Natuurmomenten: 2012

Sunday 11 March 2012

Almost Spring at London Wetland Centre

Earlier I wrote that I was facinated by the Wigeon. I even described the Wigeon (in Dutch: Smient; In Latin: Anas Penelope) as a mystical duck. Since my first sighting in November 2011 I have been seeing them many more times, especially in the London Wetland Centre. It is known that they hardly dive and that they eat ashore. It is also known that they migrate in the Summer to iceland and Norway, even to Siberia, in order to breed.

So this afternoon, I was actually not surprised to see lots of Wigeons eating their hart out on the juicy grass lands in the London Wetland Centre. They seemed to be having no other purpose in life, than to make sure they stored enough energy for their great flight North. When this will happen, I do not know. But I am grateful they gave me a peek in their day-to-day life.

Talking of great gatherings: I have never seen so many Cormorants together (in Dutch: Aalscholver; In Latin: Phalacrocorax carbo). There must be a lot of fish in the lake, because this afternoon they gathered, together with quite a lot of Grey Herons, on one of the islands. waiting for something to happen. Both types of birds eat fish, although the Cormorant swims and dives for it, whereas the Heron just uses it's beek as a spear. By the way, a couple of years ago I used to live alongside a small canal where anglers would give their catch to the herons. They would just stand quietly next to the angler, waiting for a snack...

Anyway, back to the Cormorants. After fishing, cormorants go ashore, and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun. All cormorants have preen gland secretions that are used ostensibly to keep the feathers waterproof. So with the nice Spring sun this afternoon, it must have been a great day for them too.

I have been surprised during any visit to the wetland centre so far. Today was no exception. Just outside the main area, there were two Bewick's swans enjoying the sun. These smaller versions of the Whooper Swan have not been seen before in the wetland centre by me. It is not easy to see the difference between the two. The Whooper (in Dutch: Wilde Zwaan; in Latin: Cygnus Cygnus) has more yellow on the beek and is larger. The Bewick's Swan (In Dutch: Kleine Zwaan; In Latin: Cygnus Columbianus) has therefore less yellow on the beek and is smaller.

But both types are nevertheless magnificent birds and it was very nice to see the Bewick's for the first time. I can now compare the differences using the picture I took last November in regent's Park.

All in all an extremly pleasant afternoon, together with my son, in the everytime surprising and always entertaining London Wetland Centre... where Spring is definitely on its way.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Gems in the Snow

After a week of some snow and some freeze, I wanted to check out the woodland nearby. Just to see how much snow there was. And more importantly, if there were still some colours to be found amongst the white. In this time of the season, you normally expect something like this. The ice is still there and some snow is covering it.

A total silent scene as if the time has stood still. No activity, not even some skating.

Therefore I was pleasantly surprised to see that if you wanted, you could still play golf. I heard from members that the golfcourse is actually closed for another week. But even if it wasn't closed, you would need some very colourful balls and a robust set of clubs. You need a snowmobile for transport and a lot of patience and stamina. Nevertheless, I was pleased to find these red gems.

But still this was too artificial. I wanted some natural colours and therefore I walked further on. And finally, I found some real gems in the snow. It really seems as if nature just finds he right combination of colours to be seen together. With the bright sunshine, the yellow just screamed at you. But in a very nice way. I don't have to visit an artgallery, because it is just out there. For free. You only have to see it in order to see it.

And the gems kept on coming. What a nice way to spend your afternoon. Just walk an watch, take some pictures and share it afterwards.

Saturday 7 January 2012

Regent's Park, a duck extravaganza

Today was a fine day for a walk in the Regent's Park in London. The park has a decent pond with quite some different ducks and geese. But first some history.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the RSPB, was formed to counter the barbarous trade in plumes for women's hats, a fashion responsible for the destruction of many thousands of egrets, birds of paradise and other species whose plumes had become fashionable in the late Victorian era.

There had already been concern earlier in the century about the wholesale destruction of such native birds as great crested grebes and kittiwakes for their plumage, leading to such early legislation as the Sea Birds Preservation Act of 1869 and the Wild Birds Protection Act of 1880, but the trigger which led to the foundation of the Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889 was the continued wearing of ever more exotic plumes. Indeed the young Society was so successful that it was granted its Royal Charter in 1904, just 15 years after being founded.

As a tribute, I took a picture of this Great crested Grebe in the Park. In Dutch this bird is known as a fuut. The Latin name is: Podiceps Cristatus.

But there were much more ducks to be seen today. A group of Northern Pintails was having a meeting near one of the bridges. I had seen two pintails a couple of weeks earlier in the park, but today there were much more swimming around. Very proud and distinguished ducks with their funny tail feathers pointing in the air. The Dutch name is the same: Pijlstaart. In Latin these duck are called: Anas Acuta.

And finally a small surprise: There was a Wigeon couple amongst the ducks. they normally keep a low profile, but these two apparently were happy with the audience. All in all a nice day for a nice walk.