The Wagtails are back

The recent chilly blast has brought the Pied Wagtails back to Heathrow’s Terminal 5. I guess that they have been warm enough in their usual roosts until now, but shelter on four sides has drawn them back despite the bird-proofed trees. The trees were specially selected to deter birds from roosting here. Their lack of horizontal branches do not offer a comfortable place to sit out the night, but when survival out ranks comfort, the birds arrive in numbers.

The Christmas lights have been left in the trees and continue to shine as we approach the end of January. I hope that the airport’s authorities are not hoping to make the birds even more uncomfortable than they already are. Mind you, each little bulb will give off a few Watts of heat and may be keeping the birds warm. Perhaps I do the authorities an injustice.

Now that they are here, it is possible that they will return each evening for the rest of the winter. This morning, the temperature had risen to a balmy 15 degrees, but the flock continued to seek the shelter offered by the terminal buildings. I suspect that the flock may be made up of a few smaller flocks that amalgamate to share the extra warmth.

Harmondsworth Moor, Heathrow, London.

I was greeted by a Robin singing to declare his sovereignty over a planting of small trees. It was early in the morning and I was attending a course at Heathrow Airport. The vagaries of the M25 compelled me to allow plenty of time, leaving me half an hour for a quick root around on Harmondswoth Moor.

The moor is within easy reach of the airport and any transiting passenger could fit in a speedy visit to pick up some common British garden birds. It is sited on 240 acres, almost 100 hectares, of reclaimed land just inside the M25 by the M4 junction, less than 10 minutes from the airport terminals.

Blue Tits are very common here and can be seen at this time of year feeding in the Alders and Willow that line the small rivers. By the first car park at Google Earth ref; 51 29 13N 00 29 24E, the banks of the Ruver Colne are lined by thorn bushes and brambles. These are very popular with Great Tits and European Goldfinch while Dunnocks scrape around on the ground close to the cover.

A pair of small reedy ponds can be found close by, seperated by a short board walk. 2 Gadwall pairs and a Little Grebe were on one of the tiny waters each morning and Reed Buntings could be made out amongst the phragmites.

Paths meander across the moor, following the rivers and leading up towards the large Saxon Lake close to the M4 motorway. Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks and Grey Heron can be seen here on the deeper water.

Three Rivers run through Harmondsworth Moor with bridges to allow wider access to the meadows and shaded paths. Rabbits are likely to be seen on any of the grassy verges and young kits have been up from their holes during the glorious weather of this last week of February.

Green Woodpeckers were flushed from the grass up into the cover of the ivy climbing the willows. Long-tailed Tits might be seen anywhere in the plantings or along the river banks.

As well as a couple of morning visits, I was able to fit in a walk in the afternoon. The light was especially good and reflected golden from the reeds in the small ponds near the car park.

A picture that I had seen earlier in the week almost worked on the last afternoon when a Blue Tit was seen feeding from a Reed Mace head. A bit closer and steadier would have made a great picture.

If you are in transit at London Heathrow and would like to visit Harmondsworth Moor, it should not take more than 10 minutes cab ride from the terminals 1,2,3 and 5. Leave 20 minutes from Terminal 4. Use a radio cab rather than the London Taxis that you find at the taxi ranks. Ask the driver for Tarmac Way, at the junction of A3044 and the A4 Colnbrook By-pass, near the British Airways head office at Waterside. It was BA that reclaimed and developed the land as part of their head office complex.

Heathrow Minicabs quoted £20 each way. Their office is very close by so you may be able to negotiate a better rate for the return journey. Tel; (+44) 02085740868

There are other minicab firms available, but this was the only one who appeared to understand the enquiry.

There is a full time Ranger staff who can be contacted on (+44) 07720543213

Please beware that there have been reports of articles being stolen from cars, especially from those parked near the entrance to the north of the M4.

Birds seen; 34

Little Grebe 2, Greta Cormorant 1, Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 1, Mute Swan 4, Mandarin Duck 1, Gadwall 4, Mallard 15, Tufted Duck 15, Common Buzzard 2, Common Kestrel 1, Common Moorhen 1, Common Coot 6, Black-headed Gull 25, Common Woodpigeon 45, Eurasian Collared Dove 4, Rose-ringed Parakeet 500, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Northern Wren 2, Dunnock 8, Song Thrush 2, Redwing 6, Common Blackbird 10, Euopean Robin 6, Long-tailed 2, Great Tit 4, Blue Tit 8, Eurasian Magpie 2, Carrion Crow 25, Common Starling 25, Chaffinch 4, European Greenfinch 8, European Goldfinch 8,