Birds of Hogsmill River and Ewell Court Lake
Heron. Click on image to enlarge
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008
Over 70 species* have been sighted between Ewell Village and Ewell Court Lake. Just follow the river and explore the shrub and woodland. In winter the paths can be muddy. You will be unlucky if you do not see the kingfisher or grey wagtail. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 a water rail was also seen and in 2005 three little egrets were seen along the course of the river.
Coot. Click on image to enlarge
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008
On Ewell Court Lake you will find herons, mallard, coot, moorhen, tufted duck, Canada geese and a variety of introduced species. A regular visitor is the cormorant. A rare ring-necked duck was seen on one occasion, and was seen also on Bourne Hall Lake. In April 2008 a little grebe was spotted. The trees surrounding the lake hold green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch. If you look carefully you will find the tiny goldcrest or if you are really fortunate a firecrest.
Good numbers of whitethroat, chiffchaff and blackcap can be seen in summer. Although in 2007 the whitethroats had a bad year. Ring-neck parakeets can be heard and seen all year round. Sparrowhawk and kestrel breed in the area. In winter there are fieldfare and redwing. You can hear the chak-chak of the fieldfare as they fly over.
Mallard. Click on image to enlarge
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008
If you feel more energetic you can follow the Hogsmill all the way to Kingston, about 7.4 miles. Attached is a list of birds seen in the area. Park in Manor Drive (OS Map 187 TQ 213 638) and take alley through to the lake.
For details of the RSPB local group visit www.rspb.org.uk/groups/epsom
TuftedDuck. Click on image to enlarge
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008
Text courtesy of John and Angela Gibson ©2008
| *Bird species | Comments |
| Black Headed Gull | |
| Blackbird | |
| Blackcap | |
| Blue Tit | |
| Bullfinch | |
| Canada Geese | |
| Chaffinch | |
| Chiffchaff | |
| Collared Dove | |
| Common Gull | |
| Coote | |
| Cormorant | |
| Crow | |
| Dabchick (Little grebe) | |
| Dunnock | |
| Feral Pigeon | |
| Fieldfare | |
| Firecrest | |
| Gadwall | |
| Goldcrest | |
| Goldfinch | |
| Great Tit | |
| Greater Spotted Woodpecker | |
| Green Woodpecker | |
| Greenfinch | |
| Grey Wagtail | |
| Greylag | |
| Heron | |
| House Martin | |
| Jackdaw | |
| Jay | |
| Kestrel | |
| Kingfisher | |
| Lesser Black Backed Gull | |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | |
| Linnets | |
| Little Egret | |
| Long Tailed Tit | |
| Magpie | |
| Mallard | |
| Mandarin | |
| Mistle Thrush | |
| Moorhen | |
| Muscovy (introduced) | |
| Nuthatch | |
| Pied Wagtail | |
| Redwing | |
| Ring Necked Duck | |
| Ring Neck Parakeet | |
| Robin | |
| Ruddy Duck | |
| Siskin | |
| Snipe Feb 2007 and 2008 | Seen by dog walker |
| Song Thrush | |
| HouseSparrow | |
| Sparrow Hawk | |
| Starling | |
| Stock Dove | |
| Swallow | |
| Swan Mute | |
| Swift | |
| Tawny Owl | Seen by Ranger |
| Tree Creeper | |
| Tufted | |
| Turtle Dove | |
| Water Rail | |
| Whitethroat | |
| Wigeon | |
| Willow Warbler | |
| Wood Pigeon | |
| Wren | |
| Total | 71 |
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