London parks and wild places

[Meta menardi]

Has it changed much in the last 45 years? If it has, I have little of relevance to say. Even if it hasn't, all I ever visited was the Natural History Museum.

[thebeard]

Originally Posted by pelog12332

HAMPSTED HEATH!!!!!!!!! my personal best, definatly one to visit,, also regents park is good

whats good at hampstead heath wildlife wise????

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by thebeard

whats good at hampstead heath wildlife wise????

I agree, Hampstead Heath is a great patch (Bill Oddie's actually!). I used to bird Hampstead Heath fairly regularly as I used to visit my Gran who lived in Hampstead.

It's a good spot for passage migrants (late April/May) but also good as a year round mixed habitat for mammals and birds as well as insects. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 3 species of Woodpecker, Tawny Owls with all the usual warblers in the pond areas. On the open Heath, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat etc. Best to go mid morning in the week after the dog walkers have done the rounds or in the summer very early before the dog rounds!

Hampstead Heath - London Bird Club Wiki

The London Wetland Centre is definitely worth a visit. Records are good for migrant visitors as well as the usual wildfowl stuff.

[AshLee]

Interesting, Picidae. It's so close to me, but I never think of going, probably because it's either too crowded, or waaaaay too dodgy, depending on the time of day.

So it has Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Stonechats? Well I never.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Bedfont Lakes Country Park Local Nature Reserve. TW14 8QA

[pelog12332]

Originally Posted by AshLee

Interesting, Picidae. It's so close to me, but I never think of going, probably because it's either too crowded, or waaaaay too dodgy, depending on the time of day.

So it has Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Stonechats? Well I never.

its not that dodgy there!!
i go all the time
but they have a problem with parrots now, as the escaped a reproduced.. allot!!

[AshLee]

I could point out a certain area on the map (near Jack Straw's Castle) that really is. I read recently that this is well-known for being "dodgy" (by that I mean that "undesirable" sexual activity goes on there). And I've witnessed this. Maybe it's been cleaned up a bit. This was a couple of years ago. I'm not going back to find out.

[AshLee]

Anyone interested in London's parks might be interested in the London social club (plug, plug ):
Wild About Britain - Wild About London

[thebeard]

well i'm finally off to london next week now (only took four months!)

i'm only going from the 21st til the 24th so going to have to squeeze in a lot in a short space of time, but my friend is working during the day so i'll have all day on my own each day.

i've decided to go to regent's park for my first port of call, although this is on the day i arrive. the next day i'm going to go over to WWT barnes, looking forward to that the most i'd say. and then on wednesday i'm going to head east to rainham marshes.

very much looking forward to it, and i'm spending a few days in bristol beforehand, so hopefully will be able to get to the coast for a bit too!

[thebeard]

Just relaxing at my friends house now after my few days here in london. Had a good week away, with some good wildlife-ing done.

went to hampstead heath on tuesday, which was quite good, but we didnt end up going till mid afternoon so it was pretty busy. saw about 35 species - highlights were blackcaps, parakeets and greater spotted woodpeckers, but didnt really see anything amazing, didnt really know where i was going!

today we went to rainham marshes, which was a great reserve, though the day was a bit tainted by the fact my contact lenses were playing up so had to take them out - not good for birdwatching! however had a great day with about 40 species seen, highlights being my first UK little egrets, heaps of warblers, linnets, lapwing and loads of herons. i've never seen so many reed warblers in one place, and they came so close! also saw a lizard and loads of marsh frogs. definately one to go back to.

sadly didnt get to go to regents park or WWT barnes but i can always come back.