Bitterns and large flocks arriving at WWT London

Bittern amongst the reeds at WWT London Wetland Centre. Photo credit: Naomi Landy.

Bumper flock of wintering birds at WWT WWT London

November 2009. The first bittern of the season was seen flying over WWT London Wetland Centre on 16 October, earlier than ever, It has now settled amongst the reeds. The bird has been arriving earlier and earlier in the year since it first appeared in 2002. It is not known why this pattern of early arrival seems to be emerging, but speculation at the centre points to weather patterns and winds on the continent, where this individual is believed to come from. The London Wetland Centre in Barnes is one of a very few locations in London to see a bittern, and certainly the closest the bird gets to the City centre.

Excellent predator
Keen birdwatchers at the centre have seen the bird several times in the Wildside of the reserve where it is likely to stay until February or March. Expectation is high for one or two more bitterns to fly into the centre, as there were three visiting the centre in 2008. Bitterns usually take a few weeks to find their winter feeding spot, but once they do they remain in their territory through the winter. The birds are excellent predators, feeding mostly on perch, but also prey on roach, frogs, eels and small birds. Known as shy creatures, they are excellent camouflage artists concealing themselves from larger predators and humans.

Hundreds of gadwall and shoveller
"The centre has been attracting high numbers of wintering birds in the past few weeks, and the bittern always brings excitement to the reserve because it is such a rare bird in the UK. Nationally significant duck numbers have already been reached, with hundreds of gadwall and shoveller seen on the main lake," said Adam Salmon, Reserve Manager. "Other highlights include good counts of arriving redwing and Cetti's warblers. There are still chiffchaff and blackcap around, some of which may over-winter, siskin and lesser redpoll are feeding now through the birch trees."

Other spectacular autumn birds seen at the London Wetland Centre this week include water pipit, rock pipit, mealy redpolls, jack snipe, brambling, tree sparrows and woodlark. Centre staff are expecting a woodcock to arrive this winter as it did in 2008.