23rd January Barnes Wetland Centre,
On a rather chilly, misty morning I ventured south of the river for some casual twitching at London’s WWT reserve, somewhere I’ve not visited since last winter.
![Green Woodpecker.jpg (161.78 KiB) Viewed 699 times Green Woodpecker in the foreground](./files/thumb_13753_af5cee595260e596213b517442f92f7f)
- Green Woodpecker in the foreground
![IMG_0014.JPG (216.03 KiB) Viewed 699 times Trying the capture the inverted reflection of the reeds.](./files/thumb_13753_2343f0db9c7d0236f3d2c12ea091d967)
- Trying the capture the inverted reflection of the reeds.
Vast swathes of the open water had frozen over meaning most of the birdlife was being corralled on the few patches that were still liquid.
Most of the winter visiting ducks were present in decent numbers, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon as well as the resident Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard and Tufted. Also a few Pintail could be seen lurking in the flocks if you looked carefully enough.
I had hoped to find some Bearded Reedling which are here again this winter but like last year remained elusive to my ears and eye’s. Reed buntings were putting on a good show though, with a small flock feeding in the reeds just outside one of the hides.
Bitterns, a few of which winter here every year, are usually to be seen skulking along the edges of the reed beds and you rarely get more than a glimpse of one unless you stake out a hide for the entire day. Today however, one could be seen (at a great distance) in the middle of the ice, possibly the worst attempt at camouflage I’ve ever witnessed!
Elsewhere I noticed an ingenious use for old boots:
Some of my favourite non native ducks in the North American enclosure, The Carolina Duck and Hooded Merganser (with Bufflehead in the background)
Dotted around (part of some exhibition one presumes) were some rather impressively realistic (albeit somewhat enlarged) lego models
I do hope this cold weather we're getting pays dividends come the spring, it really is bloody freezing down here in the south east at the moment!
Also this is my first post since the upgrade and I do like the addition of multiple image upload, very useful, thanks Pete
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)