Wildlife and bird watching in the South East of England
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Despite being the most densely populated part of the country, there is still plenty of wildlife viewing available. Even within London there are surprising opportunities for wildlife watching, from some of the great parks at Richmond, to fantastic birding sites on reservoirs, along the Thames and also in the Lee Valley and the Marshes of the Thames Estuary.
Photograph of the beautiful Ashdown Forest
County by county
Recent South East news
- Woodpeckers produce more youngsters when given extra food
- British butterfly desperate for warm weather this summer
- Search for Britain’s only cicada finds rare wildlife, but no cicada
- Wildlife Trust launches appeal to save irreplaceable wildlife haven in Oxfordshire
- The future of much of the UK's iconic wildlife hangs in the balance
- Bumblebee reintroduced into the UK
- Has the UK’s only cicada disappeared?
- Lydd Airport extension decision prompts legal challenge from RSPB
- HS2 phase 1: 33 ancient woods condemned?
- Grey seal strands near Beachy Head
- Where are the bluebells?
- Lydd Airport approval is a disaster for bugs
- V & A Museum to get a wildlife garden roof
- UK butterfly sightings 2013
- Government risks giving green light to wildlife criminals
More South East news
- Kent site, earmarked for 5000 homes, declared an SSSI
- Victory for the snails that have delayed new road development in Hertfordshire
- Rare and spectacular spider find in 150 year-old tombs in London!
- Inland seals
- Kent walkers gain right of way across shooting land
- London man convicted of trapping songbirds in East London
- Environmental Audit Committee publishes report on wildlife crime
- Record numbers of birds used Britain's wetlands during severe 2010/11 winter
- Migrant dragonflies and damselflies colonising southern England
- London Zoo animal photography prize winners revealed
- Construction of vast coastal reserve underway in Essex
- South coast announced as next area for marine planning in UK
- Deer rescued from electric fence – Dramatic footage
- First map of London's amphibians and reptiles - Can you fill in the gaps?
- 11 hectares of meadow bought by Oxford Wildlife Trust
Rare and spectacular spider find in 150 year-old tombs in London! A large, rare spider has been recorded for the first time in London - deep in tombs at Highgate Cemetery.
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England's forests to be saved for the nationThe public forest estate is the single largest provider of outdoor leisure and recreation in England. And it is also the single largest timber producer, as well as being a vital habitat for wildlife. Research shows that these elements are producing annual returns on investment estimated at £400 million.
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More ospreys in SussexAfter our report last week on two ospreys at Arlington Reservoir in Sussex, we have received more reports of ospreys in Sussex.
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Exotic beetle pest outbreak threatening UK broadleaved trees An outbreak of the Asian longhorn beetle (ALB), an exotic beetle pest which could have severe consequences for British trees, has been found in Kent the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) have confirmed. This is the first time an outbreak of this pest has been found in the UK and it is being treated extremely seriously. Fera and the Forestry Commission are taking urgent steps to try to eradicate the outbreak before it has the chance to spread further afield.
First sighting of purple heron chicks confirm UK wildlife first It's a sight wildlife lovers have been waiting for - the first purple heron chick ever to be raised successfully in the UK has taken its first flight and is learning to fend for itself. But is this news good or bad as it is further evidence of global warming?
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Purple herons breed for the first time in the UKThe first purple herons ever to breed successfully in the UK have hatched their chicks on the RSPB's Dungeness Nature Reserve in Kent. It is not yet known how many chicks have hatched and confirmation will only be possible when the young fledge in a few weeks time.
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Queen of Spain Fritillary butterfly breeding in SussexA rare migrant butterfly from Europe, the Queen of Spain Fritillary, has been breeding at a location on the Sussex coast.
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First ever recorded Humpback in Thames found dead. A 28ft (9.5m) Humpback whale has been found dead in the River Thames near the Dartford Bridge.
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Albino Fallow deer spotted in SussexVolunteer rescuers had a surprise when they went to rescue a deer that was caught in a rope swing in some Sussex woods. To their amazement the deer, a male fallow deer, was completely white and is thought to be a very rare albino.
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Court approves destruction of marshes and its protected wildlifeThe three-year battle to save West Thurrock Marshes from destruction suffered a massive set-back when the Court of Appeal judged that the decision to build on the site was lawful.
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'Extinct' dove breeds at London Zoo.A Socorro dove, extinct in the wild for 30 years, has bred for the first time at London Zoo.
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Campaign of cruelty to Birds Continues in East SussexAfter last week’s report of 5 gulls being shot in Sussex, we have today (April 21st) received 2 further reports of appalling cruelty from the Hastings/Eastbourne area.
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Rare Waders Successfully Breed in LondonFour rare Avocet chicks hatched on Saturday 17 June 2006 at the WWT London Wetland Centre .in Barnes, South West London – the closest breeding location to central London since records began.
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Squacco heron in LondonA Squacco heron, a very unusual sight in the UK, has taken up residence in London.
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Top wildlife sites in the South East
The Urban Birder
The clue is in the name of the book. David Lindo is the self styled ‘Urban Birder' and specialises in birding in towns and cities, and especially in London.Read full review »
