London Wetland Centre,
Barnes, SW London
Open seven days
from 10.00 - 5.00 April to October
and 10.00 - 4.00 November to March

Telephone: 020 8409 4433
Staff:
Derek Evans (manager)
and Jeremy Denny

PLEASE NOTE
Last admissions to the centre are at 5.00pm in the summer and 4.00pm during the winter months.

NEWS FROM THE LONDON WETLAND CENTRE
Shop now 0perating on Winter hours of 10.00 to 16.30 or dusk (whichever is earlier). Please note that last entry to the London Wetland Centre is at 16.00 during winter.

Birds
As we go into the winter season with numbers of wintering duck reaching peak counts, we can reflect back on a very eventful autumn migration season at the London Wetland Centre. The 2 top birds were a Blyth’s Reed Warbler first seen on the 9th Oct and then a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 13th. (It is believed to have been only the 5th and 15th sightings of these 2 species respectively for the London area!) The Yellow-Browed Warbler was on the site for just over 2 weeks. Other migrants recorded this year include, Short-Eared Owl (6th), Brent Geese (9th) Ring Ouzel (12th & 22nd), Fieldfare (13th), Cetti’s Warbler (18th & 27th), Mealy Redpoll and Brambling (26th)
More regular winter arrivals in October included Stonechat, Siskin and a Jack Snipe. The first winter sighting of a Bittern was recorded on the 1st November

Binoculars

Steiner Discovery.
Steiner enters the top end of the market with the new Discovery 8 and 10 X 42. Soft ergonomic grips, fast close focus, High Definition XP Optics all combine in this new model to meet all demands for a binocular. Priced at £849.00 for the 8X and £889.00 for the 10X.

Pentax DCF ED
The PENTAX DCF ED binoculars combine Extra Low Dispersion glass elements, full reflection and phase coated prisms, hybrid aspherical lens elements and fully multi-coated optics. Built to last with JIS Class 6 waterproof construction, DCF ED binoculars feature a durable magnesium alloy body and a hard coating to protect exposed lens elements.
PENTAX 8x32 DCF ED £599.00 8x42 or 10x42 DCF ED £699.00

Come and test these new units on our viewing deck and compare then against long term favourites like:

Opticron DBA
Long term favourite now with Oasis coatings. 8X and 10X 42 at £ 499.00
Minox
High Grade 8 x 33, 8.5 x 43 and 10 x 43 priced at £529.00, £569.00 and £609.00 respectively, See below for more detail.
Nikon
HGL 8 X 32, 8 x 42 and 10 X 42 priced at £629.00, £789.00, and £879.00 respectively
And of course
Zeiss
Victory FL 8 X 32, 8 x 42 and 10 X 42 priced at £899, £949.00 and £979.00 respectively. See below for more detail.

We feel sure you will find a model to suit you from this high-grade selection.

Also available, the new Opticron HR WP range. Superb clarity in a fully waterproof rubber armoured porro-prism binocular. 8 X 42 and 10 X 42 models available. Priced from £239

Steiner Wildlife, Skyhawk, and Safari range of Binoculars are also in stock and selling well.

Carl Zeiss Products

We now carry the following demonstration models of the Victory FL, 8 X 32, 7 X 42, 8 X 42 & 10 42 and offer 72 hour delivery of new product. Also available to view are the superb lightweight Zeiss ClassiC 8 X 20 and 10 X 25 and the Zeiss 85 Diascope with 20 to 60 zoom eyepiece.
Note: On occasions, due to shortage of stock at Carl Zeiss UK, we may be without some of these items. Please call prior to your visit to check on the stock situation.

See our DELTA 8 X 24 BGA PC model for lightweight, waterproof and compact format. Full multicoated optics at £169 this model compares favourably with the highest grades at an economic price.

The Minox High Grade range of binoculars. Features: ED / Fluorite glass to reduce chromatic aberrations and Aspheric lenses provide a flatter field and greater resolution. Aluminium body with rubber armouring. Long eye relief for spectacle wearers with twist up / down eyecups for full field of view.

Also available is the MINOX BL 8 X 32 - a lightweight mid size binocular at £239 when stocks are available from the Importers.

We also carry a wide range of binoculars below £100!

Including the Opticron Aspheric 8 X 40 ZCF wide angle Binocular at £79 (BBC Wildlife Magazine, “Best Buy”

New from April - Pentax Papilio lightweight binoculars for close-ups of butterflies and insects – an amazing 0.5 metre close focus possibility! £ 89.00 and £99.00 for 6.5X and 8.5X.

Telescopes
Lightweight Starter Kit: Opticron Mighty Midget 2, complete with a 25 X eyepiece and a Velbon CX660 Tripod – ONLY £ 184.00! Now also available in ED format at £225.00 (telescope body only)

Full-size Starter Kit: Delta 70A complete with HR23X, or HR30X, or a LER Zoom Eyepiece and a Velbon Tripod – ONLY £199.00

The Opticron GS range of Telescopes are usually in stock. 665’s and 815’s available. Prices start from £329 for the GS665 with a 27XWA eyepiece and including a Velbon tripod. Many other eyepiece options are available as these scopes take the full range of Opticron eyepieces. TRY the NEW GS665 A ED fitted with the New Opticron SDL eyepiece for a brilliant sharp image! Come and view one on our special viewing deck.

The New Opticron ES80 ED telescope continues to offer extra-ordinary good value for money at an entry price for the first level of ED optics. Just £667 for the telescope, complete with a 32 X HDF eyepiece, stay on case and Delta 4 tripod.

Also in stock is the Nikon ED 82 (82mm) high-grade telescope and its smaller brother, the ED3A, a lighter weight, more compact unit. These, top of the range instruments make birding the absolute pleasure that it should be! The ED82 was a best seller in 2006

New model: Nikon ED 50, Angled now in stock. (Straight bodies available) The ultimate travel telescope weighing just 450 grams with high definition optics. With 13 – 40 zoom eyepeice at £498.00. (£70 discount for the Pink model!).This looks likely to be a big seller in 2007 for those that want a combination of lightweight and high-grade optics.

Now Available The much anticipated KOWA TSN 883, ED with Zoom eyepiece. A new top of the range product at £1599 together with the slightly smaller TSN 773 with zoom eyepiece at £1348

Digiscoping
See the OPTICRON/SAMSUNG NV3 DIGITAL COMPACT CAMERA and connectors for all Opticron eyepieces. We stock this product in basic form or with a full range to peripheral extras. Prices from £299.00

Books
A wide range of book is always available. Also now stocking the interactive PC and PDA edition of the RSPB Guide to Birds of Britain and Ireland at £39.95.
Note: All books are sold on behalf of Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Bat Detectors
The Mini 111 Bat Detector by Ultra Sound Advice is a great way to “hear” bats. This detector approved by the Bat Conservation Trust, retails at just £141. For more on bats and bat detectors see the Bat Conservation Trust web-site www.bats.org.uk

Recommended as “Best Buy” Bat Detector by BBC “Wildlife” magazine in the September 2005 issue

WWT Bat walks for 2007 are now over. New season will start in May 2008. Call 020 8409 4400 for information and dates for these revealing and informative evening walks.

Derek and Jeremy