them is good habitat for a number of different warbler species as well as other wildlife.
The above view was taken from the Tower Hide which gives good views over much of the reserve including an artificial nesting bank designed for, and used by, Sand Martins. The building to the right in the photo is Charing Cross Hospital which is used by one of Londons breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons. A web camera was set up to view the nest this year (check the WWT's London Wetland Centre website for details).
Over the course of the weekend I saw a wide variety of
different wildlife, including Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Yellow-legged
Gulls, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Little Ringed
Plovers, a late Jack Snipe, Ring-necked Parakeets, Wheatears
(including one bright male showing characteristics of the Greenland race),
Water Voles, Common Lizards, Orange Tip and other butterflies, and various flowers.
A selection is shown below:
A male Sparrowhawk which spent a while sat on a fence near the Tower Hide.
What was presumed to be the same bird was later seen
taking a Sand Martin near the nesting bank.
What was presumed to be the same bird was later seen
taking a Sand Martin near the nesting bank.
Ring-necked Parakeets - among Londons noisiest new residents!
The pink and black neck ring is seen on adult males only.
The pink and black neck ring is seen on adult males only.
Two very different plants with bright yellow flowers were in bloom, Marsh Marigolds (top),
at the edge of wet areas, and Cowslips in grassy areas by the paths around the reserve.
at the edge of wet areas, and Cowslips in grassy areas by the paths around the reserve.
Common Lizards could be found basking in undisturbed sunny spots
from which they could quickly disappear into cover if any danger threatened
(log piles were ideal).
from which they could quickly disappear into cover if any danger threatened
(log piles were ideal).
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