31st December 2005. BIRDSPOTTING.

Leon and I left for the WWT at about 13:00. Tim who was on his way home after cutting his head open at work gave us a lift. The weather was mild and quite sunny for long periods of time.
We headed off to the ‘Wildside’ to see how ‘Disco Duck’ was doing. He was still doing fine and kept turning somersaults and then running back into the Black Bamboo where he and his mates were hiding! We carried on to the far end of the site to survey the reedbeds for the Bittern that had been reported there as well as a Water vole. Not a sausage! There were not very many birds about at all.
After about half an hour we moved back to the Centre itself, one to get a hot drink (coffee again for me!) and something to eat. Leon had also sprung a leak! We took a slow walk afterwards around the ‘Lagoon’ hoping to see the Siskins that had been reported there. They were not there but we did see female a little later as we approached the ‘Peacock Tower’.
At the Tower we made our way to the top floor. This area was well crowded although it thinned out a bit after about twenty minutes. Again there was not a lot to see. The water level was still much higher than usual and there were good flocks of Wigeon ranging across the smallish areas of grass that were still exposed.
We made our way out of the Centre at about 15:40 after having been to the shop where Leon was unable to get the seed and fatballs that he required. His birds will just have to go hungry until next week when we return for the ‘Birdspotting Walk’.
We popped into the ‘Red Lion’ for a couple and to talk about what we had seen at the WWT, then finally home at about 17:00.

BIRDS SEEN: Siskin, Reed Buntings, Pintails (x2m, x2f), Jack Snipe, Common Snipe.

24th December 2005. Birdspotting.

Leon and I left for WWT at 13:30. When we arrived we were suprised to find that it would be closing at 15:00! Leon bought some birdfood and we then set off to look for, and found, the 'disco duck'. he seems to have come to terms with his disability and was happily interacting with most of the other ducks although a Mandarin seemed to take some small delight in tormenting him at times!

We made our way to the 'Peacock Tower', on the way discovering what appeared to be evidence of another attack upon a swan! There was a large peice of skin with feathers attached.

There was a very nice chap in the tower who was kind enough to point out some birds that Leon and I would surely have missed*. Will have to look into getting a telescope one of these days. The whole of the 'Wader Scrape' and the meadow area were flooded which concentrated the birds into quite small areas. I understand that the staff flood the area to 'lift' any remaining seeds that may be left to make it easier for the birds to find!

Popped into 'Red Lion' for two pints on the way home. A short but very rewarding visit. The voles, of course, were in bed early waiting for Santa!

BIRDS SEEN:** Stonechat, Rock Pippit, Siskin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe and Sparrowhawk.

* It never ceases to amaze me just how kind and generous most of the people who use WWT can be. Leon and I are often treated to views we would not likely to see by people letting us look through their telescopes or giving us advice on where and when to look for different birds. Help on identifing birds is also very welcome for we beginners.

** In future (now that I have these old journal entries added here) I shall list the birds that I would consider as being unusual or attract attention for some reason.

11th December 2005. Birdspotting / Photography.

Very cold, smaller ponds were frozen over. Sue decided not to come along today, instead we were joined by Leons' young nephew, John. Had coffee whilst waiting for him, my first cup of coffee since I don't know when. We showed John around the 'Wildside' where we came across what appeared to be a young Wigeon that had something wrong with his wing. Every time that he tried to take off he almost tied himself in knots in what appeared to be a demented frenzy. Leon christened the poor creature 'Disco Duck'. From the 'Wildside' we made our way back to the retaurant for breakfast. Thanks Leon!
After warming up we went to the 'Peacock Tower' where we spent quite some time. John expressed much interest in everything that he saw. There was a dead bird in the 'Wader Scrape'. The crows had found it but seemed unable to take advantage of the large free meal that presented itself to them. We concurred that the bird was probably frozen solid.
Lots of good 'photo opportunities today, the frost made everything look magical. Whilst walking back we came across what appeared to be evidence of an attack upon a swan. There were many a white feather in two seperate areas not too far apart.
John headed off home at about 13:30 whilst Leon and myself headed off to the 'Red Lion' to warm up. All in all a good day out. Left home at 09:00 and got back at about 15:00.

20th November 2005. Birdspotting / Photography.

A freezing cold start to the day. It was very foggy and we could not see the weir from the top of the Peacock Tower. I was supposed to 'phone 'Stoney' (good mate) but figured that he would be wasting his time if he came to the Centre today. Sue and myself arrived first as Leon had to work this morning. He turned up later with Tim (another mate) and his granddaughter. Only the Coots were out and about to start with. As the day warmed up lots more birds decided to show up. Sue went off to take her photographs (about 200 again!) and came up to the tower to join me later on. After about three hours of watching we retired to the rugby club.

Although sunny it remained very cold and we were chilled right through. Must get some small flasks for tea/coffee. Obviously the voles were hibernating!

6th November 2005. Birdspotting / Photography.

