I’ve been wanting to write something like this for a while but what pushed me to actually do it was the fact that the other day an old friend asked me about my trip to Guyana last summer. They of course asked what my favourite thing about it was, and since I was volunteering in the heart of the rainforest I responded with “the wildlife”. They nodded and went on to say how it must have been such a contrast because “we never see any wildlife in London”.
Now while it’s true that in the city we may not be able to spot 30 majestic species before breakfast, I argue that we tend to underestimate London’s wildlife (or wildlife in any city for that matter). I suppose it depends what you count as interesting but in this article I’ll give you a few tips on how to spot some cool things you may not have seen or been able to identify before. I’ll end with some reasons why we should care about the mundane things we often take for granted.
Birds
Here are some of my favourites that I often see on walks through city parks like Russell Square or in more quiet grounds like Kenwood or Regents park. They may be less easily spotted than pigeons or robins but if you take a few minutes and quietly watch the trees, I bet you’ll be surprised at how much you can spot.
Wren (very small brown bird that moves fast and is usually low to the ground in bushes next to paths)
Goldcrest (they’re the smallest bird in Europe, they’re mainly brown but look out for the distinctive yellow stripe on the top of its head)
Finches: Greenfinch, goldfinch (vibrant with broad beaks)
Blue tits (small, green/ yellow body and blue head), great tits (bigger, green/yellow body and black head), coal tits (like a great tit but light brown body instead), long tailed tits (most likely to be spotted in winter, very small and white with a long black tail
Blackcap (light coloured body and quite literally looks like it’s wearing a black cap)
Woodpeckers: green and greater spotted (undulating flight- up and down flight motion during which they intermittently hold their wings close to their bodies. To spot these, keep your eyes at the tops of trees.)
Birds or prey: Kestrel, sparrowhawk, owls - these are a little more illusive but if you keep your eyes peeled during dusk around the edges of fields surrounded by trees, you may have some luck! Peregrine falcons and kestrels also nest in buildings. Red kite- you’ll likely to catch these flying over the motorway leaving London towards the countryside; they have large wingspans and fly-you guessed it-like a kite. They also have a distinctive forked tail.
Common kestrel Redwings - winter migrants with a flash of red under their wings, stick around a yew berry tree and you’ll probably see some.
Mammals
Deer (red, roe, fallow, muntjac, sika)
Red deer Badgers and hedgehogs - unfortunately often end up as roadkill but head over to the RSPB website to see how you can make your garden hedgehog friendly: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/homes-for-hedgehogs/
Bats - can be seen abundantly at night in urban green spaces
Plants
I think it can be hard to find wonder in plants because they operate on different time scales to animals, so we may think of them as still life. But Darwin once dismissed the boundaries between plants and animals on the basis of behaviour. Plants can communicate, form memories, be predictive and respond to stimuli in incredible ways. For example, evening primroses have been found to ‘hear’ the buzzing of bees (within minutes of sensing vibrations from pollinators’ wings, they temporarily increase the concentration of sugar in their flower’s nectar)! There are many plant identifier apps available which you could use to start learning more about the incredible organisms around you (whether that be in your house or on your next holiday).
Insects
In light of the recent parliament meeting where MP’s questioned experts in order to understand what is driving the decline in insects and food security in the UK, perhaps there is no better time to appreciate insects
Butterflies, bees, dragonflies, shield bugs, lady bugs and the list goes on…
There has been a 60% decline in flying insects between 2004 and 2021. Here is just one of the many examples of what’s going on: a species of butterfly is developing shorter wings because flying is rendered futile due to the intense use of pesticides. This blocks natural movements which creates problems in itself but on top of that, this would make it harder for the them to track climate change. Our food crops depend on pollinators for successful production. Pollinators also contribute to biodiversity by helping to produce a wide variety of plant species. Biodiverse ecosystems are more resilient to change which ensures a stable food supply. The global economic value of crops pollinated by insects has been estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
I’d like to end by talking about the conservationist and environmental campaigner Chris Packjam CBE. In his interview with the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, what stood out to me the most was the way he spoke about the intrinsic value of nature, while pointing out that this was perhaps just as important as it’s economic value. He reflected on how a single encounter with a ladybird in his childhood led to a lifelong fascination with the natural world and ultimately put him in the position to advise governments on how to manage aspects of our current environmental crises. “What fuels our interest is our passion”.
If more people had a passion or at least a sense of care for insects perhaps we wouldn’t be in this situation. Ultimately the fate of our food security and insects is in the hands of the government which needs to invest in research and protection. But in the midst of the eco-anxiety that many young people today face, we can appreciate the natural world and encourage the next generation to do the same. Additionally, if you have a particular interest and some spare time, why not join a citizen science activity?(Often this is as simple as downloading an app and recording what you see; e.g. Big Butterfly Count or eBird)
If you’re the type that likes to stay busy, perhaps this could be a nice way to transform passive mental health walks into an activity by aiming to identify as well as observe. But regardless, many studies have shown that spending time in green spaces not only reduces stress and boosts our overall wellbeing but it also improves our memory and cognitive function (Berman et al, 2012).
My hope is that this article will help you to have a greater appreciation for the wildlife of London and inspire you to look for it the next time you’re out on a walk. If you enjoyed the pictures feel free to head over to my instagram @ ama.nature.files for more :)
Splendid ... it's important that people look around in cities and see creatures - there are more than expected
Amaranta- I love owl butterflies for obvious reasons. I feel like they’re always staring at me somehow. Glad of this reminder through your writing.