Beddington Farm

[Stargazer]

Back in September I posted about a visit to Beddington Farm on the south-western outskirts of London. For anyone getting dewey-eyed about the life agricultural, let me put you straight - it's a former sewage farm which is now one of the biggest landfill site in the country. Like all landfill, as it is filled it has to be returned to a natural environment so whilst one half of the site is still being worked the other is returned to a more natural appearance. The plus side is that owing to the buried rubbish and its gradual decomposition the land can never be built on so it's a wildlife haven for ever.

I went back there today; as part of the site is still worked access is restricted. A small group of people have keys, and visits are restricted to Sundays, when there is no work carried out. Every couple of months there's a tour arranged by the group and it's always worth a visit. When we arrived this morning there was a grey mist covering the site and although I assumed it would burn off as the day went on, it didn't. Nevertheless, good views of Shoveler, Lapwing, Snipe, Teal, Wigeon and some others. Highlights were Water Pipit, a very nice Bullfinch and a cracking Peregrine on a pylon, all in addition to a good show by the resident Tree Sparrows.

If you live in or near London it's a really good way to spend a morning. Have a look at their website here and go along on the next tour date. It's great birding!

[PeterB]

Looks good, just been nosing around on Bing maps (better than google maps if there is birds eye in the area). It will be great when it's done but I suspect a very popular place.

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