LNHS Activities
**** Please note: the Hampstead Heath Spring Plants survey with Mario Maculan, originally scheduled for 11 May at 10.30 has been postponed to Sunday 12 May at 10.30. Please see the calendar for details ****
The LNHS Library, located in the Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum is open every Wednesday and every third Saturday of the month. Please see the Library page for more information, and our calendar for ID seminars and other events held at the library. See you there!
We have a full programme of activities, both in person field meetings and virtual talks. Please check the calendar and our downloadable programme for full details. Please note that these events may be cancelled at short notice.
Virtual Talks
The LNHS Virtual Natural History Talk series brings together naturalists with experts and specialists using the Zoom videoconferencing tool.
Our talks are hosted fortnightly and are free to attend (though booking is required).
The talks cover a wide range of subjects, from birds to bats, worms to weeds, fungi to foxes and everything inbetween.
Talks are around 30-40 minutes in length and are followed by a live Q&A between the guest speaker and audience.
Find out more about the Virtual Talks
News
The LBR needs you!
One of the LNHS flagship publications needs your help! Do you read the London Bird Report? Do you have editing skills? If you've said yes to these questions, then read more...
Botany Quiz 2024
Test your botanical knowledge with this year's quiz! Read more...
Volunteering
The LNHS is run by active and engaged volunteers. Getting involved in the LNHS is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, learn new skills and learn about the wildlife and natural history of London. There are many ways to get involved: there are roles on different committees, or you can contribute articles to the LNHS publications and website. Please see our Volunteering pages for more info.
LNHS Publications Sales Secretary
We are seeking applications for the position of Publications Sales Secretary. Read more...
The LNHS News section is the place to keep up-to-date with society announcements and project updates. It also houses any section or recorder reports that we publish on our website. In addition, we accept blogs from naturalists and biodiversity-sector organisations that want to share their experiences and opportunities with our members. Please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like to contribute articles.
Membership
London's biodiversity faces new challenges from climate change and development pressure.
You can contribute to the conservation of wildlife in the London area by helping to record the changing fortunes of the many species that live here.
Together with our historic records, this information will help us to tackle the conservation issues of the future.
Join us, learn new skills, and help us to make a difference.
Sign up to the LNHS now
London Bird Report 2017
The latest issue of the London Bird Report was published in May 2019 and contains a wealth of information for people who live or work in London, or bird-watch in London. This is one of the annual publications that members of the London Natural History Society (LNHS) receive as part of their membership. Find out how to join the LNHS. You can also buy back issues of the London Bird Report.
This issue of the London Bird Report includes papers on birds ringed and recovered in the London Area, the Breeding Bird Survey for London, an historic account of a Dulwich schoolboy’s bird-watching notes from winter 1947, the breeding density of Buzzards in outer Surrey, a snapshot of bird life in the City of London, ways to get House Sparrows back in London’s Parks, and the discovery of the first Parrot Crossbills in the London Area since 1900. The report also gives a summary of the status of all birds that were reported in London in 2017.
Extracts of some of these papers are given below; as well as the full contents list.
Below you can see information about the LNHS.
London Bird Report 2016
The latest issue of the London Bird Report was published in May 2018 and contains a wealth of information for people who live or work in London, or bird-watch in London. This is one of the annual publications that members of the London Natural History Society (LNHS) receive as part of their membership. Find out how to join the LNHS. You can also buy back issues of the London Bird Report.
This issue of the London Bird Report includes papers on a BTO House Martin Study, a Ringing Report of all birds ringed and recovered in the London Area, an account of the first London record of Cory's Shearwater, a Breeding Survey for London, an historic review of the Birds of the Inner Thames Kentish Marshes to 1900, an account of the Birds of Franks Park, Belvedere, and the discovery of London's first Oriental Turtle Dove. The report also gives a summary of the status of all birds that were reported in London in 2016.
Extracts of some of these papers are given below; as well as the full contents list. (n.b. click on the page to download the full article about the Oriental Turtle Dove).
On the right you can see information about the LNHS.
London Bird Report 2014
This issue of the London Bird Report includes a paper about the Peregrine Falcon in Central London, details of only the third ever record of Blyth’s Reed Warbler in London and a study of the influx of Great Skuas in London in October 2014.
Introduction and Acknowledgements: Pete Lambert
Review of the Year: Nick Rutter
Birds of the London Area
A summary of the status of all the birds that were reported in London in 2014.
Ringing Report: Paul Roper
The Breeding Bird Survey in London: Ian Woodward
The Peregrine Falcon in Inner London: David Johnson
Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Wanstead Flats, June 29th 2014: Nick Croft
Changes to the London Area List and Published Rarities: Andrew Self
The Bonxie Influx in London in October 2014: Andrew Moon
Reminiscences of a London Birder: Andrew Moon
The Birds of The Warren, Bexleyheath, 1988-2014: Andrew S. Waller
A Breeding Bird Survey of Barnes Common and Putney Lower Common: Jan Wilczur
Checklist of Birds of the London Area and Guide to Contributors of Records
London Bird Report 2015
The latest issue of the London Bird Report has just been published and contains a wealth of information for people who live or work in London, or bird-watch in London. This is one of the annual publications that members of the London Natural History Society (LNHS) receive as part of their membership. Find out how to join the LNHS. You can also buy back issues of the London Bird Report.
This issue of the London Bird Report includes papers about overwintering Chiffchaffs in the Colne Valley, the birds of Greenwich Park & Blackheath, the rise and fall of the Ruddy Duck, a breeding bird survey of East Sheen Common, a consideration of whether Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls can co-exist on breeding rafts, and where to find birds in the Regent’s Park. The report also gives a summary of the status of all the birds that were reported in London in 2015, as well as a brief account of the first British record of Slaty-backed Gull in 2011, which has now been added to the British list.
Extracts of some of these papers are given below; as well as the full contents list. (n.b. click on the page to download the full article about where to find birds in Regent's Park).
On the right you can see information about the LNHS.
Back issues of the London Naturalist (and its predecessors from 1898 onwards) and the London Bird Report are now freely available online through the Biodiversity Heritage Library. A summary of the holdings for each publication may be accessed via the links below:
- Transactions of the City of London Entomological & Natural History Society (1898 to 1913)
- Transactions of the London Natural History Society (1914 to 1920)
- London Naturalist (1921 onwards)
- London Bird Report (1921onwards)
Searching publications on the Biodiversity Heritage Library
To make a detailed search of the holdings:
- Click on the “Advanced Search” tab and enter “London Naturalist” in the “Title” Box.
- Check the “Exact Phrase” button.
- Enter your search term in the “Text” box, this can be an author name, a species or any other phrase relevant to your search.
- You can also specify a year in the “Year” box.
The contents have not been fully indexed, which is why you should search for authors and subjects as text entries.
List of bird articles
Our online file LBR 1936-2018 Contents includes direct links to each year that has been digitised, including (on a separate worksheet) the Transactions of the LNHS and London Natuarist years that include records or papers about birds (i.e. those that precede the London Bird Report).
The links are in the year column and are highlighted in green (TLNHS and LN) and blue (LBR). Here is an example:
For examples of why you might want to explore the digitised journals, see the paper 'Exploring Digital Copies of the LBR' by Pete Lambert in LBR No.84 for 2019, due to be published in May 2021.