Search for wintering wildfowl in the Colne Valley RICKMANSWORTH LAKES
Coastal birding on the edge of Romney Marsh
This is a wetland haven within the Colne Valley Regional Park on the western outskirts of London. Gravel pits, the River Colne, Grand Union Canal and relic watercress beds combine to provide a recipe for a walk rich in riparian birds. Wintering wildfowl are the main attraction with a chance of Smew and Goosander and occasionally something rarer.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Check for Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and Pied Wagtail on the lawns by the café early morning. Bury Lake attracts feral wildfowl, including the occasional Whooper Swan and White-fronted Goose. Gull flocks sometime harbour a wintering Mediterranean Gull. The poplar plantation gives a chance of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll.
2
A wide range of wildfowl should be assured on Stockers Lake with diving ducks, including possible Smew and Goosander. Little and Great Crested Grebes, Cormorant and gulls are also present. Check the heronry and margins for Grey Heron and Little Egret and the willows for tit flocks which may contain Goldcrest,
Chiffchaff or Cetti’s Warbler. The old watercress bed beside the lane can attract the odd Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, and Grey Wagtail with Kingfisher along the river. Check the rough field for Stonechat, finches, buntings and occasionally winter thrushes. Hedgerows attract roving passerine flocks.
3
Springwell Lake is a quieter spot where the reedbeds sometimes harbour a wintering Bittern or a party of Bearded Tits; although Reed Bunting and Cetti’s Warbler are more likely. Open water is good for diving ducks and grebes and a large gull roost at dusk.
4
The Alder spinney often attracts small flocks of Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch, plus Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Longtailed Tit, Bullfinch and Tawny Owl at dusk. A few Water Rail occur among numerous Moorhen and the occasional Bittern, Firecrest and Cetti’s Warbler; Chiffchaff and Blackcap often winter here. From Stocker’s Lock the canal towpath affords a good chance of seeing Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher. Check the grazing meadow by the farm for Little Egret, Kestrel, Grey Heron, winter thrushes, Meadow Pipit, Sky Lark, Linnet and Lapwing. Scan along the wooded hillside for Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, corvids and Mistle Thrush.
This walk encompasses a diversity of habitats, from coastal scrub and grassland beside a golf links, to the reed-fringed drainage ditches ( known locally as sewers) of the Romney Marsh farmland where Tree Sparrows and Corn Buntings survive. The shingle foreshore and tidal mud flats of Hythe Bay are a local hotspot for shorebirds, and given an easterly blow the chance of seabirds in the bay.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Scan the fences on the rough grassland for Whinchat, Stonechat, Goldfinch and Linnet. Golf links fairways can attract Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit. Kestrel, Hobby and Sparrowhawk are often present and occasionally Short-eared Owl at dusk. Check garden scrub by car park for a late warbler or crest, tits and finches, plus the chance of a Black Redstart on the sea defence blocks. Red-backed Shrike, Shore Lark and Snow Bunting have all been noted around the car park in recent autumns.
2
At low tide up to 10 species of wader occur on the bay, with hundreds of Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew and Oystercatcher, variable numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Turnstone, plus lesser numbers of Grey and Ringed Plovers and Redshank. Check the sea defence blocks by the outfall for Turnstone, Rock Pipit and a chance of Purple Sandpiper. Good numbers of gulls, including Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls, often loaf on the sands. At high tide search for flocks of Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoters and the occasional Red-throated Diver.
3
Sheep pasture often holds Mediterranean Gulls along with Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Yellow Wagtail and Stock Doves. Look for passerines around field boundaries where Linnet, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Corn and Reed Bunting are all possible, plus Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Little Owl. A good area for Barn Owl in the evening
4
Cutting back over the bridge towards Dymchurch check the sewer for Little Grebe, Moorhen, Water Rail, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat and Reed Bunting. Scan farmland for gulls, waders, partridges, doves, pipits, larks, chats, finches, sparrows and buntings.