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Welcome to the pages illustrating the wild birds that may be seen in Gladstone Park
Despite being in an urban environment Gladstone Park supports a wide range of wild birds. There are several factors that influence that, the park itself covers around 97 acres of land with an additional 27 acres in the William Gladstone open space that provides a varied environment of woodland, hedgerows and open ground resulting in a diverse supply of food and habitat. |
An aerial view of Gladstone Park and its surrounds |
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If you study the aerial photograph of the park (above) you will see that not only is it surrounded by a huge number of houses with gardens, many of which will provide bird food on a regular basis, but also there are several large green spaces in the immediate vicinity. In the north there is an open area where the underground reservoir is and in the northeast corner are allotments. There is the railway line that bisects the park and acts as a natural corridor providing a virtually undisturbed and protected environment along the embankment. Southeast of the railway line Thames Water have a fairly substantial depot and pumping station, again providing a "remote" and protected open green space. Within the park we have the "English woodland" area and the pond, both of which attract wildlife. The proximity of the Welsh Harp reservoir and open space has an influence on the birdlife in Gladstone Park in general and certainly provides us with the majority of the ducks we have in the pond, most of which return there to roost at night.
Generally speaking we have a rich variety of wildlife in the park, take your time, sit quietly, watch and enjoy it, especially early in the morning or at dusk, when the park is quiet....after all it is free! | |
We have tried to illustrate as many common wild birds as possible that may be seen in the park but if you spot any more unusual varieties please e-mail us the species seen, time date and place spotted and we will try to get them listed on the website as soon as we can and credit you by name with the sighting.
Click here to view the more unusual sightings of new and rarer birds that have been seen and reported in Gladstone Park.
The majority of bird photographs used in these pages have been provided by courtesy of the
British Garden Birds website, whom we thank.
Further details of the species illustrated, and others may be found by visiting both that website and the website of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
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Blackbird - Turdus merula Photographs courtesy of David Morris The bright orange-yellow beak, eye-ring and shiny black plumage make adult males one of the most recognisable of British birds, females are brown. Blackbirds have readily adapted to parkland and gardens throughout the country, they like areas with plenty of bushes and trees and close to open ground, they eat insects, worms and berries and have a mellow, fluty song, its calls include a 'chink, chink' and a clattering, ringing alarm call, they are present all year round. |
Female blackbird inset |
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Blue tit - Parus caeruleus Its colourfull mix of blue, yellow, white and green make the blue tit one of the most attractive birds. Found mainly in deciduous woodland, parkland, hedgerows and conifers it has also adapted to gardens with mature trees or nest boxes. |
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Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula
The male is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. Found mainly in woodlands, orchards and hedgerows. They feeds on seeds, buds and insects (for the young). They are usually located by a plaintive "pew" call, its song is a quiet warble. Recent declines place it on the red list of endangered species, it may be seen all year round. |
Female bullfinch inset |
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Female Chaffinch inset |
Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs Main photograph courtesy of David Morris Inset photograph courtesy of Cheryl Easton The chaffinch is probably the most colourful of Britain's finches. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. You'll usually hear chaffinches before you see them, with their loud and fast descending "pink pink" call. It's found anywhere with trees and bushes, eating insects and seeds. It may be seen all year round. |
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Coal tit - Parus ater Photographs courtesy of Steven Round The coal tit is not as colourful as some of its relatives, it has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. It's smaller, more slender bill than it's relatives means it can feed more successfully in conifers. A regular visitor to most peanut feeders, they will take and store food for eating later, their diet consisting of insects, seeds and nuts. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food. Mainly seen in woodland, especially conifer woods, parks and gardens and present all year round. |
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Coot - Fulica atra Photographs courtesy of Jon Coulson All-black and larger than its cousin the moorhen, it has a distinctive white beak with a "shield" above it which earns it the title "bald". Its feet have distinctive lobed flaps on the toes for swimming. It can be very aggressive towards others. Likes areas of fairly shallow standing fresh water with a muddy bottom and vegetation at the sides. Often found on reservoirs, rivers and park lakes. It feeds on vegetation, snails and insect larvae. Its call is a loud resonant "kut" and it is seen all year round. |
Crow - Corvidae
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Carrion crow - Corvus corone Photograph courtesy of Jon Coulson The all-black carrion crow differs from the same sized rook in its greenish gloss and tight fitting thigh feathers. Normally goes singly, in pairs or family groups but where common, as in Gladstone Park, they will flock. Found almost everywhere, from the centre of cities to the countryside and seashore they will come to gardens for food. They eat carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and any scraps. Their call is a deep 'kaarr'. Present all year round. |
Rook - Corvus frugilegus Photograph courtesy of Sue Tranter Bare, greyish face, thinner beak and peaked head and baggy thigh feathers make it distinguishable from the carrion crow. Rooks are very sociable birds; they will come into town parks and gardens but largely keep clear of the middle of big towns and cities. They feed on worms, grain and insects. Like the crow they have a cawing 'kaarr' call; and a song of squeaks and croaks Present all year round. |
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Jay - Glandarius garrulous Photograph courtesy of Leslie Gadsen Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. Jays like broad-leaved and coniferous woodland but do move into more suburban areas where there are mature trees in parks, cemeteries and gardens. They feed on acorns, nuts, seeds and insects. They have a harsh screeching call and are present all year round, but often more obvious in autumn when they travel most in search of food to bury. |
Magpie- Pica pica Photograph courtesy of Peter M Henderson With its black-and-white plumage and long tail, there is nothing else quite like the magpie in Britain. When seen close-up its black plumage is seen to have a more colourful hue with a purplish-blue iridescent sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. They are found in many habitats; woodland, farmland, parks, gardens and city centres. They are scavengers and will eat almost anything. They have a harsh chattering and chacking calls. Present all year round. |
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Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis Photograph courtesy of David Morris A highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting birdtables and feeders. Often breeds near man in parks and gardens etc. They feed on seeds and insects in the summer. They have a liquid, twittering song with trills and a twittering call, they are present all year round. |
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Great spotted woodpecker - Dendrocopos major Photograph courtesy of Tom Smith About blackbird-sized with striking black, white and red plumage, males have a distinctive red crown patch and can be seen clinging to tree trunks and branches. Its presence is often announced by its loud "kik kik" call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. Found anywhere with large mature trees that contain holes suitable for nesting in. It feeds on insects, seeds and nuts and will come to peanut feeders and birdtables. They are present all year round. |
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Great tit - Parus major Photograph courtesy of Sue Tranter The largest British tit, green and yellow with a striking glossy black head and white cheeks. It is a woodland bird, which has readily adapted to man-made habitats to become a familiar garden visitor. Generally found in deciduous woodland, conifer woodlands, hedgerows, parkland and gardens. It eats insects, seeds and nuts. Its song is a repeated "tee-cher tee-cher" and may be seen all year round. |
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Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris Photograph courtesy of Peter M Henderson Its green and yellow colouring make this finch a truly colourful character. A common countryside bird found in woods and hedges, but mostly found close to man on farmland and in parks and gardens where it is a popular visitor, able to take advantage of food in town and gardens at a time when intensive agriculture has deprived it of food in the countryside. It feeds on seeds and insects and has a nasal "chewee" wheezing, trilling song and is present all year round. |