Chingford Reservoirs

Also within

Essex CountyGreater London County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description The Chingford Reservoirs are one of the major wintering grounds for wildfowl and wetland birds in the London area and hold nationally important numbers of some species. The reservoirs also form a moult refuge for large populations of wildfowl during the late summer months. The site encompasses a series of drinking water storage basins constructed on the floor of the Lee Valley during the early and mid part of the twentieth century. The two basins comprising the northern King George V Reservoir are the shallowest of London's larger reservoirs and, together with the William Girling Reservoir to the south, they comprise some of the most extensive and undisturbed open water habitat in the London area. These features attract a variety of migratory wildfowl, gulls and other wetland birds in large numbers. During the winter months the reservoirs regularly support nationally important populations of shoveler and great crested grebe. In recent years great crested grebe have particularly favoured King George V Reservoir making this one of the three major wintering sites for the species among the many large artificial lakes in the London area. Other wildfowl which winter on the reservoirs in important numbers include goldeneye, tufted duck and goosander, with populations of the latter two species occasionally reaching levels of national significance. The goosander, a fish eating species, are especially noted for their habit of feeding in the concrete lined River Lee Flood Relief Channel along the eastern margin of the reservoir embankments. Each of the reservoirs also supports one of London’s principal winter gull roosts, these being the only major roosts in the Lee Valley complex of reservoirs and flooded gravel pits. Combined counts of over 70,000 gulls have been recorded, comprising mainly, black headed gull, common gull, lesser black backed gull and herring gull. Since the late 1950s, in common with a regional trend, the Chingford Reservoirs have become an important post breeding refuge for wildfowl during their period of late summer moult. The regular moulting population of tufted duck is among the largest in the London area and represents one of Britain’s main moulting concentrations. In some years moulting flocks of great crested grebe also gather in significant numbers, particularly on King George V Reservoir. Like many of London’s reservoirs the variety of breeding birds is restricted but includes a valuable part of the Lee Valley breeding population of yellow wagtail. The reservoirs are also a noted London site for migrant wetland birds on spring and autumn passage and these include common and Arctic terns and waders such as common sandpiper and greenshank. In total over 85 wetland bird species have been recorded in recent years.

Species mentioned

Plant communities