East London
In the first in a series of ‘birding in London’ specials, Urban Birder David Lindo heads to the east of the city…
David Lindo highlights the many great birding spots found in East London
In the year that sees England’s capital designated as a National Park City, it would seem a good idea to take a closer look at some of the birding sites that London has to offer. Long known for its attraction to birds and other wildlife, this city of nine million people still has some relatively underwatched sites that are deserving of fuller coverage. According to the London Bird Club, 372 species have been registered within its recording area, the 20 miles that radiates out from St Paul’s Cathedral. This is a remarkable number of species when you consider that the entire UK list has only just recently surpassed 600. In keeping with this column’s adherence to urban areas we will concentrate on some of the birding opportunities within the Greater London metropolitan area. East London is perhaps the most watched of all the sectors of the city and is dominated by the Lea (sometimes spelt Lee) Valley that dissects its northwestern edge to the Thames, which demarks the southern border of East London. The Lea Valley is synonymous among London birders as being a great spot for sighting wintering Bitterns and numerous breeding Cetti’s Warblers. There are many places to go birding along the valley’s course and, within London, practically any green or blue space is worth investigating, despite the large amount of people to be found roaming around. The key area for birds is the recently opened and rebranded Walthamstow Wetlands. Dubbed as the largest urban wetland in Europe, the site and the surrounding Walthamstow Marshes and environs are a haven for birds. Past famous birds at Walthamstow Marshes have included an obliging wintering Dusky Warbler and a singing Subalpine Warbler, discovered in the days when Subalpine Warblers were just Subalpine Warblers. Subsequent examinations of images of this particular bird taken at the time may lead to it being reidentified as a far rarer Eastern Subalpine Warbler. The Walthamstow Wetlands is not currently a wetland in the true sense of the word. Moreover, it is still a series of working reservoirs managed for nature by Waltham Forest Council, Thames Water and the London Wildlife Trust. It attracts important numbers of waterfowl, including winter flocks of Tufted Duck, and the site was home to the second largest heronry in the country, with more than 100 pairs. More usual around the numerous reservoirs and marshy areas are breeding Great Crested Grebe, Common Tern and Reed Bunting, while Kingfisher can be a surprisingly obvious resident. Recently, the site has drawn in crowds of twitchers to see a wintering Little Bunting and to catch glimpses of Bluethroat. Undoubtedly, the jewel in east London’s crown has to be the RSPB’S Rainham Marshes reserve. It straddles the very edge of London and neighbouring Essex
and its bird list is as long as most people’s arms. The site’s combination of wet grassland, lakes, ditches, scrub and riverine mudflats has proved irresistible to birds, the regulars of which include Lapwing, Cetti’s Warbler, Little Egret and Peregrine. Practically anything can, and has, turned up at this amazing reserve, including Sociable Plover, White-tailed Plover and Lesser Kestrel. No visit to the birdy domains of east London would be complete without popping your head around the door at one or more of the region’s numerous parks and cemeteries. Dagenham Chase Local Nature Reserve has been facing hard times recently due to lack of adequate funding, but is still worthy of a visit. Made famous for hosting London’s only Pine Bunting in 1992, and for past records of Great Snipe and Spotted Crake, it can still attract Firecrest and migrant Ring Ouzels, alongside its more regular Kingfisher and other woodland birds. Wanstead Flats is yet another unmissable venue. Well watched by a dedicated band of local patch-watchers, it is a great place to observe Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting and the occasional Little Owl. It is one of the best places in London for migration and has turned up such wonders as Stone-curlew as well as the more expected Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wheatear. Conversely, nearby Leyton Flats is relatively underwatched, although on an average day can still boast Green Woodpecker, Jay and the occasional overflying Buzzard. The site’s claim to fame was an Alpine Swift that recently chose to frequent its airspace, but no doubt other goodies could be uncovered with more coverage from birders Finally, the River Thames itself is not to be ignored. Almost any stretch of the river can be watched for waders, gulls and terns. While the more regular species such as Cormorant and the commoner gulls like Black-headed and Herring are a given, scarcer visitors like Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and Kittiwake are all worth keeping an eye out for too, and megas such as Bonaparte’s Gull and Franklin’s Gull have occurred at sites like Barking Bay, while Caspian Gull should be looked for anywhere along the River Thames.
Next month: David heads to the south of the city to enjoy the area’s birds.