In the noughties I lived in Walthamstow for a couple of years before heading to the fens. I came up to Cambridgeshire quite a bit but my patch was Walthamstow Reservoirs. I never loved the place but it did allow a space to follow the seasons and get out birding nearby. We still visit regularly as the in-laws are still in the stow and todays visit allowed me a chance to pop out and have a look for the Little Bunting that has taken up residence. I was quite shocked at the change of visiting arrangements, the place was heaving with a large car park and visitor centre directing folk around the reservoirs. In my day it was a coded padlock and use of the anglers car park and portacabin. There was a crowd waiting for the bunting to show and after a half hour or so the bird popped up into the bushy tangle and then flew to a nearby tree before heading back down into the weedy waste ground. I had some very nice but brief views but following this showing the entire gathering dispersed, I was much relieved and the following hour the bird flew up to perches on 4 more occasions. I had some great views, never longer than a minute and frequently ticking anxiously with wing flicks ready to fly at any given moment.
definitely not this one
nor this one
there we go
I have enjoyed Black Terns, Osprey, Turnstone, Red-necked Grebe against Canary Wharf skyline back in the day.
Snazzy visitor centre - beware, the site is crawling with hipsters of varying ages getting their nature fix - you know, in the wild.
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