Birding the Globe

No not the account of a round-the-world birding trip, though that would be amazing, but a trip to London’s Southbank last week in search of Black Redstart. This used to be one of the best sites for this species in London, but the development of new buildings and the transformation of the old Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern seems to have been too much for them and they haven’t been seen there for some years. It is a species which seems to like ‘rough wasteland’ sites and it flourished in London after WW2. But as sites were redeveloped and built on, it declined. I can remember when I first started birding (circa 40 years ago), that it was regularly found on the Southbank around the Power station or at East India Dock, but I haven’t seen one in London now for over 20 years. So reports of an immature/ female Black Redstart back on the Southbank were worth a trip to investigate.

It had most often been seen on the roof of the Globe Theatre and so this was where I headed. I was on a time limit as I had other things to do and had allowed myself an hour before I would have to move on. So along with a couple of other birders, I sat myself down on the embankment wall and watched the roof. After about 20 minutes a small bird did land on the roof but it was a Grey Wagtail and overhead we had seen one of the pair of peregrine falcons which now nest on the Tower of the Tate Modern, but no Black Redstart. Time marched on and finally, I decided I had to go. I walked back towards Blackfriars Station, pausing to talk to one of the birders. Whilst we were talking I scanned the east end of the Tate Modern and there was a small dark bird with the right profile sitting on a pillar near the roof. I directed the other birder to it and we saw it fly down towards the Globe Theatre, showing us its characteristic red tail. Sadly it flew to the back of the Theatre and out of our sight.

Truly a last-minute sighting, but I went on my way content that I had seen it, even if the view was brief.