A very grey and drizzly day. Many of the birds seem to have been frightened off by the host of firework parties from last night. There was, however, an abundance of Wigeon and Teal. I was hoping to see the Gargeny that had been reported but it seems to have left already. The rain increased steadily throughout the day and the number of people at the Centre reflected this. A good few hours were spent just sat watching the day to day goings-on of the birds. Sue went off to 'Wildside' and the far end of the Centre. A total of about 200 photographs were taken, nearly all of which were good enough to keep as a record!

We had left home at about midday and were home again by about 16:00. Cold and slightly damp but, nevertheless, very happy with the day out.

15th October 2005. Wildlife Walk for Members.

The day started misty, as you would expect on Leons' birthday but it turned out to be, most unseasonally, sunny and very warm at 21C. The walk was very interesting and featured the same chap that ran the 'Introduction to Birdwatching' walk. Lots of good places to see things at different times of the year were pointed out. This included where we might see voles! We were shown some tracks .... miles away from where we had been told that the little varmints had been released!

A large number of snakes and other reptiles and amphibians have been released on the site. This was a result of a landfill site being redeveloped and as many of the creatures on the site as possible were rescued and moved.We were shown some refuges for them.

We enjoyed another good breakfast although it was not included in the price this time. Leon had to leave early for his birhday lunch with his family but I stayed on to do some more birdwatching. I had hoped to do a bit of sketching but didn't have time.

I bought a softback copy of 'Collins', to save my hardback copy, and also Christmas chocolates for Sue and the girls.

Stopped for a couple of 'swifties' in 'The Red Lion' and then home to Sue.

9th October 2005. Introduction to Birdwatching.

A great day out! Leon and I got there nice and early on a beautiful Autumn morning. A very relaxed and easy atmosphere, the chap taking the tour obviously enjoyed his subject. Our guide pointed out the different ways in which both the body shapes of the birds and the differing habitats affected where you might see them. There were lots of little tips interspersed with the talk, my favourite being: "You will often see a Gadwall in company with a Coot, the Coot dives down and roots up more vegetation than he can handle whilst feeding. The Gadwall takes full advantage by feeding on the floating excess!" I have noted on many occasions since that this is the case.

Breakfast, as part of the package was very good as usual. Leon bought tray for his feeder as well as some fatballs.

Sue joined us later in the rugby club next to the centre (Barnes RFC) where we met some old freinds and made some new ones. All in all a very good day. Voleless.

1st September 2005. Guided Bat Walk.

Sue, Leon and myself went along for this terrific evening. The weather was perfect. There as a filmshow first in the well-equipped lecture theatre. The talk that accompanied the filmshow was well delivered and catered for people of all levels of knowledge about the subject. Later we all went out for a walk around the site with sonic bat detectors, setting the detectors to different frequencies to detect different species of bat. Several species were found. Bought a new waxproof cotton hat whilst Leon bought a new birdfeeder and a supply of seed. No voles.

25th August 2005. Bar-B-Que.

Late Bar-b-Que at he WWT! Had a walk around the site before the meal Geat value, great selection! Fed a young fox that had quickly learned where to find food. Sue came along for the first time and took some great photographs with her new digital camera. Still no voles.

4th August 2005. Bird / Vole spotting.

Contained here are notes from my journal about visits to the Wetland Centre.

Although they commence 4th August 2005, we had been to the site several times before.

Getting used to the Wetlands now. Both Leon and myself have applied for membership. No voles!

My Wetlands Mate, Leon.

Leon, he what got me into it!

This is my mate, Leon. It was his idea to go to the WWT centre at Barnes in the first place. He had heard that there had been a release of a number of Watervoles and wanted to go along to see them. It didn't take much for him to talk me into going along, after all we are very lucky to to live quite close by with a direct bus link. We never have seen a vole to this day (29th Dec 2005) although we have seen plenty of sign.

Leon has taken to birdwatching like 'a duck to water' and has installed a feeding station outside his window. He has taken many photographs of a very good standard.

Both being new to birdwatching we are able to 'bounce' ideas off one another. Leons' zany sense of humour often has me in gales of laughter - he often sees the funny side of a dismal situation - for which I have been grateful several times whilst sitting in a freezing cold hide

WHY WETLANDS WEDGE?

Welcome!
I have recently become interested in both birdwatching and the wildlife in a wetlands habitat. This came about after a visit to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre at Barnes, England with a work colleague. I have always been interested in wildlife with a particular interest in birds but have never really made a study of them. Having enjoyed the first visit to WWT, Leon* and myself had several more days out there, eventually becoming members. By becoming members we could save ourselves a serious amount of money on entry fees. Membership also allows entry to several other WWT sites.
This 'blog' will be about our visits to the Centre, hopefully a record of our developing knowledge of birds and the wetland habitat, and, anything else that is affected in our daily lives through our involvement with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Apart from photographs of individuals, I shall usually only be posting some 'views' of the wetlands. Birds will only be shown where something unusal has shown up or happened. If you need to look at pictures of the birds mentioned , there are books and online sources to view.

My Christian name is Reg hence: Wetlands Wedge.

All the very best,
Wetlands Wedge.

* It was Leons' idea, originally, to go to WWT to see the Watervoles that were supposed to have been released there!