29TH OCTOBER 2006.
LATE START AT THE WETLANDS.
It was a late start to our time at the Centre today as Leon and I had been to Staines Reservoirs earlier in the day. In fact we had caught the first train from Barnes and had had a good day already! Although still a little nippy here was a clear blue sky and, in sheltered places, could be quite warm. The only downside as that the pleasant weather had bought out swarms of ‘little darlings’.
After visiting the Observatory we made our way to the ‘Wildside’ hide which was quite crowded compared to the usual numbers of people that we experience there. Most people there seemed to be quite keen and many had good binoculars or ‘scopes. I heard several of them talking quite learnedly about different aspects of the birds that they were viewing which led me to believe that there may have been a coach party or two that were visiting for the day. We spent quite along time at the hide enjoying good visibility and a wide range of birds. The main migration had supposedly started just recently because the temperatures seemed to have dropped enough to make the bids think about moving. This seemed to be the consensus amongst most of the people that we spoke to. Unfortunately we were destined not to see any of the Pipits that were seen earlier in the week but we did enjoy looking at the ‘usual’ inhabitants.
Leaving the ‘Wildside’ hide we made our way back via the ‘Summer walk’ because we thought that this time next week it could well be closed for the winter. We hope not, but you never know!
The trains and buses, running late, had made sure that we missed breakfast so we didn’t even stop for coffee and moved directly to the ‘Waterlife’ area. We are still amazed at the different types and numbers of flowers that are still in flower about the site and this area is no exception. Too, there were many small birds scampering amongst the trees. We could hear snippets of birdsong as we walked along, although the predominant sound was of the ‘little darlings’ in the ‘Explore’ area.
The feeder area was well attended by lots of Tits and Finches. It annoys me that people WILL walk onto the grass area, sometimes frightening the small birds away and always stopping other people from enjoying the action inside the feeding area itself. Whilst walking towards the feeding area we had been treated to some lovely views of a Kestrel searching for prey and hovering. Of course, it was Leon that had spotted the bird; he never seems to fail where raptors and ‘hidden’ birds are concerned!
A slow walk around the ‘Lagoon’ was rewarded with some excellent views of Long Tailed Tits and their friends carousing in the path-side bushes. If you stood still they would come quite close and when you couldn’t se them you could track them with their distinctive calls. The birds are starting to develop their lovely pink colouration, which makes them one of my favourite birds to watch.
The ‘Wader Scrape’ hide was packed with eager ‘birders’ as well, probably confirming my idea that there was a couple of coach parties in. From the hide we could see a good many Teal and Gadwall as well as a good mix of other ‘regulars’.
When we arrived at the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were not surprised to see that it, too, was quite crowded. The crowds were, however, beginning to thin out even as we made our way upstairs. By the time we had spent ten minutes there the place had all but emptied. Some of the ‘regulars’ told us that it had been quite quiet but that the weather had made for some spectacular viewing conditions. One chap pointed out a grounded Sparrowhawk at the far side of the ‘Grazing Marsh’. The conditions were such that I could see the bird reasonably well through my binoculars but was well pleased when he let both Leon and I ‘have a squint’ through his ‘scope! The birds’ eyes were most noticeable, a fierce yellow-gold which seemed to penetrate down the length of the ‘scope. A Carrion Crow landed nearby and tried to roust him out of his spot in amongst a light covering of dead Purple Loosestrife stems but he was having none of it and his tormentor soon gave up. After about fifteen minutes the Sparrowhawk came out to the edge of the marsh and, looking very intently, made as if to make a sudden strike at some target directly in line with us. He changed his mind however and just stood looking about, out in the open. This was all that the Crow needed and he started towards the hawk calling, as if summoning help which soon arrived in the shape of two more of his kin. They spread themselves about him and, being out numbered and outmanoeuvred, he flew of to the trees on the outskirts of the Centre, Crows in hot pursuit.
Although it would have been nice to spend a little more time at the hide we decided to make our way back to the shop, by way of the ‘WWF’ hide. Again, this hide was quite busy with a couple taking particular interest in the collection of Gulls and Cormorants.
The hides were not the only places to be fully packed on this particular day. The ‘office’ was packed solid and having already decided that we would only stop for just two pints abandoned the idea all together, and so, made our way home.
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Shoveller, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Ruddy duck, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Feral Pigeon, Heron, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Greylag Goose, Magpie, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Kestrel, Wren, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Common Snipe, Starling.
