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Richmond Park is the largest of London's Royal Parks and a NNR (national nature reserve) and is famous for its herds of Red and Fallow Deer. The Park is dominated by ancient oak woodlands, acid grassland and some extensive areas of bracken. The Pen Ponds are located in the centre of the Park. The Upper Pond has a small reedbed. There are several smaller ponds elsewhere in the Park and Beverley Brook runs through the north-eastern part of the Park. Woodland bird include all 3 woodpeckers (the Park may be one of the best sites in London for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker with up to 5 breeding pairs), Stock Dove, awny Owl, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, a few Garden Warblers, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Little Owls are widespread on the fringes of woodland. Kestrels and Sparrowhawk are resident. Hobby may be seen in summer. Jackdaws and Ring-necked Parakeets are the two most obvious species in the Park. Skylarks breed in the grassland. Reed Buntings breed in bracken areas close to the Pen Ponds. Meadow Pipit and Stonechat recently ceased to breed but still can be seen at other times of year. Whitethroats breed in areas of scrub. The Pen Ponds hold the commoner wildfowl and can host good numbers of Wigeon. Common Terns now breed on a raft. Egyptian Goose and Mandarin Duck have significant populations in the Park. The reedbed has summering Reed Warblers and resident Water Rail although the latter are hardly ever seen. Waders are rare with only the odd Snipe being seen regularly and the occasional Common Sandpiper. Beverley Brook holds Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail.

On passage the commoner warblers occur as do Hirundines, Wheatear, Whinchat, Fieldfare, Spotted Flycatcher and the occasional Ring Ouzel and Redstart. The larger raptors, such as Common Buzzard and Red Kite are sometimes seen. Two of the best areas for migrants are the Hawthorn Valley and the Bog, both situated near Holly Lodge in the north of the Park. In winter Woodcock can be seen leaving their woodland roost sites and flocks of Redwing, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin may be encountered. In recent winters Dartford Warblers have been found in bracken, usually in the company of Stonechats but have not been seen since the recent hard winters.

Rarities include Little Bittern, Bee-eater, Alpine Swift, Barred Warbler, Woodchat, Red-backed and Great Grey Shrikes, Golden Oriole and Ortolan Bunting.