The Walk provides a very valuable environment for local wildlife, not least its birds. As the reserve consists of mostly young, deciduous, open woodland, a high proportion of the birds on the Walk are tits, finches and thrushes, but other birds more typically associated with maturer woodland are also sometimes seen.
We are particularly pleased to have had a pair of Grey wagtails nesting at the Highgate end for the last few years. The Grey wagtail is now on the RSPB red list, affording it the highest conservation priority.
Kestrels were once reasonably common but as woodland has encroached on open ground, the opportunities to see their prey have diminished.
Incidentally we’re looking out for anyone who can carry out a bird survey.
Birdsong in Muswell Hill
The stretch of woodland from Cranley Gardens to the viaduct is a particularly good spot to hear birdsong.
Carrion crow, Corvus corone. The all-black carrion crow is one of the cleverest, most adaptable of […] More
Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita. A small olive-brown warbler which actively flits through trees and shrubs, with a […] More
Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major. Blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. It has a very distinctive bouncing flight […] More
Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris. Its twittering and wheezing song, and flash of yellow and green as […] More
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea. The species looks similar to the yellow wagtail but has the yellow […] More
Lesser redpoll, Carduelis cabaret. This tiny finch – only slightly bigger than a blue tit – […] More
Longtailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus. The long-tailed tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring, a tail […] More
Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri. Despite it's beautiful plumage and silhouette in flight, the rose-ringed parakeet (or ringneck […] More
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos. A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, […] More
Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces […] More
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata. At first glance, spotted flycatchers might seem dull brownish-grey and – well […] More
Whitethroat, Sylvia communis. The whitethroat is a medium-sized warbler, about the size of a great […] More
Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus. The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, it is largely grey with a white […] More
