Birding Braunie

Fortunately there was more wildlife than people here today. I guess I’ve always had a love affair with the Lee Valley. It was the first 'proper' nature reserve I visited once I had re-found the temptress that is birding. The area is diverse in habitat and sometimes surprising in the quality of the birds. Recent years have brought Paddyfield Warbler, Red-footed Falcon, Savi’s Warbler and Spotted Crake to the valley but pride of place goes to one of Britain’s rarest birds, the Bittern. Around 10% of Britain’s winter population spend their time in the pockets of reedbed that now form a special habitat born out of these now disused gravel pits. View from the Bittern Watchpoint. I arrived at the watchpoint around 9am. It was another bitterly cold day and the sky was dark and flat which doesn’t help the photography you know. Now, a couple of these Bittern chaps had been seen over the past couple of days but one thing you need to know about them is that they are 1. very secreti...

Nipped over to Fairlop Waters by tube for a couple of hours of fresh air and wet socks today. With no breeze and a clearing sky, it was perfect conditions for a bit of digiscoping . It is still incredibly wet underfoot and difficult to negotiate some areas due to waterlogging and mud. Must remember to wear boots without any holes in them next time. Still, the birds seem to like the soggy bits. A pied wagtail particularly enjoyed it and didn ’t appear bothered at my presence at the start of the walk. Other birds including a green woodpecker , blackbird and great tit were seen along the path leading to the boathouse. There is a lot of work going on at Fairlop Waters right now to improve the site but the ground is very muddy and the earth machines are probably freaking some species out. On the other hand though, with disruption to the landscape comes opportunity. many small mammals are being flushed out from their protective shelters and birds such as kestrels are enjoying a much e...