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Overview
A large area of freshwater lakes and Marshland, Grazing meadows, Woodland and Scrub. Famous for wintering Bittern, which are regularly reported as summering by local fishermen.
Birds
Notable Species
Eurasian Bittern and Greater White-fronted Goose are among the most significant species at the site, and can be very obliging at times. Only two of the latter have wintered this year. Bittern are reported throughout the year by Fishermen (only). Water Rail, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank (30+), Hobby, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Teal and Gadwall breed, and Peregrine and Marsh Harrier breed locally. There is a protected Little Egret colony as well nearby. Many species, including Hawfinch, Tree pipit, Crossbill and Yellow wagtail may breed-they are very under recorded.
Greenland Wheatear, Osprey, Buzzards, Harriers, Merlin and Kites are noticable migrants. Ring ouzel and Whinchat are recorded annually in autumn, and Tree sparrow are becoming increasing regular.
Wintering birds number around 300 Lapwing, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Golden plover, 10 Shelduck, 10 Pintail, 100 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 50 Shoveler, 400 Mallard, 60 Linnet, 30 Little Egrets and a few Siskin, Brambling, Common Crossbill and Hawfinch. It is a very under-recorded site, so please submit any records.
Rarities
Bluethroat, Red-footed Falcon, Purple Heron, Spotted Crake, Great Snipe.
The site attracts less rarities then it once did, though there hasn't yet been close to a blank year yet.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Garganey, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Water Rail, Common Coot, Common Moorhen, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Eurasian Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Woodcock, Common Snipe, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Cuckoo, Western Barn Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Common Wren, Eurasian Robin, Common Nightingale, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Starling, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Siskin, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Eurasian Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Rare beetles and reptiles make this site important, particularly as it is in the London area.
Deadly nightshade, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids, and Flowering Rush are amongst the many flowering plant species found. Horse Mushrooms and Chanterelle can be found in scruby and open areas.
Site Information
History and Use
Areas of Interest
Berwick Ponds and Glades.
Access and Facilities
By car: Car park at Squadrons Approach, signed off Suttons Lane/Airfield Way, Hornchurch RM12 6TS
By train: Hornchurch Tube Station (District Line) is ¾ mile walk from Squadrons Approach
By bus: Routes 252 & 256. Bus stops at Hornchurch Country Park/ St Georges Hospital. Grid Ref:
Contact Details
Direct dial: 01708 432874 e-mail: katy.haines@havering.gov.uk
External Links
