London Wetland Centre

Hello readers, here are a few photos taken at WWT London Wetland Centre. I have been working there as a volunteer and casual learning assistant, helping the education team to deliver and devise activities like pond dipping, arts and crafts, and nature walks, for almost four years now. I've mentioned them and features photos taken there in many posts before, including wetland bonanza, two posts on teals, and arctic wildfowl. Here are some photos taken at the Wetlands last year.

Bewick's swan
Cygnus bewickii (Yarrell, 1838)
Anatidae; Anseriformes; Aves; Chordata
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes (captive collections), March 2014

Radjah shelduck
Tadorna radjah (Lesson, 1828)
Anatidae; Anseriformes; Aves; Chordata
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes (captive collections, "Kakadu"), March 2014

European robin
Erithacus rubecula melophilus Hartert, 1758
Muscicapidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, March 2014

Grey heron
Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Ardeidae; Pelecaniformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, March 2014

Wasp beetle
Clytus arietis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cerambycidae; Coleoptera; Insecta; Arthropoda
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, May 2014

Vapourer moth caterpillar on bramble leaf (Rubus fruticosus)
Orgyia antiqua (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lymantriidae; Lepidoptera; Insecta; Arthropoda
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, June 2014

Blue mint beetle
Chrysolina coerulans (Scriba, 1791)
Chrysomelidae; Coleoptera; Insecta; Arthropoda
Wild at WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, May 2014

This is an invasive species of bright blue beetle native to southern and central Europe but is spreading northwards. It is a pest of mint plants.

Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera Hudson
Orchidaceae; Asparagales; Liliopsida; Angiospermae
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, May 2014

Egyptian geese
Alopochen aegyptiacus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Anatidae; Anseriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, August 2014

Next, photos from a trip to Paradise Wildlife Park, a small but interesting zoo in southeast Hertfordshire.