One of the aspects of London’s Docklands that has often been applauded over the years by suitably concerned organisations is the placement of floating rafts in the docks for birds to nest one.
Often nothing more than a wooden raft with a bit of gravel and some plants, they serve their purpose well enough.
Last year though, luxury arrived near Heron’s Quay (map link) when some vast floating reed type beds were installed – although right next to what is about to become a huge building site.
The birds seem to have taken to them quite happily though, and there are four – or maybe, five, nests on the floating beds.
This morning as I was passing by, one of the birds got off its nest to do some tidying up, so it was possible to see that luck not withstanding, there may be four baby of whatever that bird is swimming around the docks shortly.
Collective awwww!
Another bird seemed to have taken its cue from the local skyscrapers, and had built its own tall tower to nest on.
I notice people stopping to feed the birds at times, although it is usually bread, which is actually not that good for them. I was told by a city farm last year that grapes make a suitable substitute.
Those would be Great Crested Grebes.
The one in the middle picture is a Coot. You can also spot birds like these nesting on Greenland Dock and the other waterways around Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays.
While watching the marathon there, we heard a couple of screams from women, turning round, we saw a seagull pluck up a Moorhen (I think) chick from the water then repeatedly bash it against the concrete raft. The chick parent’s went mental, squawking at each and the four remaining chicks.
Who needs Planet Earth?