East India Dock Basin
East India Dock Basin is the last remaining section of the once grand East India Docks, famous for transporting spices from the Far East in the 1880’s. Now the site is a nature reserve and attracts birds such as Black Redstart and Kingfishers. There is a section of salt marsh which is a habitat not seen anywhere else in this stretch of the Thames. A stones throw away from Canary Wharf, the site provides breathtaking views of the Thames and the impressive O2 (Millennium Dome).
East India Dock
In July
Three New Kingfisher boxes have been installed by the lock to help improve the area for nesting Kingfishers and Sand Martins.
We are also running a volunteer day on the
16th July from 10am to 3pm on
Bow
Creek
Ecology
Park. If you would like to Volunteer in the
Lee
Valley
Park; please contact Paul Roper on 01992 709845. e-mail
proper@leevalleypark.org.uk
We are setting up a user forum for
East
India
Dock
Basin and
Bow
Creek
Ecology
Park; the Meeting will be on the
23rd July. Please contact
Eric Wilton on 01992 709917, if you would like to attend and for further information.
The birds tend to be quieter by July as the main bird breeding period is drawing to a close and territories do not need to be advertised. The first of the summer migrants to depart are the
cuckoos. The adults leave in July to be followed by this year’s off spring later. Somehow they find their way to
Africa independently. We have had 6 Tern chicks hatched so far this year and two broods of mallards. Despite its size
East India Dock is a haven for birds. Sightings this year have included.
Bird Species seen at
East
India
Dock
Basin
|
Arctic Tern |
Linnet |
|
Black Headed Gull |
Little Grebe |
|
Black Redstart |
Little Ringed Plover |
|
Blackbird |
Long-tailed Tit |
|
Blackcap |
Mallard |
|
Blue Tit |
Moorhen |
|
Canada Goose
|
Mute Swan |
|
Chiff Chaff |
Nightingale |
|
Collard Dove |
Oyster Catchers |
|
Common Gull |
Peregrine Falcon
|
|
Common Sandpiper |
Pied Wagtail |
|
Common Tern |
Pochard |
|
Coot |
Redshank |
|
Cormorant |
Reed Bunting |
|
Dunnock |
Reed Warbler |
|
Firecrest |
Robin |
|
Goldfinch |
Sand Martin |
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker
|
Shelduck |
|
Greater Black Backed Gull
|
Siskin |
|
Green Finch |
Song Thrush |
|
Grey Wagtail |
Sparrow Hawk |
|
Heron |
Starling |
|
Herring Gull |
Stock Dove |
|
House Martin |
Swallow |
|
Jay |
Teal |
|
Kestrel |
Tufted Duck |
|
Kingfisher |
Whimbrel |
|
Lesser Black Backed Gull |
Whitethroat |
|
Lesser Whitethroat |
Willow
Warbler, Wren |
If you would like to send your Bird records to us, then contact the rangers at:
rangerssouth@leevalleypark.org.uk
Three New Kingfisher boxes will be installed by the lock to help improve the area for nesting Kingfishers and Sand Martins.