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 1st Jan: 2.Great Crested Grebe 1st Jan: 3.Great Cormorant 1st Jan: 4.Little Egret 23rd Jan: 5.Grey Heron 1st Jan: 6.Mute Swan 1st Jan: 7.Greylag Goose 19th Jan: 8.Canada Goose 1st Jan: 9.Egyptian Goose 9th May: 10.Common Shelduck 25th Jan: 11.Mandarin Duck 11th Feb: 12.Eurasian Wigeon 5th Jan: 13.Gadwall 1st Jan: 14.Common Teal 1st Jan: 15.Mallard 1st Jan: 16.Northern Shoveler 1st Jan: 17.Pochard 1st Jan: 18.Tufted Duck 1st Jan: 19.Ruddy Duck 27th Feb: 20.Red Kite 31st Jan: 21.Marsh Harrier 30th Mar: 22.Eurasian Sparrowhawk 5th Jan: 23.Common Buzzard 23rd Jan: 24.Common Kestrel 1st Jan: 25.Hobby 23rd Apr: 26.Peregrine Falcon 11th Feb: 27.Common Pheasant 21st Mar: 28.Moorhen 1st Jan: 29.Coot 1st Jan: 30.Little Ringed Plover 28th Mar: 31.Golden Plover 23rd Jan 32.Lapwing 1st Jan 33.Common Snipe 1st Jan 34.Whimbrel 8th May 35.Common Sandpiper 25th Apr 36.Mediterranean Gull 11th Feb 37.Black-headed Gull 1st Jan 38.Common Gull 1st Jan 39.Lesser Black-backed Gull 1st Jan 40.Herring Gull 1st Jan 41.Great Black-backed Gull 1st Jan 42.Common Tern 30th Apr 43.Feral Pigeon 1st Jan 44.Stock Dove 1st Jan 45.Woodpigeon 1st Jan 46.Collared Dove 1st Jan 47.Turtle Dove 15th May 48.Common Cuckoo 27th Apr 49.Little Owl 1st Jan 50.Common Swift 20th Apr 51.Kingfisher 23rd Jan 52.Green Woodpecker 11th Jan 53.Great Spotted Woodpecker 1st Jan 54.Skylark 1st Jan 55.Sand Martin 16th Mar 56.Barn Swallow 7th Apr 57.House Martin 17th Apr 58.Meadow Pipit 1st Jan 59.Yellow Wagtail 1st May 60.Grey Wagtail 27th Jan 61.Pied Wagtail 1st Jan 62.Wren 1st Jan 63.Dunnock 1st Jan 64.Robin 1st Jan 65.Common Redstart 13th Apr 66.Whinchat 23rd Apr 67.Stonechat 1st Jan 68.Northern Wheatear 25th Apr 69.Ring Ouzel 22nd Apr 70.Blackbird 1st Jan 71.Fieldfare 1st Jan 72.Song Thrush 1st Jan 73.Redwing 1st Jan 74.Mistle Thrush 25th Jan 75.Reed Warbler 23rd Apr 76.Lesser Whitethroat 12th Apr 77.Garden Warbler 24th Apr 78.Blackcap 17th Mar 79.Chiffchaff 1st Mar 80.Willow Warbler 6th April
