i b i k e l o n d o n: 101 reasons to love cycling in London #23

I was recently cycling near the London 2012 Olympic stadium when I heard this noisy fellow and managed to snap him with my camera. I don't know what kind of bird of prey he is (possibly a juvenile sparrow hawk?), but he was certainly large, and very loud, and was living in the eaves of a slightly run-down old warehouse near to the main stadium itself. (Where maybe your kids could win gold come 2012, if only you'd let them try)

Now before you think I've gone all David Attenborough on you, my point is this; when you are stuck inside a car, or deep underground on a sweltering train, you just don't see this kind of stuff. And this isn't out in the boon sticks or the country, it's right here in the centre of London. I've also seen perregrine falcons swooping from the the Gherkin, swallows and kestrels at the Tower of London and a seal in the Thames at Butler's Wharf whilst out and about on my bike. I spotted this extraordinarily tame and handsome fox a few Fridays ago, he sat and watched quite happilly as cars, cyclists and drinkers toed up and down the Bethnal Green Road:

When cycling in our great city not only are you saving a small fortune, using a reliable form of transport, and reducing congestion, you get the foxes and falcons thrown in for for free, as a bonus!

Getting back to nature? It's reason 23 of a 101 to love cycling in London!

You can see all of my other diverse and wonderful reasons to love cycling in London here; what are yours?

6 comments:

Sarah said...: I suppose it is like no. 15 but it sure wakes me up for work...; 21 April 2010 at 10:49
Philip Loy said...: Hi Mark
For a moment there I thought you'd be referring to the World Naked Bike Ride in London - 12th June - which is a relief as it's probably a bit too chilly to cycle sans kegs right now.
Phew your blogging efforts are leaving me exhausted (unlike my cycling)! But well done on an excellent and varied website.; 21 April 2010 at 14:03
ibikelondon said...: Hey Phil, whilst I'm no prude the more I think about it the more I firmly believe that it is ALWAYS too cold to cycle round central London with no clothes on. It's the pictures on Facebook I'd be worried about you see...; 22 April 2010 at 14:18
ER said...: cycling to work down Regent's Canal. Bluebells, daffodils, ducks, swans and geese - the latter usually standing right in your path refusing to move.
em; 21 May 2010 at 20:00
girlandsteed said...: I wrote a post about why cycling in the rain is amazing:
http://thetrustysteed.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-cycling-in-rain-is-amazing.html; 21 September 2010 at 15:51
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