Urban birdwatching - kingfishers
Factor in the smell of dog waste, the high-pitched hum of Docklands Light Railway trains, a busy road and noisy aircraft overhead, and you could argue it possesses just about everything you would not want from a park.
But while the ghastly sights, smells and sounds meant there was not a single person in sight at 11am on a sunny Sunday morning, maybe that’s exactly why this park is so appealing to a kingfisher glistening in the cold winter light.
Here these stunning hunters flick from low-lying branches to various abandoned debris without interruption from anything or anyone.
They perch upon a drainage hole for three-minutes at a time waiting for the next meal to shuffle on by in the low-lying water. But why do kingfishers in particular love this specific park so much?
Scroll down for Dan's top 5 tips for urban birdwatching
Well, despite appearances, the River Ravensbourne is actually very clean. Although rubbish strewn and unappealing to the human eye, this tributary of the Thames rises eight miles away in Keston and flows through relatively unspoiled areas of Bromley on its journey to Brookmill.
Unlike in the 1980s when the river was essentially a drainage pipe containing human waste and industrial run-off, its water now reaches Lewisham in a reasonable state; certainly of a high enough quality to attract a healthy population of one of the kingfisher’s favourite snacks, sticklebacks.
Meanwhile, the drainage holes in the river’s concrete walls and bridges act as perfect nesting sites as well as perching spots to gaze at the fish below.
But the most fascinating observation made at this site so far is the way abandoned debris can act as a makeshift fishing net. Local photographer Tomos Brangwyn once noted that an upturned, litter-filled shopping trolley served as an artificial reef which caged the fish while simultaneously providing a perching spot for the kingfishers.
This kind of behaviour has also been recorded in other urban rivers in Leeds, Coventry and Manchester.
But Brookmill Park is not the only birding hotspot in the poorer and somewhat less attractive suburbs of south London. Despite our capital possessing more green space than the average global super city, it naturally lacks an abundance of habitat treasured by our feathered friends.
It can be argued this gives the urban birdwatcher a slight advantage. Migrants heading over the city are most likely to stop in the same wood, stream or field as their friends because there is so little choice. If you visit the correct location at the correct time of year, you could be in for a real treat.
Crayford Marshes: The River Darent meanders through one of London's many industrial estates and provides habitat for a wide array of birds including owls and a variety of waders
It’s important to remember that a clean water stream in the middle of a housing estate is just as appealing to a migrant bird as a clean water stream on a remote Scottish island. It serves exactly the same purpose.
That’s why Crossness Nature Reserve, subtly nestled between a sewage works and a giant incinerator in Belvedere is another south London birding paradise.
Reed dwelling birds find natural habitat hard to come by in south-east London, so this 300metre x 600metre patch of marshland, reed beds and long grass is a treasure trove of warblers, waders, ducks and even a barn owl which feeds upon the shrews and voles.
In a single two-hour visit on a Sunday afternoon in February this writer spotted wigeon, shelduck, shoveler, grey wagtail, little-ringed plover, grey heron, Cetti’s warbler, reed warbler and a kestrel.
Other examples of birding oases amongst the concrete jungles of south London are South Norwood Country Park near Croydon, Crayford Marshes and Crystal Palace Park.
TOP FIVE TIPS FOR URBAN BIRDING
1. Aim high
Tall buildings are a common feature of towns and cities, so use them. Peregrines and buzzards are often spotted on spring clear days flying in from Scandinavia in the north (so look north or north-east).
2. Think like a bird
To a passing bird, that berry bush in the middle of a dirty town centre is nearly as appealing as a berry bush in the countryside, so check it out.
3. Find a cemetery
Cemeteries, in particular overgrown ones, attract insects like beetles, butterflies and moths. Where these creatures lurk, so will their predators.
4. Seek out water
We are brilliant at putting out food for the garden birds, but forget about water. Birds need water just as much as us, so keep your eyes peeled when passing streams, rivers, lakes and even puddles!
5. Sing from the roof tops
Roof tops are a brilliant spot for birds of prey to nest. A peregrine falcon has been seen nesting on top of a skyscraper in Sutton, south London, in recent years, while birds like swallows, swifts and house martins love nesting under roof ledges, especially in churches.