november-2010

“On the street all you see are gulls
and pigeons. But being up here is
an eye opener. The peregrines are
amazıng, so beautiful when diving”
to warmer climes. Thrushes are moving en masse at this time of year and,
while many birds migrate at night, in October day migration is more
common. “Wood pigeons are my main motivation,” says Lindo. “They
travel in from Scandinavia, heading west, being much more active than
our lazy resident ones.” He dreams of witnessing thousands of them
passing overhead, a dark undulating cloud lit silver by the sun.
Anyone who is interested is welcome to climb the tower to see what
they can see, and the high-rise project is attracting novices and experts
alike. It’s a great learning opportunity for enthusiasts but it’s not an easy
place to spot birds. Hours are lost to scanning skies that can be
disappointingly empty at times, but the epic views of London make up
for any quiet periods. Our morning isn’t hugely action-packed but this
gives me a chance to quiz some of the brave souls who are willing to
spend their mornings exposed to the elements on this skyscraper roof.
“This is uncharted territory,” says Anders Brice. “It’s a treat – this
panorama is something few people get to see. Up here you have to work
a little harder – we’re not surrounded by nature-rich grassland or forest.
But at street level in central London you see just gulls and pigeons.
Being up here is an eye-opener. The peregrines are amazing. They rule
these heights and are at their most beautiful when diving. In spring
I watched one eating a pigeon on Tower Bridge, with its prey’s feathers
fl uttering off into the wind.”
Despite the gorgeous sunny conditions, it’s freezing up here. Brice
is philosophical about the inevitable deterioration in the weather as
104 METROPOLITAN
TEN GOOD
PLACES TO
BIRDWATCH
IN LONDON
DIX ENDROITS
OÙ OBSERVER
LES OISEAUX
À LONDRES :
■ Barnes Wetlands
■ Hampstead
Heath
■ Rainham
Marshes
■ The Royal Parks
– like Kensington
Gardens, Regent’s
and Richmond
Parks
Les parcs royaux –
par exemple
Kensington
Gardens, Regent’s
Park et Richmond
Park
■ Shooter’s Hill
■ The Thames –
anywhere along
the river is good
La Tamise – à
n’importe quel
endroit
■ Tooting Common
■ Walthamstow
Reservoirs
Les réservoirs de
Walthamstow
■ Wimbledon
Common
■ Wormwood
Scrubs