Potentially Croydon’s premier bird watching site, South Norwood Country Park offers a wide range of habitats and the birds to go with them. Like many sites, regular watching brings the most rewards. Over 100 species are recorded each year. The site is run by Croydon Council, with wardens on site. The site was a sewage farm from the middle of the 19th century until 1966 when it fell into disuse. It was declared Metropolitan Open Land in 1982. The country park itself was opened in 1989 after the creation of the pond and wet meadow.

Other Sites


Addington/Shirley Hills Coulsdon Common
Croham Hurst
Farthing Downs/
Happy Valley
Kenley Common
Kings Wood
Lloyd Park
Riddlesdown
Selsdon Wood
South Norwood
Country Park
South Norwood Lake
Waddon Ponds

Site Records

Location
The main entrance is off Albert Road, South Norwood. The site is also accessible on foot from Harrington Road, Westgate Road and Elmers End Road.

Public transport
Train: Elmers End
Tramlink: Arena, Elmers End and Harrington Road stops
Bus: 197 and 312 along Portland Road, 356 along Elmers End Road and 289 along Long Lane

Facilities
Visitor centre (with toilets) - restricted opening hours.

Habitat
Very varied. Areas of grassland/rank vegetation, scrub, small areas of trees, lake, wetland.

Species
At least six species of warbler breed here, including Reed and Sedge Warblers (the only known site in the borough where these two species nest). Marsh Warblers have also been reported.
The lake supports the common waterfowl found in parks but occasionally something more exotic, such as Shelduck, Pintail and Goosander, drops in. There is also a reasonable chance of seeing Kingfisher which has bred here since 1998 (the first known breeding record for Croydon).
Snipe and Jack Snipe winter in the wet meadow and other waders are occasionally recorded around the lake. At least one Water Rail (sometimes more) spends the winter around the lake, in the wet meadow or in the stream near Harrington Road.
All three woodpeckers may be found as can a variety of finches, tits and Reed Buntings.
Among the scarcer species recorded here in recent years are Red Kite, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Dartford Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Bearded Tit, Twite and Firecrest.