Birds
More than 40 bird species, including Pochard and Grey Wagtail, breed annually at Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs), and over 90 species are recorded. One or two Water Rail and Kingfisher, and a handful of Common Snipe, usually overwinter. Wildfowl, gulls and woodland birds are all well represented. 152 species were recorded between 1950-2016. Systematic List (BTO/BOU).
Breeding waterfowl include Little and Great Crested Grebe. The latter has been recorded breeding here since 1912 - the earliest known in central London. Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard and, occasionally, Gadwall breed here. Shovelers overwinter. A few Wigeon, Teal, and Shelduck are seen annually. Red-crested Pochards seen most autumns are believed to come from central London's parks' collections.
Cormorants and Grey Herons are non-breeding residents, and are sometimes seen flying to and from the large colonies at Walthamstow Wetlands to the east. Little Egrets are seen occasionally.
Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), and Common Sandpipers occur annually in small numbers, with (less frequently) Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank.
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel breed close to the site. Peregrine Falcons are regular overhead, with Hobby a scarce visitor during spring and summer. Red Kite and Common Buzzard are occasional annual flyovers - March and April are best.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls have bred at Woodberry Wetlands. Black-headed, Common, and Herring Gulls are all common (not mid-summer). Great Black-backed Gulls are scarce but regular. Yellow-legged Gull is recorded most years, Mediterranean Gull is scarcer. Common Terns are present from May-September. In winter during late afternoon the spectacle can be seen of hundreds of Gulls flying over from central London's parks to roost at Chingford Reservoirs via nearby Walthamstow Wetlands, with many dropping in to bathe.
Woodpigeons are resident. Collared Dove and Stock Dove are seen in small numbers.
Carrion Crows, Jays and Magpies are all resident. Small flocks of Jackdaws are seen overhead on visible migration in Autumn.
A Kingfisher may be seen along the New River outside the breeding season. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are present throughout the year. Coal Tits breed locally and are often seen - this is one of the best sites in East London for them. Swifts and House Martins breed nearby. Sand Martins and Swallows are regular summer visitors.
Reed Warblers in the east reservoir reedbed hold about 10 territories annually, with occasional Sedge Warblers. Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler breed here. Other warblers seen occasionally are Garden Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroat.
Song Thrushes and Blackbirds breed here. Mistle Thrushes have bred. Redwing are present in low numbers in late winter. Fieldfare are scarce but annual.
Grey Wagtails and Reed Buntings breed here - the latter's only known breeding site in Hackney. One or two Spotted Flycatchers and Pied Flycatchers are seen annually. Whinchat and Stonechat are recorded most years. Common Redstart, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Brambling are less frequent.
Systematic list (BTO/BOU). [List closed 2016. With thanks to all contributors, below].
Recent notable sightings at Stoke Newington Reservoirs (Woodberry Wetlands).
2013: a Yellow-legged Gull on the 6th March, a Common Redstart on the 19th April, a female Black Redstart on the 29th April, a female Whinchat on the 28th August. In Abney Park Cemetery: a Firecrest between the 7th January and 14th February. In Clissold Park: 18 Waxwing on the 27th January, a Wood Warbler on the 24th April (photo: Richard Crawford)
2014: a Tree Pipit on the 11th April, up to 5 Little Ringed Plover between May and August when the East basin was partly drained, 3 Black-tailed Godwit on the 5th July, 2 Little Egret on the 6th August, an adult Mediterranean Gull on the 16th December.
2015: a female Stonechat on the 7th March, a male Wheatear on the 20th April, a Pied Flycatcher on the 30th August, a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 10th October, a Firecrest on the 30th December.
2016: Outstanding final sightings in this archive, which closed on April 30th, were a Bittern on the 19th January, a long-staying Firecrest from the 4th March to the 1st April, and a flyover Avocet on the 2nd April.
With thanks to Tony Butler, Nigel Wilkinson, Paul Robertson, Kevin Stevens, Paul Churchill, Adam Hudson and all London Wildlife Trust (LWT) and London Natural History Society (LNHS) volunteers during the Save the Reservoirs Campaign and beyond (1986-2016).
