Interesting birdwatching areas are usually located far outside major cities. But sometimes there are beautiful birding hotspots right in the heart of a big city. Eight birding sites in London, Berlin, New York, Barcelona, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Istanbul and Cape Town that are worth a visit.
London - London Wetland Centre
WWT London Wetland Centre is situated close to central London, on the banks of the River Thames. The wetland includes freshwater lakes, reed beds, and woodland and is easily accessible by public transport. Tube station Hammersmith is within walking distance. More than 200 bird species have been recorded and a series of bird hides and trails makes it easy to explore the wetland. Birds you can spot include Little Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and many species of ducks, geese and grebes.
Bangkok - Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park
Although this green area in a loop of the Chao Praya river is completely surrounded by the city of Bangkok, if you cross the river with a ferry at the Wat Khlong Toei Nok pier, the city feels miles away. Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan consists of gardens and a lake, but at least half of the park is surprisingly wild and looks more like a jungle. Nice birds you can spot include Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, Coppersmith Barbet, Rufous Woodpecker, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, and Blue-winged Pitta.
New York – Central Park
This famous park in New York City is also a great birding location and with its location in Manhattan very easily accessible. The ponds, forest, and fields attract a surprising number of birds. Overall, more than 280 bird species have been recorded in the park and an estimated 200 species are spotted every year, with wintering waterfowl in the winter, warblers in the spring and fall, and herons in the summer. These include beautiful birds like Common Nighthawk, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Hooded Merganser.
Amsterdam – Polder IJdoorn
From Amsterdam's city center, you can easily cycle to Polder IJdoorn in just half an hour. This typical Dutch polder, teeming with birdlife, features wet grasslands, ditches, and reed beds. The wet meadows attract many wading birds and meadow birds such as Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, and Redshank. In the adjacent reed beds, you'll find beautiful birds such as Spoonbill, Bluethroat, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, and Reed Bunting.
Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Right at the foot of the famous Table Mountain lies this fabulous botanical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Easy to reach from central Cape Town. The garden is rich in biodiversity and full of birds. More than 125 bird species have been recorded. Look out for Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Southern Boubou, African Dusky Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Lemon Dove, Cape Batis and Cape Spurfowl. A resident Spotted Eagle-Owl is often seen near the Dell.
Berlin – Tempelhofer Feld
Berlin is a green city with many nature areas all around the city. A nice area to visit is Tempelhofer Feld, located south of the city center. Easy to reach by U-Bahn U8 Boddinstraße or Leinestraße or U6 Tempelhof or Paradestraße. Tempelhofer Feld is a former airport that is now a popular public park with a lovely atmosphere. On the wide grasslands you can spot birds like Skylark, Corn Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Northern Wheatear, European Goldfinch, Kestrel and Nightingale.
Istanbul - Çamlıca Hill
Çamlıca Hill is a hill on the Asian side of Istanbul, at 288 m above sea level. Easy to reach by metro (hop on the M5 line to Kısıklı Station). The hill offers a panoramic view of the southern part of Bosphorus and the mouth of the Golden Horn. Especially during peak bird migration in September and October, the birding can be spectacular here, when you can catch sight of many raptors and other migratory birds gliding over the strait. Birds you can observe include Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, Booted Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Levant Sparrowhawk, Honey-buzzard, Black Kite, and hundreds of Storks.
Barcelona - Cal Tet
The reservoir of Cal Tet has several hides and viewing points within the nature reserve of the Llobregat Delta and is close to the city of Barcelona near the airport. You can observe many different birds. Mainly during migration. The surrounding area on the right bank of the final stretch of the River Llobregat has a wide variety of landscapes: coastal ponds, reedbeds, wet meadows, pine forests. Birds you can see include Common Waxbill, Penduline Tit, Little Grebe, Common Kingfisher, Red-crested Pochard and many more. The area is easy to reach from Barcelona by metro to the Les Moreres Metro station. From there it is a a 30 minute walk to Cal Tet.
