This is a tag line we have been using for years since it was coined by one of our original Field Teachers, the great Steve 'Spider Man' Hall. On Friday I was very fortunate to be taken up onto the summit of the Veolia Landfill site in strangely glorious weather with fluffy white clouds and blue skies.
Never more so has 'Big View, Big Skies' been more apt. In nearly 25 years of birding the site, this is the first time that I have been allowed up there and the vista was amazing. It does not look that high from the reserve; sometimes you even see ship masts appearing above it as they head up river but, trust me it is amazing what a difference it makes.
They are plans to have a public access path fairly soon up onto the east side of the already capped tip, that looks down river and towards our visitor centre.
For a Visible Migration Watchpoint it will be almost unsurpassable and I strongly suspect that the big views, big skies that have given the reserve a steady increase in observable passage of both waders, terns, raptors and passerines will see another surge.
I will post further details once any come to light but please watch this space....
We will even be able to see Kev out birding on Crayford Marsh on the other side of the Thames!
The potential view....
The view into London...with Crossness just around the corner.
8-7-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer