I have made many trips to London and have read all about the Wetland centre as well as seeing it on TV but never visited, until very recently. I have always enjoyed visiting London and a work paid trip could not be ignored. I decided to take a few hours out and head to the Wetland Centre which is a short bus ride from Hammersmith underground station. All in all, the entre is just over an hour away from Euston. Travel an hour by public transport in Lancashire and you will be in the next county!
The weather was super (last week) - the sun was out. There were all sorts of different nationalities and languages spoken in the Wetland Centre, something you dont see much in the nature reserves in the North. Firs stop was the cafe for a slice of Victoria sponge and a capuccino. I needed to refresh after that journey and i found a nice way to do it.
You can see the various towers, the London Eye in the distance as well as planes flying over but it is unbelievable how quiet and peaceful the centre is. You could be out in the countryside! There are two main trails with oen leading to a tower which gives you a good view over the reserve. It is surprising what sort of birds turn up here and in the days previous to my visit there were records of Garganey, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat.
One of my first surprises was a Fox but it would not allow me to take a photo. It moved off into the undergrowth. The screetchy sqwaking noise was a sharp reminder of the thousands of Parakeets which have made london their home. For a moment i thought I was transported to rural South Asia.
Other birds seen included Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker, Common Sandpiper as well as the usual suspects. The only bird that I considered of special mention would be the Cetti's Warbler of which I saw 2 and heard a further 2. I got a very good view of one as it sat on top of a reed alarming at me. I managed to video it.
It is worth a visit especially if you are a member of the WWT. I felt it was a really good example of an urban nature reserve and moreso an urban wetland!
