Ring-necked Parakeets - where to see them?

DMPRITCHARD · #1 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 05:15 PM

Hi - I have never seen a ring-necked parakeet and, given I am in London on Thursday, I thought I would try and seek them out. My current plan is to spend a morning at Richmond Park but I recognise it’s a big area. Is there any part of the park that is best, or is there another more reliable site. Thanks in advance.

Dave Pritchard

Jersali · #2 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 05:19 PM

Hello Dave,
not familiar with where they are in the park (probably widespread), chances are you will hear them first!, I have noticed though that they are much more approachable having selected nest sites...
Good luck

Jim Ford · #3 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 05:39 PM

There's plenty in Kew Gardens, which is well worth a visit in its own right (if you have time).

Jim

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMPRITCHARD

Hi - I have never seen a ring-necked parakeet and, given I am in London on Thursday, I thought I would try and seek them out. My current plan is to spend a morning at Richmond Park but I recognise it’s a big area. Is there any part of the park that is best, or is there another more reliable site. Thanks in advance.

Dave Pritchard

It would be impossible to spend any length of time in Richmond Park + not see them. They + Jackdaws are the 2 most obvious species in the park.

Though they are in Kew Gardens (+I agree with Jim always a good place to visit) they aren't as numerous as in Richmond Park.

If you have plenty of time there's good numbers of wildfowl on Pen ponds (over 100 Gadwall on Sunday with smaller numbers of Wigeon + other species. Red-crested Pochards have been present on all my winter visits so far).

Adam Cheeseman · #5 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Though they are in Kew Gardens they aren't as numerous as in Richmond Park.

or Bushy Park.

Cheers,

Adam

diggleken · #6 (**permalink**) 24-01-2012, 07:50 PM

Hampstead Heath area had a whole shedload when I was rambling there last year!
Noisy!
Cheers and goodluck
Ken

DMPRITCHARD · #7 (**permalink**) 25-01-2012, 05:50 PM

Thanks for all the help - I'll post a report when I get back at the weekend.

Dave

~T~ · #8 (**permalink**) 26-01-2012, 12:05 AM

When I was down Oct last year I saw them in both Richmond Park and Hapmstead Heath. There were more in RP but in HH they got really close and were really easy to photograph (scrambling about in the trees only a few feet above head height). Round the ponds was the best place to see them.

DMPRITCHARD · #9 (**permalink**) 28-01-2012, 08:52 PM

So I spent a few hours in Richmond Park, but had already seen at least five parakeets on the way in. A lovely place - I walked down to Penn Ponds and was amazed by the very friendly (greedy) Egyptian Geese. Parakeets gave a fantastic display on a lovely sunny day. THanks for all the help guys!

Dave

jaelen · #10 (**permalink**) 28-01-2012, 09:38 PM

Dave- I'm so glad you got to see them... some days they can be elusive.

I had one turn up in the garden today- a few hours too late for our RSPB Garden Birdwatch count, but he was still in time for some of the treats I'd put out for the day, (what the starlings had left, that is.