At the London Wetland Centre there is a wealth of wildlife to discover including a long list of birds, wild flowers and orchids; dragonflies and damselflies; lizards and otters and much more while for children and schools exciting events, a play area and hands on activities are there to be enjoyed.

Arriving at the centre I’m greeted by the impossibly loud and explosive ‘song’ of a cetti’s warbler.

Sitting on the terrace sipping a cappuccino I’m watching scores of swifts and martins wheeling above, snapping up insects emerging from the ample water bodies.

Suddenly, a peregrine falcon zooms in, scattering jackdaws and starlings in panic.

A flock of lapwings voicing their strange nasal ‘peee-wit’ calls tumbles and rolls erratically through the sky, probably taking wing to avoid the marauding peregrine.

The centre plays host to one of Britain’s most secretive birds, namely the bittern which skulks in the reed beds defying anyone to locate it.

Then in early June, birdwatchers were astonished to spot a rare little bittern (pictured) among the reeds. Like its larger cousin it is a member of the heron family and equally, if not more, secretive.

A native of Asia, India and northern Europe it has only been recorded in Britain very infrequently.

So, this latest addition to the Wetland’s list gives us another good reason to celebrate the growing reputation and importance of the centre.

Who knows what might turn up next!