Flora and fauna, including White Storks and other captive birds, at Barnes Wetland Centre on 23th September 2025

I started my visit to the Barnes Wetland Centre by heading to the southern part of the reserve

On the way I passed some lovely fluffy Cardoon seed heads

A male Common Darter dragonfly was perching on a leaf

I saw a male Wigeon from one of the bird hides on the south side

and a pair of Gadwalls

I then went to the other side of the wetlands where I saw a pair of American Wood ducks - part of the wildfowl collection

A free-flying Grey Heron was trying to eat a frog

The following photos are of some of the other exotic birds kept at Barnes:

Group of Chiloe Wigeon

White-faced Whistling ducks - don't know the name of the other ducks

Three Cape Teal

Beautiful White Storks

After leaving the wildfowl collection, I saw a dainty Willow Emerald damselfly resting on a leaf

A Magpie joined me for lunch on a nearby bench

Then, on the way out of that side of the wetlands, I saw a Cape Barren goose

On the way back to the south side of the wetlands, I passed some lovely Autumn berries

First time I have photographed green Rose-ringed Parakeets from above

I was on the top floor of the Peacock hide

Snipe standing at the edge of the lagoon

The light was fading by now - Three Northern Shovelers in the water and two Snipe in the background

Two more Northern Shovelers swimming across the lagoon

An orderly row of juvenile Cygnets - even without their parents there to guide them!

The highlight of the day was a Bittern in the far away reeds

Unfortunately my bridge camera could not do it justice!

 

Birding walk round Barnes Wetlands - waterfowl collection and wild birds - 4th February 2025

Cape Barren goose near the entrance to the Birds of the World side of the London Wetland Centre

Golden Eye drakes having a splashing time

Resting American Wood Ducks at the edge of the water - two drakes and two females

Group of White-faced Whistling ducks in vegetation

White Stork standing between the reeds

Two White Storks in temporary accommodation

Male White-faced duck

Five male Red-crested Pochards and one female

Female White-faced duck

Moorhen with a yellow bill instead of the usual red

Orinoco goose

Chiloe geese

Moorhen with normal coloured bill

Yellow-billed duck

Male and female Smew

I entered the Wildside area of the Wetlands and saw two Cormorants from the bird hide

Pond in the Wildside area

Catkins - lovely sign that Spring is on the way

Reedbed and distant houses

Back in the Birds of the World area I discovered that there were three White Storks

Male Hooded Merganser showing off in front of three male Ferruginous ducks

View from the Headley hide of a reedbed and two Mute Swans in the wild area

Male Northern Shoveler

Female Northern Shoveler

Two Great Crested Grebes

View across the lake towards the Peacock hide

Later on I visited the South side of the wetlands where I saw a Greenfinch amongst dark branches

and a Goldfinch

and a very tame Robin

There were lots of Northern Shovelers on the lake - viewed from the Peacock hide

and a few Eurasian Teal

View of the lake from the Peacock hide

Close view of the Peacock hide

Green Rose-ringed Parakeet, Great Tit and Blue Tit on a bird feeder

Two Parakeets and a Great Tit on the feeder with a Blue Tit watching from the twigs!

Water Rail on the ground inside a cage round a set of bird feeders

I have always wanted to get close to a Water Rail - shame it was inside the cage!