Birdwatching may seem like an unlikely hobby for a Londoner, but next time you go for a wander in your local inner-city park, why not take a closer look at your surroundings and see if you can spot any of the birds which share the urban landscape with us?
Howard Vaughan, naturalist, tour leader and head of the East London Birders’ Forum, is a firm believer that anyone can be a birdwatcher. “You don’t have to have a pair of binoculars or a camera,” says Vaughan. “You just need to go out and engage and see what’s there.”
Vaughan discovered a love of birdwatching aged five. Now 50, he continues to be drawn to the natural world. “I’m always learning, there’s always something different,” he says. “I still get the same joy out of walking through the park and hearing a song thrush before the sun comes up, despite the fact I’ve probably heard thousands of song thrushes. It’s all about the experience.”
All of us have a connection to birds, says Vaughan. “They’re often memory triggers for people,” he says. “People see a robin in the garden, and they remember the robin that used to visit their grandparents’ garden. I think birdwatching is intrinsically part of what most people are, without them realising it.”
During lockdown, Vaughan noticed people began paying attention to the wildlife in their local green space again. “It’s mentally important,” he says. “It kept me sane during lockdown, and still does.” The popularity of birdwatching grew massively during the pandemic. The RSPB’s annual garden survey had an 85 per cent increase in its participants in 2021.
Whether you have a garden or not, London is full of public green spaces where there are an abundance of birds to be observed and identified. “Within the M25 there’s undoubtedly 200 or so species seen a year,” says Vaughan. “London has a diversity of habitats, and even the smallest pocket of green space will hold wildlife and birds.”
Green Woodpecker. A young bird which has become very urbanised and can now be seen in many parks and cemeteries, not just in woods. Pic: Tricia Campbell 
Kingfisher. Present on many streams, undisturbed lakes and rivers. Shy, but often heard before it is seen. Pic: Martin Buckley 
Common Tern. A summer visitor from Africa. Nesting in several places in the Lea Valley including Walthamstow Wetlands. Pic: Martin Buckley 
Bearded Tit. Confined to the bigger reedbeds such as at RSPB Rainham Marshes. Pic: Jeff Harrington 
Lapwing. A declining breeder that is now largely confined to marshes in the Lea Valley and at RSPB Rainham Marshes. Pic: Jeff Harrington 
Cettis Warbler. A shy little bird with a big voice. It can now be found alongside almost any well vegetated ditch or pool. Pic: Russ Sherriff 
House Sparrow. Once a very common bird but now seriously declined. You can help it by putting up nest boxes on your house to encourage them to breed. Pic: Tom Bell 
Little Egret. Once just a rare visitor, it is now familiar to even non-birders with its white plumage and yellow feet. They now even breed in the same colonies as our local Grey Herons. Pic: Steve Knox 
Barn Owl. Still found around farmland fringes and meadows, often nesting in boxes provided. Pic: Martin Buckley 
Mandarin Duck. This gaudy introduced species from China has a globally significant population in the UK and they can often be seen on the ponds of Epping Forest. Pic: Howard Vaughan
Where to go
The Eastlondonlines boroughs are not short of places to go birdwatching. If you are in the Hackney area, Vaughan advises to look no further than anywhere in the Lea Valley, for example Hackney Marshes. “Although there’s lots of football fields, there’s still all the water and there’s still wild patches amongst it,” he says.
Venturing south of the river, Blackheath is Vaughan’s recommendation for Lewisham. “Blackheath has a core of people who are now properly birding it,” he says. In Croydon, South Norwood Country Park and Beddington Farmlands are Vaughan’s top suggestions.
If you are able to travel further afield, then a trip to Walthamstow Wetlands or Rainham Marshes would definitely be rewarded. But Vaughan says that wherever you are, just take a walk in your local park and see what’s there. “One of the things about birds is that there are always birds, regardless of where you are,” he says.
Not sure where to start? Vaughan suggests going for a walk in a cemetery, where the peaceful escape from the city creates a haven for nature. Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is particularly atmospheric to explore and the perfect site for spotting woodpeckers. “Cemeteries are wonderful for wildlife,” he says. “They’re always quiet and you can walk around them; you’re not intruding. It’s magic.”
How to get started
If you want to take birdwatching a step further, Vaughan says that getting in touch with your local RSPB group, while going along to a meeting or a guided walk can be helpful.
Even if you’re going it alone, Vaughan’s advice is to ask someone if you can’t identify a bird. “Don’t be afraid to talk to people,” he says. Finding a local community of birdwatchers online through Facebook groups and connecting with people is a great way to get involved.
As someone who developed a love of the natural world during childhood, Vaughan also suggests that parents should encourage their children’s interest. “I was fortunate,” he says. “I would be taken for a day out and there would be places where I could go birdwatching.” However, birdwatching is something that can be discovered at any age. “A lot of people are coming to birding late in life,” says Vaughan. “They’re picking up a pair of binoculars once they’ve retired, which is equally as valuable.”
If you are feeling intimidated by the numerous different species of bird to spot, Vaughan says not to worry. “It’s not about knowing what everything is, you just have to enjoy it,” he says. “If it makes you feel good, it’s good. I don’t think that can be underestimated. The more people who can get out there and learn and enjoy it, the better.”
To get inspired, why not take a look at Howard’s blog, BlueEyedBirding. If you spot any birds in your local park or green space, why not share them on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ELLbirdwatch; we would love to see them!
For the rest of our series on green spaces, click here.
