Trip reports

London Wetland Centre

Sunday, 4 March 2007

Barnes WWT has made a welcome return to the group outing schedule for 2007. A winter visit promises a good chance of a bittern sighting as well as good numbers of wildfowl. We started by visiting the D and the WWT hides hoping for a sighting of the bittern. No show here but we were treated to close up views of little grebe, ruddy duck, mallard, teal, pintail, gadwall and shoveler. Searching the islands fringing the lake added widgeon, great crested grebe, common gull and tufted duck. One island was occupied by 30-40 cormorants showing the white markings of their continental origins. The feeder station was well stocked, attracting a number of small birds; greenfinch, chaffinch, robin, a great spotted woodpecker, blue tit and great tit. Scavenging on the floor beneath were a number of woodpigeons, moorhens and a brown rat. From the Peacock tower the elusive bittern was spotted almost adjacent to the WWT hide. Its superb camouflage making it difficult to see as it stalked slowly between the reeds. Other birds seen here were an early sand martin, snipe and stock dove. Also seen around the reserve were goldfinch, mute swan, grey heron, pied wagtail and the ring-necked parakeet.