Walthamstowe Wetlands

It's day 4 and my brain and body are demanding rest. I'm in a cafe in Kentish Town, waiting for the energy to do more things later on. I need to buy shorts. 

Yesterday I took the train out to Walthamstowe Wetlands to go birding. I knew from Google that it didn't open until 9.30am but I, stubbornly, got there at 6.30am, thinking to walk along the riverbank for a bit and see a few common species in the early morning. I had the great fortune to run into David, a local bird enthusiast, who saw my camera and asked me what I was doing. I explained my purpose and he said it was OK if I came into the main site with him. He has a special permit to access the site out of hours, to do species surveying as a volunteer for the London Wildlife Trust. I followed him around the reservoirs and marshlands of the River Lee for about 5 and a half hours, during which he got me up to speed on many things, and ensured I saw most of the available species. 

The first two days had felt like catch up on the past. Yesterday felt more like the current version of me. I have taken on the role of tour guide for a Chinese birder on quite a few occasions and I understood exactly why he was excited to show me species he had been seeing for years. I got his email and we might catch up further. Gallery below is only a few of the species I got.

Later, I went out to a cool cafe in Kentish Town and saw some American folk singers on tour. One, Lucy Clearwater, was exceptional. I'm listening to her stuff today.