Richmond Park

Richmond Park (London)

Covering nearly 1000ha this is one the largest of London's green areas and inevitably it is very popular for recreational pursuits of all kinds. Rough grassland forms the major habitat with large patches of bracken and open woodland, consisting mainly of oak. In the centre of Richmond Park are Pen Ponds with a small reedbed and some damp woodland. Around 100 species are recorded annually with more than 40 breeding.

The wooded areas are home to a good selection of birds including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Little and Tawny Owls and all three British woodpeckers. Most of the typical woodland birds can be seen such as Common Wren, Dunnock and Eurasian Robin, Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrushes, and the commoner warblers, tits and finches. Ring-necked Parakeet a frequent visitor to the park while the Pheasants are the result of a longer established introduction. Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit and the occasional Stonechat breed on the grasslands and Common Kestrel hunts overhead. The reedbed at Pen Ponds has breeding Reed and Sedge Warblers and the ponds also have Little and Great Crested Grebes, Mandarin Duck and Mallard. Tufted Duck and Common Pochard are generally present all year and Grey Heron and Great Cormorant can visit at any time.

A wider range of species occurs during passage periods with influxes of Common Swift and hirundines sometimes being chased by Northern Hobbies. Species such as Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and Tree Pipit are among the many passerine migrants regularly recorded. Duck numbers peak in winter when the resident species may be joined by Eurasian Wigeon and Gadwall as well as the occasional scarcer duck such as Goosander.

In winter Fieldfare and Redwing are common visitors as are Lesser Redpoll and Siskin and Water Rail is regular in the reedbed at this season. Dartford Warbler Warbler and Bearded Tit have both been recorded here in winter but as elsewhere the most productive time for the rarity hunter is during the spring and autumn passage periods. Little Bittern has been recorded here as well as Great Grey, Woodchat and even Isabelline Shrike, Barred Warbler and Ortolan Bunting.

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis is the most commonly seen mammal but deer are present in good numbers and include both Red Deer Cervus elaphus and Fallow Deer Cervus dama. Other mammals include Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, Mole Talpa europaea, Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, various bats, shrews, voles and Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus.

Richmond Park can be reached from central London on the A4 to Hammersmith and then the A316 to Richmond and from there the park is signposted. Richmond also has an underground station on the District Line. The park is open from 07.00 (07.30 in winter) until dusk.

Birds

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mandarin Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Common Pheasant, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Cuckoo, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Common Swift, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin,Whinchat, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Common Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Content and images originally posted by Steve