Today I have seen the future of birding - and I'm not sure I like it. I took a trip to the RSPB's Rainham Marshes and I'm not impressed.The habitat is magnificent - a huge ancient grazing area adjacent to the River Thames that manages to seem extremely wild, despite its close proximity to the city of London.
The problem is that there is only one hide and that overlooks a scrape - one that is still being constructed. Considering the vast sums of money that have been spent on the visitor centre (that looks like a lego spaceship on stilts) and the hundreds of metres of boardwalks, there are very few facilities for the the birdwatcher whom looks to have been sidelined yet again in favour of the tea and sandwich brigade.
For example, it was a complete waste of time taking my telescope and hide clamp as I had to lump it 2 1/4 miles around the trail without being able to deploy it. There are numerous viewing points, but they are open air platforms with no areas to attach clamps and moreover, I would not wish to stand on them in bad weather. Crucially, this arrangement is also extremely inconsiderate to the birds as they can clearly see you looking at them and understandably stay at a distance. No good if you only have binoculars!!
There is also a huge tract of rough grassland you cannot see because of a lack of elevation. A tower hide overlooking this western section of the reserve would be incredible and provide cracking views of hunting raptors.
I can understand the RSPB wants to be as inclusive as possible, but it should remember that its core ethos should be to not only safeguard the future of wildlife, but also allow those of us who are serious nature watchers to actually see it.
With the towers of canary wharf clearly visible in the distance, it was difficult not to remember what happened to certain institutions when they grew so large that they become arrogant and forgot the original reason why they were set up in the first place. And we all know what happened to them.
Until later.
2 comments:
HI PAUL, IAN FLEMING HERE, ( IRAQ BIRDER ) WAS THERE WITH JOHN BOSWELL ON SATURDAY, AFTER BAGGING BROWN SHRIKE, DID YOU GET IT? BACK TO RSPB RAINHAM, LOOKED LIKE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION TO ME AND JOHN! NOT IMPRESSED ONE BIT MYSELF! YOU CAN MAIL ME AT ZIPFLEMING@BTINTERNET.COM CHEERS.
Hi Ian. Glad you caught up with the Brown Shrike. Unfortunately I only had half a free day whilst I was in London, so I didn't get the chance to see the Brown Shrike - have seen a few in India though.
Very disappointing Rainham - hardly takes much effort to put up a few hides does it? Wish I had gone to the WWT place at Barnes now.
Cheers, Paul.
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