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Kew is a wonderful place to watch birds. The varied plant
collections and rich invertebrate fauna support over 40 species
of bird which breed in the Gardens annually while at least
30 more visit regularly in season. The presence of a small
collection of captive birds and the provision of birdfeeders
have the effect of making many wild birds a little less cautious
than they would usually be enabling the watcher may get good
views of species which are normally elusive elsewhere.
The Cottage Grounds are managed to encourage wildlife. They
are rich in native trees, shrubs and wildflowers which in
turn support a very diverse invertebrate fauna. Birds which
benefit from this abundant source of food and nesting sites
include Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Great Spotted Woodpeckers,
Treecreepers and Nuthatches. Look down the grassy rides to
see Green Woodpeckers burying acorns in the turf during late
summer and autumn. In winter the bird-feeders are popular
with Blue, Great and Coal Tits while captive pheasants feed
on the ground underneath.
This sheltered stretch of cover is good for close views of
tits, Robins and the beautiful captive Golden Pheasants which
approach visitors hoping for food. In winter look up in the
trees for a glimpse of Goldcrests and Siskins which often
travel through the Gardens, feeding as they go, in mixed flocks
of commoner species like the tits or Chaffinches.
The dense plantings around the Temple provide nesting sites
for the delicate, acrobatic Long-tailed Tits and for Blackcaps.
Wrens nest in the Ivy and in spring, Chiffchaffs can be heard
singing in the shrubs nearby.
Herons are numerous feeding along the margins of the River
Thames or roosting in the trees above. Cormorants are common
and can be seen fishing singly in mid-stream or in flocks
drying their plumage in the trees. Sparrowhawks and Kestrels
can be seen in the patches of open sky between the branches
and flocks of up to 20 Ring-necked Parakeets criss-cross the
River overhead. In autumn Wood Pigeons can be seen gorging
themselves on acorns in the Holm Oaks while Jays gather theirs
and bury them in the grass nearby.
The collection of captive waterfowl is joined by many wild
birds which rapidly become quite trusting in the expectation
of food, especially in winter. Up to 70 Coots and 50 Moorhens
overwinter on the Lake, Mallard and Tufted Ducks are common
as are Pochard. Mute Swans bred in 2001 and again in 2002
after an absence of some years. Great Crested Grebes and Little
Grebes can be seen especially in spring. The highlight of
a walk around the Lake in summer is likely to be the flash
of vivid blue as a Kingfisher carries a fish back to it’s
perch.
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