Barnes - bare of birds!

My young companion of the last two weeks, went home to Sussex on Friday for the weekend. I miss him already. There's a day and a half next week and then it's the end of term.

So today - where to? I went over to Barnes (the London Wetland Centre). I didn't really expect to see much in terms of birds - and that's exactly what I saw - hardly any birds. Not even the usual small birds - not so much as a Blue Tit or Robin or Wren.

I wandered through to the Peacock Tower and there met a couple of birders whom I've got on nodding terms with, being regular visitors. Down below, a young WWT member of staff was wandering around in his waders, looking around on one of the small islands having arrived there in a small boat. His was looking for (and trying to capture) a very large Terrapin! Apparently it was the size of a dinner plate and was thought to have been laying eggs! I felt quite sorry for the young man who just couldn't find the Terrapin; this having dived into the plants and become invisible.

However, the Grey Herons were everywhere as usual; the time of year doesn't seem to affect their presence.

Young birds abounded, and a family of Mallards were swimming lazily around.

But what was evident in huge numbers, were Tufted Duck young ones. At least four families of at least 9 a piece were around in one part, and several other families elsewhere - they might even have outnumbered the number of coot families!



From one of the hides, a family of young Starlings was observed; the young losing their "fluffiness" and getting more adult plumage.





This was mostly it on the larger side of the reserve so, after a yogurt and coffee (for lunch!), I wandered around to "The Wildside" which is much smaller with just a couple of hides. There's quite a number of collection birds before you walk out into the wildside "proper".

Here, on two small islands was where the action was. On one of them was a Common Sandpiper (too far away for a picture) and on the other a -

Common Tern

who was kept company by, amongst other birds, a Little Ringed Plover

Cormorants were there in number and this one, having had a swim, came onto the island to dry off by flapping wings..

conducting the Duck Orchestra..

Before having a preen.

Another one came along...

and tidied himself up.

Most of the "flying things" were Flutters on one type or another

Six spot Burnets were still very much about..

The colouring of this one was very pale green compared to its normal dark grey colouring

These two enjoying the plant

and then a Speckled Wood (I could only see 1 spot!)

Now - is this the same or a different flutter?

and a pretty pink Water Lily!

I decided to come back through Richmond Park, as there's much Ragwort that grows there and I was after Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars.

However, as I started off from the car park I came across a herd of Fallow Deer Bucks who were being very photogenic!

Legs and heads!

Aw - we are being sooo good!

And then? Well the sky got blacker and drops of water started falling so I decided to call it a day and headed off for home!