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.Common Cuckoo 27th Apr 48.Little Owl 1st Jan 49.Common Swift 20th Apr 50.Kingfisher 23rd Jan
