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.

TuftedDuck. Click on image to enlarge
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008
Text courtesy of John and Angela Gibson ©2008

*Bird species
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