We have a wonderful variety of wildlife in the Rec. How many of these have you spotted in the Rec. or in your garden recently?
One of the most recognisable of the UK’s tits, in the winter it can be seen joining forces with the Great Tits and Coal Tits while searching for food, and can often be seen in these groups around the Rec.
Great Tit
Great Tits can be spotted in quite a few places around the Rec, often in the company of other smaller birds such as Blue Tits. It is the largest tit in the UK, and though originally a woodland bird munching on insects, seeds, and nuts, it is now a familiar sight in our gardens.
Long-Tailed Tit
Easily recognisable from its long tail and little puff body, you can often spot these charming little birds hopping around in an excitable small family flock in the woods between the top and bottom playing fields. They are mainly insect feeders, but will also feed on small seeds when they come across them.
Coal Tit
This little bird has a distinctive grey back and black cap, with a slender bill well adapted to feeding in conifers. It is also a fan of peanut feeders in gardens. Although it is spotted less often than some of our other tits, there are a few residing in the Rec!
Chaffinch
After the Wren, the Chaffinch is the most common bird that breeds in the UK. It loves to munch on insects and seeds. They can be found along the woodland paths around the Rec, and with their loud call you will often hear them before you see them. While the male has a bold rosy chest, the female is brown, both however have the distinctive white flash on the wings that you will spot as they flit away.
Goldfinch
Perhaps the most splendid finch -though the Chaffinch and Bullfinch will disagree - the Goldfinch is easily identifiable with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It is often in sociable groups, so if you see one in the Rec, keep an eye out for more!
Song Thrush
This lovely songbird’s population is in very serious decline and it is on the RSPB Red List of endangered birds.
We are lucky to have a few around the Rec, and you can sometimes see them bouncing around the children’s playground when it is quiet, or flitting along the ground in the woods between the two Recs.
Blackbird
You can spot the black males and the brown females around the Rec. most days. Although it is one of the most common of the birds, it has a delightful mellow song that is wonderful to listen to if you stop for a minute to appreciate it.
Robin
Nothing says Christmas quite like a robin, but at the Rec we can enjoy seeing their jolly red breasts all year round! You will often see them singing merrily by the paths, but don’t be fooled by their cute exterior, they are aggressively territorial – so as you pass be thankful you’re not another robin!
Wren
The Wren is the most common breeding bird in the UK, with around 8.5 million breeding sites. So, though you may not see it as regularly as the Sparrows or Wood Pigeons, this tiny and adorably spherical insect eating bird is there – just hiding in the bushes!
Goldcrest
The Goldcrest, along with the Fire-crest, holds the title of the UK’s smallest bird. They are greyish-green, but easily identifiable due to their miniscule size and yellow striped heads. These little insect eaters have been spotted in the trees around Walden Rec.
Willow Warbler
The delicate Willow Warbler is a small bird with a grey-green back and pale belly. They have a yellow tinged chest and pale stripe across the eye called a supercilium. From afar they appear rather dull, but up close they really are rather beautiful! Their population, especially in southern Britain, has undergone a decline over the past 25 years making them an Amber List species.
Nuthatch
The Nuthatch is a plump little bird about the size of a Great Tit. You can spot it hopping up the trunks of trees, and along their branches - upside down at times! It is an attractive bird, blue-grey above and chestnut underneath. They have been spotted it the Whytes Woods between Walden and Chislehurst Recs near the bench – so have a look up as you pass, you never know you might just spot one!
Treecreeper
The Treecreeper, though not often seen, can be found creeping up and down trees in Whytes- and Walden woods. It is small speckled brown bird, with a white belly and slender, downcurved bill.
Magpie
Though you may consider the cheeky magpie a black-and-white bird, look more carefully and you will realise they are in fact more colourful than you first thought! Up close they have a purplish-blue iridescent sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. You will find them boldly, and rather noisily strutting around the Rec, scavenging on pretty much anything they come across!
Buzzard
The Buzzard is the most common and widespread bird of prey in the UK. They have been spotted soaring over the our recs on a number of occasions, so keep an eye out! They have large, broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail.
Sparrowhawk
We are lucky enough to have resident breeding Sparrowhawks in Walden Woods. They are small birds of prey, specially adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces like woodland. Despite the name, a female Sparrowhawk is large enough to catch a bird the size of a Wood Pigeon. Adult males have bluish-grey back and wings, while females and young birds are brown. Both genders have distinctive bars underneath, and bright orangey eyes. Your best chance of spotting them is when they are flying over the recs though a female has been spotted boldly sitting in low branches by the cow path.
Carrion Crow
This is one of the cleverest and most adaptable birds found around the recs and you will often see them in the grounds taking advantage of any food sources available including the bins.
Jay
The most colourful member of the crow family is the Jay. We have breeding Jays in the woods and though it is shy you may see them along the edges of the recs never far from the cover of the trees. They are easy to spot when on the move as they have a white rump and lovely blue flash on their wing. Though they have a penchant for acorns, seeds, and insects, they won’t say no to a tasty nestling or small mammal if the chance arises.
Tawny Owl
Anyone around the recs in the evening has likely heard the distinctive call of an owl or two. If you were wondering who our resident nocturnal friends are - they are Tawny Owls. They are roughly the size of a large pigeon, with reddish brown feathers. Their favourite night-time snacks include small mammals, birds, frogs, insects, and worms.
Tree Sparrow
You may spot a pair of these energetic little insect eaters bobbing around near the Tennis Courts. They are easy to pick out as they frantically wag their tail while scurrying around the playing field (hence the name!).
Pied Wagtails
You may spot a pair of these energetic little insect eaters bobbing around near the Tennis Courts. They are easy to pick out as they frantically wag their tail while scurrying around the playing field (hence the name!).
Grey Wagtail
This delightful bird can sometimes be seen bobbing around the stream near the Scout Hut, looking for its insect prey! It has a grey back, and a jolly yellow chest and under-tail.