Wildlife

Each season brings its star species and spectacles to London Wetland Centre

For the most up-to-date reserve news, view our Latest sightings

From the fragrant aroma of wildflowers to the delightful song of the chiffchaff, London Wetland Centre comes to life in spring, a brilliant time of year when new life begins. It’s the perfect moment to see sand martins, wheatears and wagtails.

Star species: redshank, common sandpiper, green sandpiper, black-tailed godwit, little ringed plover, wheatear, yellow wagtail, chiffchaff

In spring we look out for the return of warblers: willow, sedge, grasshopper and garden, plus blackcaps, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats.

Late spring is a great time to see orchids, irises and snake’s head fritillaries, as well as many other wildflowers coming into bloom in our sustainable gardens.

Redshanks, little ringed plovers and great crested grebes display, while lapwings are already sat on nests.

Summer is a great time to get to know moths, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and all other amazing minibeasts! Late summer evenings provide an opportunity to encounter a diverse array of bats that feed over the centre. Two of Britain’s rarest bats the Leisler’s bat and Nathusius’ pipistrelle are frequently detected hunting over wetlands.

Star species: lapwing, common tern, pochard, sand martin, reed warbler

The numbers of breeding sand martins are increasing every year. They nest in our specially designed colony bank on the Wader Scrape, where they forage for insects on the wing.

Common terns will be raising their chicks on the main lake rafts: the Observatory or Headley Hides are great places from which to see them.

Keep an eye out for dragonflies and damselflies, as well as lizards basking in sunny spots.

There is no better time to see what wetlands have to offer than autumn. Migratory birds arrive and our reserve transforms into an impressive patchwork of rich textures and dazzling colour displays, as leaves turn amber, berries emerge from the hedgerows and fairy tale fungus sprout underfoot.

Star species: green sandpipers, black-tailed godwits, greenshank, shoveler, gadwall

Autumn colours coat the reserve and there are plenty of berries to spot including rowan, hawthorn, guelder rose and rosehips, dogwood and blackthorn.

Wildlife surprises can include bearded tits and spotted flycatchers. As foliage disappears from the trees you can often get a better view of the reserve's smaller birds too, such as Cetti's warblers and long-tailed tits.

Numbers of wintering ducks such as shoveler, teal, gadwall and wigeon begin to rise.

Winter is a brilliant time to visit the reserve. London Wetland Centre has become one of the best places to spot bitterns, one of the UK’ rarest breeding birds. In addition, nationally significant numbers of gadwall, shoveler, wigeon and teal spend the season with us, too.

Star species: water rail, shoveler, wigeon, teal, bittern

Our over-wintering numbers of gadwall and shoveler ducks are nationally significant and one of the reasons London Wetland Centre is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

You may catch a glimpse of the shy water rail, running between patches of reeds and other waterside vegetation. Listen out for the call of this bird, which is often likened to the sound of a squealing pig.

Look out for the elusive bittern. These well-camouflaged birds of the heron family stand among the reeds at the water’s edge waiting for suitable fish to swim within their reach! They prefer our denser reed beds into which they can retreat if disturbed.