Where to go - Sth London

[Stoggler]

So I live in south London and am trying to find good places to go birding - any suggestions?

I've been on Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common before but didn't have any bins with me, but I suspect that those two places are good (other than for those noisy parakeets!) - what kinds of birds would I expect to find on those two parks? And where else is there to go?

Thanks

[TomSmith]

Richmond Park is pretty good for birds; I don't know much about Wimbledon Common. The Wetland Centre at Barnes is the "premier" birding site in southwest London (I guess that's where you live). Admission is pretty expensive though - if you're going to go regularly it's worth becoming a member.

This site (www.editthis.info/londonbirders/latestnews) is useful for keeping up-to-date with local bird news, and should give you some more ideas. There's also a book by Dominic Mitchell called "Where to watch birds in the London Area" that you might find helpful.

[Stoggler]

Thanks Tom

Funnily enough, I'm off to the WWT Centre tomorrow morning. Already a member due to my coming from Sussex and visiting the Arundel centre often so don't need to worry about the admission charges.

I'm more central south London (Balham) - there are a few commons around that area (Wandsworth, Tooting, Streatham) with varying degrees of birding potential - Tooting is quite good to be fair.

[Thing]

If you are going to Wandsworth, you can always visit my patch! Not that there's anything to see mind you :smoke:but Wandsworth park and the barges on the Thames can be productive.

[POP]

If you are going to Wandsworth, you can always visit my patch! Not that there's anything to see mind you :smoke:but Wandsworth park and the barges on the Thames can be productive.

cant understand why nobodys birding in Battersea Park or around Chelsea hospital.

POP

[Londonbirder]

It's not that near but you could go to Rainham Marshes. It always has has local or scare birds seen. The actual nature reserve is really nice to, the visitors centre is great. You'll love it if you go.

Thanks,

LB

[Stoggler]

Thanks for the suggestions. Battersea Park is a good suggestion, and thanks for the idea of Rainham Marshes Londonbirder. Am without a car but I see there's a train down that way from Fenchurch Street so shouldn't be a problem to get there.

As I mentioned, I visited the WWT Centre at Barnes yesterday. Very impressed - bigger and better than the Arundel centre I think. First sand martins I've ever seen (and impressed with the sand bank there to allow them to nest). Saw a couple dozen of species during my (2-hr) visit there. My knowledge and ID-skills of waders and wildfowl has never been good, so got some good practice in.

[POP]

Thanks for the suggestions. Battersea Park is a good suggestion, and thanks for the idea of Rainham Marshes Londonbirder. Am without a car but I see there's a train down that way from Fenchurch Street so shouldn't be a problem to get there.

As I mentioned, I visited the WWT Centre at Barnes yesterday. Very impressed - bigger and better than the Arundel centre I think. First sand martins I've ever seen (and impressed with the sand bank there to allow them to nest). Saw a couple dozen of species during my (2-hr) visit there. My knowledge and ID-skills of waders and wildfowl has never been good, so got some good practice in.

Cross over the Albert bridge walk through the park,back over Chelsea Bridge then walk back opposite the embankment,look in the gardens then make your way to Chelsea Hospital grounds.This should keep you occupied for a few hours.

POP

[Pluvius]

WWT Barnes had a Common Sandpiper, Wheatear Whinchat, Little ringed Plover, Common Tern, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whtethroat today.

As to Battersea Park I remember going to see a Night Heron there in the 70's as a child.

[szekiat]

stoggler, i'm based in tooting... we should meet up!

[London Birder]

In terms of south London Beddington SF (permit access only) is London's premier site for Tree Sparrow, gets alot of good gulls (Caspian, white-wingers etc) and has recently produced exceptional numbers of Common Buzzard ...

see here for further info about access/guided walks etc >

http://www.diporglory.co.uk

[bluesinlondon]

I'll put in a word for my closest patch, Wandsworth Common. Sunday night there was a Tern plucking fish out of one of the ponds. There are at least two pairs Egyptian Geese, with offspring at the moment... Heron, cormorant, assorted ducks, flocks of Parakeet... Nice place to wander around too.

If you're going to Barnes WWT from Balham I suggest walking/cycling via the river wandle (round the back of Wandsworth B&Q) and along the river from putney... (Check out Things excellent posts about this area: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=97428) Nice walk and you'll see lots on the way.

[htcdude]

I was over Richmond Park during the winter I think it was. Not sure what part of the park but there's a river/stream thing that runs near a car prark. Even along there I saw a couple of Kingfishers, Grey Wagtails, Green Woodpckers and some other field birds I couldn't quite make out.

Through the different woodland areas you get to see all sorts if you keep an eye out :-)

Nige