Spent a couple of hours walking our dog around Mayesbrook Park which is literally five minute from home. I spotted 33 different bird species including a pair of Egyptian Geese, Little Egret and a Grey Wagtail. Never actually took my camera so a couple of iPhone images are below.
The park is situated between the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham and is your typical urban park,lakes attract birds from all directions, being ideally placed between the River Thames and Roding Valley, also not too far away from the likes of the Dagenham Chase.
Access
Upney Station on the District Line is a five minute walk away from the park, turning lef tout of the station, walk down the hill and first right into The Drive and you will see the park entrance. Alternatively by car, there is parking off of Lodge Avenue, opposite the Roundhouse Public House.
Description
Two lakes, one a boating lake which is used by the local schools (not very often!) are situated in the mile long by a third wide (roughly) park. The smaller of the lakes by the railway is reed and willow fringed and attracts Common Warblers and Tits in winter, as well as the regular duck species. It has held Wintering Goldeneye and more recently a pair of Smew (for a whole day!!) There is a small Heronry on the islands of the boating lake, normally consisting of three or four nests, and recently upto five Little Egrets roosting. Peregrine, Med Gull, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe and Water Pipit have been found, along with the regular Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher that feed along the stream that runs through the park.
It is a park I hope to keep an eye on during 2018 accompanied ogf course by my little dog Coco!
The park is situated between the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham and is your typical urban park,lakes attract birds from all directions, being ideally placed between the River Thames and Roding Valley, also not too far away from the likes of the Dagenham Chase.
Access
Upney Station on the District Line is a five minute walk away from the park, turning lef tout of the station, walk down the hill and first right into The Drive and you will see the park entrance. Alternatively by car, there is parking off of Lodge Avenue, opposite the Roundhouse Public House.
Description
Two lakes, one a boating lake which is used by the local schools (not very often!) are situated in the mile long by a third wide (roughly) park. The smaller of the lakes by the railway is reed and willow fringed and attracts Common Warblers and Tits in winter, as well as the regular duck species. It has held Wintering Goldeneye and more recently a pair of Smew (for a whole day!!) There is a small Heronry on the islands of the boating lake, normally consisting of three or four nests, and recently upto five Little Egrets roosting. Peregrine, Med Gull, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe and Water Pipit have been found, along with the regular Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher that feed along the stream that runs through the park.
It is a park I hope to keep an eye on during 2018 accompanied ogf course by my little dog Coco!
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| I though it might be worth taking regular photographs from fixed locations throughout the year to capture the changes during each season. |
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| Right beside the car park is extremely popular with young mums and their children for feeding an assortment of birds. While the food may not be particularly nutritional for the birds it is an extremely important first encounter with nature and birds in particular for the children. And who knows one may go on to be a great conservationist! |
