My wild bird highlight for the day was a pair of Common Snipe, alongside large numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Common Teal, Northern Lapwing and various other species.
My wild bird highlight for the day was a pair of Common Snipe, alongside large numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Common Teal, Northern Lapwing and various other species.
Are those buildings viewing shelters of some kind? I have read that there is a park in the London area with restored wetlands and both native and exotic waterfowl from around the world, essentially a "duck zoo". Is this it?
Are those buildings viewing shelters of some kind? I have read that there is a park in the London area with restored wetlands and both native and exotic waterfowl from around the world, essentially a "duck zoo". Is this it?
Yep, that would be this place (the tower is a large bird hide). The wetlands are converted from disused water reservoirs.
It's one of 9 centres around the UK run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust - one of my favourite conservation organisations. Founded by Sir Peter Scott and most famous for saving the Hawaiian Goose, they're currently involved in numerous international projects - most particularly with Madagascan Pochards and Spoon-billed Sandpipers, as well as UK projects like the Crane School.
Most of the 9 centres have at least a small captive waterfowl component alongside a large wetland nature reserve (Caerlaverock and Welney are just nature reserves). Their headquarters at Slimbridge have one of the biggest collections of waterfowl in Europe and all 6 species of flamingo, and they have now started branching into other wetland species such as otters and beavers. All make excellent days out.
It's worth flagging up for the benefit of a potential overseas visitor that Barn Elms' gift shop is probably the best shop within easy reach of Central London for buying UK birding books and magazines.
The only other candidate that mixes the latter with wildlife would be RSPB Rainham Marshes, which is purely a reserve, and is also out on the eastern side of London. Barn Elms is fairly quickly reached from Heathrow, by contrast.
I believe there may be Tree Sparrows here too? Not a wetland bird obviously but quite 'local' and patchy in their distribution in the South nowadays. Can usually be seen around bird feeders at the Reception Centres of reserves- that's if they are present at all.
