 |
Friends of
BEDFONT LAKES COUNTRY PARK |
||||||
|
BIRDS This information is taken from the leaflet 'The Birds of Bedfont Lakes',
In just a few years, Bedfont Lakes Country Park has established itself as one of the best birdwatching sites in south-west London. Attracting birds from many families, the park boasts a list of over 150 species, with about 95 to 100 of these seen annually. Apart from records we receive from the birdwatching public, our ecology Ranger carries out surveys of our own and as part of national recording schemes. These include the Common Bird Census, Wetland Bird Survey, Nest Box and Skylark surveys. Volunteers from the Runnymede Ringing Group have been ringing birds on the site since 1984 and provide us with information on the birds they catch in their mistnets. The combined result of this work allows us to identify population trends and bird movements, breeding successes and territory sizes and it helps us to plan future management.
The four main habitat types in the Country Park are: lakes and ponds; reedbeds; grassland/scrub and woodland. The Countryside Rangers maintain each habitat for the benefit of the birds and other wildlife. Most of the work is done in winter to keep disturbance to a minimum.
Residents Many species here are present throughout the year. These include: Skylark, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Great Crested Grebe, Kestrel, Ring-necked Parakeet, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Kingfisher and Chiffchaff. The Great Crested Grebe is picture on the park's logo and for most of the summer they can be seen teaching their humbug coloured young how to catch fish. Recent surveys of skylarks show we have some eight territories on our hills which, for a bird in national decline, is the largest known total in the borough.
Fieldfares and Redwings visit Britain from Scandinavia and Northern Russia. They tend to move around in flocks which can number hundreds of birds as they feed on fruit and on invertebrates in the soil.
In the Nature Reserve small flocks of Siskins may be seen feeding among the trees. These small greenish finches are winter visitors to the Country Park but do breed in some parts of England. The Bittern, one of Britain's rarest breeding birds, spends winter in the reedbeds around South and North lakes. When alarmed, this brown heron hides among the reed stems by staying still, with beak pointing skywards, so that it mimics the reeds. Because of their black and white colouring, the male Smew was once known as "The White Nun". The females, known as "Redheads", are usually more numerous than males here. These diving ducks visit during the harsh weather of January and February.
The Nature Reserve woodland, reeds and scrub areas are home to many warblers from April to September.
Reed Warbler Out on the North Lake, Common Terns can be seen flying and nesting on the rafts. Though they do not breed in the Country Park, Swifts and House Martins can be seen feeding on insects flying low over the lakes or high up in the air. These in turn are hunted by the Hobby, a fast falcon capable of plucking a bird out of the air at high speed.
Some visitors to the park are only here as they pass en route to their breeding or wintering grounds. The Wheatear is a Robin sized member of the Thrush family which has a distinctive white rump and is usually the first migrant to arrive each year. Later, Swallows pas through on migration, but generally do not breed here due to the scarcity of suitable buildings to nest in.
Wheatear Around the edge of the lakes you may come across a Common or Green Sandpiper as they probe the mud for food. Both have a high pitched call which is usually heard when they are alarmed or flying.
| ||||||
  |
