Friday 1 January 2016

New Year 'bum' day at London Wetland Centre

Happy New Year everyone.
 
As per New Year tradition I was off to the London Wetland Centre today primarily to see birds, but also to catch up with the usual stalwarts ie: Philip, John, Therese, Mary-Anne, Martin, and today we were also joined for part of the day by Nathalie (the Fulham and Barnes Peregrines 'Godmother' or as Martin called her today 'Mrs Peregrine').
 
This is going to be a very tongue-in-cheek blog, I didn't have my zoom lens with me and of course all of the birds were some distance away - so apologies in advance for some dreadful photos !
 
The lagoon walk produced a large group of Siskins and one left the flock to partake in a bit of grit-picking from the path. It was very well camouflaged though and another birder flushed the bird before I got the chance to take too many pics.....
 

 
At least six Goldcrests were mingling with mixed tit flocks along the walk, and of course I barely got a photo of any of them....
 

 
Elsewhere on site the Robins are becoming territorial....
 
 
The Ring-necked Parakeets are checking out nest holes.....


 
The usual mixed selection of gulls were gracing the lagoon....
 
 
Most of the Shovellers were sleeping instead of shovelling....

 
Two pairs of Eurasian Teal were being chased away by a Great Crested Grebe......

 
Plenty of Cormorants were around as usual.......


 
along with a Grey Heron.....

 
that maybe thought the 'frog' sign was an indicator of where he could find some lunch.......

 
By the Wildside hide a Little Grebe was hunting.....
 

 
and from the same hide there was a pair of Pintail ducks.....


 
Also from the same hide we saw both of the Fulham and Barnes Peregrines perched as usual on Charing Cross Hospital. One flew off, but the other stayed put...
 
 
What do you mean 'where is it ?'.....

 
It's there !
 
Again from the same hide one of the two reported Bitterns showed itself......

 
It is there.........honestly......!

 
See ! Right there.
 
By the Wildside entrance gate an unusual call grabbed Nathalie and mines attention. One that we didn't recognise although the very brief sighting we had was enough to confirm it was a warbler of sorts. On going back there with the experts (Philip, John and Martin) the bird showed itself briefly enough for them to confirm it was a Cettis Warbler. There were at least four heard calling around the reserve today, but this particular one was calling a few notes that I hadn't heard before. Martins Collins Bird app proved it was a Cettis though so I can add that new call to my life list.
 
And the only photo I managed was one of its bum !! But which also showed the bird is ringed.....

 
Which then got me realising how many other 'bum' shots I had got today, and not just because I had bought the wrong lens.....
 
Pintail bums....

 
Little Grebe bum...

 
Goldcrest bum...

 
and a Siskin bum....

 
So the weather wasn't ideal, the birds weren't showing too well and I took the wrong lens, but it was still a good New Year Day outing, and my resolution for 2016 will be to visit the London Wetland Centre once a month this year.
 
Of course the company made up for my frustrating photos. As always it was a pleasure to see Philip and his lady friend, John and Therese, Martin, Nathalie, Mary-Anne and Nick. A good gossip and laugh always makes the day seem better.
 
So Happy New Year again everyone. I hope 2016 brings you nature galore.
 

1 comment:

  1. Sounds like a fab day - makes me realise how long it is since I visited. Must put that right in 2016

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