LATE START AT THE WETLANDS.
It was a late start to our time at the Centre today as Leon and I had been to Staines Reservoirs earlier in the day. In fact we had caught the first train from Barnes and had had a good day already! Although still a little nippy here was a clear blue sky and, in sheltered places, could be quite warm. The only downside as that the pleasant weather had bought out swarms of ‘little darlings’.
After visiting the Observatory we made our way to the ‘Wildside’ hide which was quite crowded compared to the usual numbers of people that we experience there. Most people there seemed to be quite keen and many had good binoculars or ‘scopes. I heard several of them talking quite learnedly about different aspects of the birds that they were viewing which led me to believe that there may have been a coach party or two that were visiting for the day. We spent quite along time at the hide enjoying good visibility and a wide range of birds. The main migration had supposedly started just recently because the temperatures seemed to have dropped enough to make the bids think about moving. This seemed to be the consensus amongst most of the people that we spoke to. Unfortunately we were destined not to see any of the Pipits that were seen earlier in the week but we did enjoy looking at the ‘usual’ inhabitants.
Leaving the ‘Wildside’ hide we made our way back via the ‘Summer walk’ because we thought that this time next week it could well be closed for the winter. We hope not, but you never know!
The trains and buses, running late, had made sure that we missed breakfast so we didn’t even stop for coffee and moved directly to the ‘Waterlife’ area. We are still amazed at the different types and numbers of flowers that are still in flower about the site and this area is no exception. Too, there were many small birds scampering amongst the trees. We could hear snippets of birdsong as we walked along, although the predominant sound was of the ‘little darlings’ in the ‘Explore’ area.
The feeder area was well attended by lots of Tits and Finches. It annoys me that people WILL walk onto the grass area, sometimes frightening the small birds away and always stopping other people from enjoying the action inside the feeding area itself. Whilst walking towards the feeding area we had been treated to some lovely views of a Kestrel searching for prey and hovering. Of course, it was Leon that had spotted the bird; he never seems to fail where raptors and ‘hidden’ birds are concerned!
A slow walk around the ‘Lagoon’ was rewarded with some excellent views of Long Tailed Tits and their friends carousing in the path-side bushes. If you stood still they would come quite close and when you couldn’t se them you could track them with their distinctive calls. The birds are starting to develop their lovely pink colouration, which makes them one of my favourite birds to watch.
The ‘Wader Scrape’ hide was packed with eager ‘birders’ as well, probably confirming my idea that there was a couple of coach parties in. From the hide we could see a good many Teal and Gadwall as well as a good mix of other ‘regulars’.
When we arrived at the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were not surprised to see that it, too, was quite crowded. The crowds were, however, beginning to thin out even as we made our way upstairs. By the time we had spent ten minutes there the place had all but emptied. Some of the ‘regulars’ told us that it had been quite quiet but that the weather had made for some spectacular viewing conditions. One chap pointed out a grounded Sparrowhawk at the far side of the ‘Grazing Marsh’. The conditions were such that I could see the bird reasonably well through my binoculars but was well pleased when he let both Leon and I ‘have a squint’ through his ‘scope! The birds’ eyes were most noticeable, a fierce yellow-gold which seemed to penetrate down the length of the ‘scope. A Carrion Crow landed nearby and tried to roust him out of his spot in amongst a light covering of dead Purple Loosestrife stems but he was having none of it and his tormentor soon gave up. After about fifteen minutes the Sparrowhawk came out to the edge of the marsh and, looking very intently, made as if to make a sudden strike at some target directly in line with us. He changed his mind however and just stood looking about, out in the open. This was all that the Crow needed and he started towards the hawk calling, as if summoning help which soon arrived in the shape of two more of his kin. They spread themselves about him and, being out numbered and outmanoeuvred, he flew of to the trees on the outskirts of the Centre, Crows in hot pursuit.
Although it would have been nice to spend a little more time at the hide we decided to make our way back to the shop, by way of the ‘WWF’ hide. Again, this hide was quite busy with a couple taking particular interest in the collection of Gulls and Cormorants.
The hides were not the only places to be fully packed on this particular day. The ‘office’ was packed solid and having already decided that we would only stop for just two pints abandoned the idea all together, and so, made our way home.
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Shoveller, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Ruddy duck, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Feral Pigeon, Heron, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Greylag Goose, Magpie, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Kestrel, Wren, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Common Snipe, Starling.
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