You probably don’t think of London as a great place for a wildlife holiday. But the London Wetland Centre offers a chance to go on safari through the reed beds and pools, spotting both native and migrant birds, with a fair number of other interesting creatures.

It⿿s worth visiting several times in the year, if you get the chance, as the kind of birds you⿿ll see varies by the season. At the moment, you⿿ll see wintering ducks (teal and gadwals), and flocks of siskins; redwing and fieldfare. The bittern and water rails are easier to identify by their sound ⿿ the rich deep boom of the bittern, and the squealing water rail, like little pigs.

Later in the year you can hear the mighty song of hundreds of frogs. And you may also spot a grass snake making its way through the water in search of a tasty frog for its tea.

Not all of us are expert birdwatchers. So it⿿s worth going on one of the free tours, every day at 11am and 2pm. Stay till 3 pm and you⿿ll see the birds being fed, too. If I can be pardoned for mentioning one species you won’t see at the Wetland Centre - they’re real gannets!

London Wetland Centre is at Queen Elizabeth⿿s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WY. Tickets cost GBP 8.95 (GBP 4.95 for children and GBP 6.70 for concessions), so it⿿s worth spending the whole day there to get good value out of the entry fee.

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