Info Birding Sites Croydon

[Peppershrike77]

Hi,

Any info on interesting birding sites in and around Croydon in South London would be much appreciated. Target species would be:
-Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
-Willow Tit (still occur in region?)

Thanks,
P

[Ruby]

Sorry P - never one to be defeatist, but you've got no chance!!

Willow Tit has pretty much died out in all counties in the SE of England - even the last remaining and so called 'reliable' sites in W Sussex are unlikely to produce the goods.

LSW is occasionally seen at sites in N Kent (Sevenoaks area) West Sussex, but best chance is in the woods around Canterbury....


Good luck!! Ray

[Peppershrike77]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the info. I was thinking that both would be quite difficult to see in and around S London. I had a look at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and will try and visit that if time allows.

P

PS: Are there any good sites for Willow Tit in the UK?

[David S.]

Hi Peppershrike,

A good site to visit if you're not already familiar with it is Beddington Sewage Farm on the western outskirts of Croydon. The presence of pools, scrub, sludge beds and an adjoining landfill site make it great at this time of year for wintering ducks, waders, gulls, tree sparrows and a fair few raptors that seem to habitually drift over.

Although you can walk round the perimeter at any time, the best views are had from within the farm for which you'll either need to be a keyholder (long waiting list and takes years) or join one of the guided tours that are run on Sunday mornings every couple of months.

The next one is on Sunday January 18th. You can get more info about the site, its birds and the tours at Johnny Allan's very useful site, here (http://www.diporglory.co.uk)

Lot's of other reasonable sites around Croydon, particularly to the south such as Riddlesdown, Coulsdon and Kenley commons, plus Farthing Downs. Good for woodland species at least.

Hope that helps.

David

[Luke_Herts]

Hi,
Not sure if this is too far for you but if you can get to St Albans/ Hatfield area i have seen a pair of LSW and one individual at Beech Farm.
http://lmimages.zenfolio.com/p32937219
Thanks,
Luke

[paulwfromtheden]

Hi Peppershrike,

A good site to visit if you're not already familiar with it is Beddington Sewage Farm on the western outskirts of Croydon. The presence of pools, scrub, sludge beds and an adjoining landfill site make it great at this time of year for wintering ducks, waders, gulls, tree sparrows and a fair few raptors that seem to habitually drift over.

Although you can walk round the perimeter at any time, the best views are had from within the farm for which you'll either need to be a keyholder (long waiting list and takes years) or join one of the guided tours that are run on Sunday mornings every couple of months.

The next one is on Sunday January 18th. You can get more info about the site, its birds and the tours at Johnny Allan's very useful site, here (http://www.diporglory.co.uk)

Lot's of other reasonable sites around Croydon, particularly to the south such as Riddlesdown, Coulsdon and Kenley commons, plus Farthing Downs. Good for woodland species at least.

Hope that helps.

David

I'm a keyholder at Beddington and we have had Lesser Spotted Woodpecker this year on the farm, though it was seen on one of the bridges leading to the farm that is accessable to the general public.
However we have had only one sighting and there are some excellent, dedicated birders on the site, so the chances of turning up and seeing one are pretty remote.
I have seen LSW at the old Croydon Airport, in the woods to the south adjoining the John Fisher playing fields, but would would have to stake them out early morning for several days if they are still around.
Riddlesdown Common is also a decent bet.
For the reasons given, Willow Tit is a no-no in Surrey now.
Hope this helps.
Paul

[Ruby]

Riddlesdown Common is also a decent bet.
Paul

Ahhhh - would that it were so....

Whilst obviously not being totally impossible, this is a very long shot indeed. Riddlesdown is my local patch and I have never seen LSW in 6 years of regular visits, and my pal (it was his local patch for about 30 years!!) has never had one there either.

Having said that, it is a pretty good place for birding - likely to get Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Common Gull, Stonechat, Parakeets, Winter Thrushes and a decent list of commoner species - just don't hold your breath hoping for your 2 target species.

For good general birding, I would recommend Spynes Mere reserve nr Nutfield - only 20 mins or so from Croydon and normally yields a good selection of waterbirds too.... let me know if you need any more info.


Good luck... Ray

[Peppershrike77]

Hi,
Thanks again for all the replies. In the end, I only managed to visit Sevenoaks Nature Reserve for a few hours. No LSW unfortunately, but nice views of Gadwall and several Snipe were good. I am hoping to back fairly soon and will try and visit Beddingdon and the other sites mentioned.

P

[Rob Jones]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the info. I was thinking that both would be quite difficult to see in and around S London. I had a look at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and will try and visit that if time allows.

P

PS: Are there any good sites for Willow Tit in the UK?

Aqualate mere in Staffs is a stonewaller. Several birds visit the feeders close to a hide regularly.
It's a terrific site and many other notable birds can be seen, oh, and fallow deer in the morning.

It's a Natural England site. Free entry, super hide faces west.

Here's a link.

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?NNR_ID=4

[Nick Tanner]

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is fairly regularly encountered on the south London commons, notably Tooting; the trees around the lake and the woods behind the running track are good sites but there are probably only one or two pairs present and they range widely; learn the call and try for them early on fine still days in late winter, February is a good month, but be prepared to put in a lot of work; other good sites include Trent Park in north London and Valentines Park in east London, good hunting

Nick

ps: I've just noticed that there is a London Natural History Society walk at Tooting Common on Jan 24th aimed at finding LSW, meet 09:30 south entrance Tooting Bec tube, the guy leading the walk found a LSW nest last year, you don't have to be a member of the LNHS to participate