The Bigg Bird Forum

Corinna · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 4116

I visited Barnes for a few hours a couple of weeks ago.

I took my friends daughter who will be 13 in August. They live in New Zealand but are staying for at least 6 months.

We watched the Avocets on a nest, saw a Sanderling(unusual inland!) and a Little Ringed Plover.Watched heaps of baby Moorhens and Coots and some baby Mallards.

I showed her the Sand Martins nesting and we watched them zipping about feeding! House Martins and Swallows also put in an appearance or two!

The usual Gulls and ducks were about and finally a Redshank although I failed to locate the chicks! A couple of Lapwings and no sign of the several broods!

We then watched the frogs and listened to their mating calls!

It was then a whizz around the collection and managed to be on time to see the Indian Runner chicks come out of a swimming lesson and back into their pens!

Indian Runner birds have to be one of the most comical and entertaining ducks....they look like they dont have wings! so upright as well!

see here

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKVL9pKtDA&feature=related

Its the White ones that look so funny!

We also saw several Damselflies but only Common White Butterflies and finally we ended up in the NZ area!

I was a little worried that it might have been "boring" but not so "It was interesting"

Another trip to the wetlands and another satisfied customer...

Strixaluco · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 4536 Location: Mayford, Sy

Well done, Corinna - I wonder if you will have sparked a life-long interest? Smile

Corinna · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 4116

What is good is that the day before her Dad and my friend they are staying with went for a walk in Osterley Park and they looked at the Swans and Cygnets and reallyu close to the edge of one of the lakes wasa huge Coot nest and a mother sitting on it when she got up for a little while they saw 4 eggs!

So it was really good that Annie could see what those eggs turn into!

I think that its great when youngsters can watch wildlife and enjoy it.

(I have been asked to go to the Wetlands centre when the year 4's in my primary school visit in July! - you could take us around they said! Well i will be interested to see what the staff do with the youngsters!)