Big Turnout for First Dukes Meadows Citizen Science Bird Survey
Volunteers report back on what they found
Volunteers during the survey on Dukes Meadows
April 13, 2025
Dukes Meadows Trust was delighted at the turnout for its first Citizen Science bird survey at Dukes Meadows. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the Meadows was in full Spring bloom. The survey was led by Andrew Peel , RSPB volunteer.
22 people joined the walk. Some new to bird watching, but a few already keen and experienced. The Trust wants to establish regular monthly surveying to monitor bird populations on Dukes Meadows. The park has a variety of habitats and has the Thames and a railway line, both good wildlife corridors, running through it. 29 individual species were identified on the second walk.
Andrew Peel is providing a talk with audio and images to help volunteers build confidence. The talk will be at 7pm on Thursday 24 April at the Dukes Meadows Community Centre in Alexandra Gardens. It is a free event, but a donation can be made on the night to the RSPB. Sign up here
Trust Director Kathleen Healy said. ”Our parks and gardens are important refuges for birds. Dukes Meadows has a good population of Sparrows, a red listed species, and many other resident and visiting birds. It is important that we protect and help them thrive and monitoring is key to doing that. We are delighted to have the support of the RSPB Central London Group to help us build a knowledgeable, skilled survey group”
Our first public bird survey at the site proved very popular and quickly became fully booked, with 22 people altogether taking part on the day. The group were a mixture of experienced birders and beginners, including a six-year-old – you are never too young to start birdwatching!
It was a warm, sunny day and a highlight was spotting our first summer migrants: two warblers, the Chiffchaff (the bird that sings its name) and the Blackcap. Walking through an allotment we heard Robin, Wren, Blue Tits and Great Tits. We saw Ring-necked Parakeets, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows.
Blackcap by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
At the orchard there were several Greenfinches wheezing and trilling, and a Goldfinch.
At the river there were 18 Mute Swans – two of whom were doing their facing-each-other-mirror-your-actions courtship dance in the water – and a single Black Swan (an Australian introduction).
On the far bank there were Egyptian and Canada Geese (two more human introductions); also Mallards, a Cormorant, and Herring, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The organisers saw a Kestrel as we left the site. (Report by Andrew Peel)
Total number of species: 29 (numbers of individual species below)
Blue Tit 5; Great Tit 3; Long-tailed Tit 2; House Sparrow 3; Song Thrush 1; Wren 5; Goldcrest 1; Greenfinch 8; Goldfinch 1; Robin 3; Starling 1; Ring-necked Parakeet 9; Pied Wagtail 1; Feral Pigeon 2; Chiffchaff 3; Blackcap 6; Carrion Crow 6; Jackdaw 2; Magpie 3; Mute Swan 18; Black Swan 1; Canada Goose 4; Egyptian Goose 8; Cormorant 1; Black-headed Gull 2; Herring Gull 7; Lesser-black Backed Gull 1; Mallard 5; Kestrel 1.
Orange-tip and Small White butterflies were also seen.
To find out more about any of the species mentioned in this blog look them up in the Bird A-Z on the RSPB website here.
For information about the RSPB Central London Local Group’s upcoming events including other walks see our Events Calendar on this website and our Eventbrite page.
Andrew Peel and Alison Gibson
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