Dagenham Chase
From Londonbirders
Dagenham Chase is one of the largest nature reserves in the London area, it would certainly take a whole day to cover the site thoroughly.The main area of the reserve is the Slack, an area of shallow water that attracts Winter wildfowl, waders and gulls.It has attracted Great Snipe, Temminck's Stint,Sanderling and Spotted Crake. Garganey are fairly regular in Spring, and Ring Ouzel's are still possible along the east side of the Slack.The Slack suffers from disturbance by horses, people and Sparrowhawks, which means birds frequently do not stick around.The surrrounding area is extensive hawthorn scrub, with open areas.By the river Rom is a stand of rare Black Poplar Trees, there is also large areas or grassland and enclosures with maturing trees in them.The Eastbrook School Playing Fields are an excellent site for Golden Plover, Lapwing and Gulls, which are often dispersed by Sparrowhawks. There are numerous gravel pits on site and the hotspot is White Hart East, (the 2nd pit on the left along the no through road ). This has attracted Black-necked, Red-necked and a pair of Slavonian Grebes which stayed for over 2 weeks, they attained summer plumage, displayed and even copulated! Other goodies include the well twitched Pine Bunting and breeding Marsh Warblers,(not so well twitched due to the sensitive site they chose).
ACCESS:The Chase is situated along Dagenham Road and is well signposted from Rush Green Road, Rainham Roads South and North.
PARKING: There is adequate parking in the Millenium centre car park, ( on the right about 40 yds along the no through road).
VISITOR CENTRE TEL: 0208 595 4155.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The nearest tube station is Dagenham East on the district line. If you are walking from here turn left, continue on to and walk across Reede Road, then use the crossing by the shops. The Chase can be accessed by taking the public footpath by the side of Ladbrokes the bookmakers.The 174 bus goes directly to the Chase, it can be boarded at Dagenham Heathway tube station on the district line or in Romford town centre. PATCHLIST FOR 2007. 1.Little Grebe 2.Great Crested Grebe 3.Great Cormorant 4.Little Egret 5.Grey Heron 6.Mute Swan 7.Greylag Goose 8.Canada Goose 9.Egyptian Goose 10.Common Shelduck 11.Mandarin Duck 12.Eurasian Wigeon 13.Gadwall 14.Common Teal 15.Mallard 16.Northern Shoveler 17.Pochard 18.Tufted Duck 19.Ruddy Duck 20.Red Kite 21.Marsh Harrier 22.Eurasian Sparrowhawk 23.Common Buzzard 24.Common Kestrel 25.Hobby 26.Peregrine Falcon 27.Common Pheasant 28.Moorhen 29.Coot 30.Little Ringed Plover 31.Golden Plover 32.Lapwing 33.Common Snipe 34.Whimbrel 35.Common Sandpiper 36.Mediterranean Gull 37.Black-headed Gull 38.Common Gull 39.Lesser Black-backed Gull 40.Herring Gull 41.Great Black-backed Gull 42.Common Tern 43.Feral Pigeon 44.Stock Dove 45.Woodpigeon 46.Collared Dove 47.Common Cuckoo 48.Little Owl 49.Common Swift 50.Kingfisher
