Went to Beddington (Hackbridge, South West London) - a former sewage works, now a landfill site, large chunks of which are being re-worked to improve habitat for water birds - on a London Natural History Society field trip. Had to get up too early again - 6 a.m. this time Not my idea of fun!
Although it was a sunny day, so wet had it been that most of the trackways, even those along the top of high embankments, were like something out of a First World war battlefield. All recently sculpted by machinery. Bare, sodden and sticky clay with flints adhering to the wellies in unfeasibly large quantities.
Up on the 'hill' there was a gaggle of hard core twitchers trying to relocate the Lapland Bunting that had been seen for several days in a row, and earlier today. But there had been no sign of it by the time we left.
The main purpose of our trip was to see the only known (breeding) population of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in London, which we duly achieved. I saw 5 in fairly open positions along a line of low scrub near the site entance. This is a Red Listed species due to a serious decline in numbers -
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/t/treesparrow/index.aspx
I also saw:
- a Stonechat
- Green Sandpiper
- Skylark
-Fieldfare
- Kestrel
-Goldfinch
and 10 or more Herons
There were huge numbers of Carrions Crows on those parts of the waste tip yet to be buried. Various duck species were on the 'completed' lake, but nothing unusual.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Saturday, 16 January 2010
16/1/10: Apsley in Dacorum, Herts
I had to go to Apsley in Dacorum Borough, Hertfordshire, to run a training session.
There was a large number of what I took to be Common Whitlow Grass along an otherwise fairly bare edge to a closely mown verge, on the London Road by the 'Dunelm Mill' premises.
A Barbarea sp. (American Land Cress) was in a grass verge by the industrial estate on Kents Avenue.
In a wide grass strip on Stationers Place, leading towards the canal, there were quite a few large, badly frosted Goats Rue, and a lot of Vetch type plants in the turf - possibly Hairy Tare (although there were 6 pairs of leaflets on the sample I picked).
Behind platform 1 of Apsley station there was a lot of Ox-eye Daisy, some Wild Carrot, Common St. John's Wort and Black Horehound amongst other things.
The binoculars enabled me to get a positive ID on a couple of Jays high up in trees bordering parkland over by the 'down' side of the line, despite the gloomy conditions.
There was some Gorse at the top of the cutting side before Watford junction, and a long stretch of it, with Oak and Silver Birch, immediatly south of Bushey.
There was a large number of what I took to be Common Whitlow Grass along an otherwise fairly bare edge to a closely mown verge, on the London Road by the 'Dunelm Mill' premises.
A Barbarea sp. (American Land Cress) was in a grass verge by the industrial estate on Kents Avenue.
In a wide grass strip on Stationers Place, leading towards the canal, there were quite a few large, badly frosted Goats Rue, and a lot of Vetch type plants in the turf - possibly Hairy Tare (although there were 6 pairs of leaflets on the sample I picked).
Behind platform 1 of Apsley station there was a lot of Ox-eye Daisy, some Wild Carrot, Common St. John's Wort and Black Horehound amongst other things.
The binoculars enabled me to get a positive ID on a couple of Jays high up in trees bordering parkland over by the 'down' side of the line, despite the gloomy conditions.
There was some Gorse at the top of the cutting side before Watford junction, and a long stretch of it, with Oak and Silver Birch, immediatly south of Bushey.
Friday, 15 January 2010
15/1/10: Winter fungus, Barnehurst station
Fungus growing on dead log behind 'up' platform, Barnehurst station (London Borough of Bexley). 15th January 2010.ID suggestions welcome - not got a grip on fungi yet.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
12/1/10: River Cray and Thames Rd wetland/Dartford Marshes
The Cray Riverkeeper Volunteers are taking over the man-made wetland between the River Cray, Thames Rd, railway and Sewer Pipe embankment. More on this sometime in the future.
Having done a basic botanical survey in the summer, I thought the snow would increase the possibility of some interesting bird life using the water. But it was almost entirely frozen over. A couple of things I couldn't identify flew up and disappeared back into the dead reed/bulrush stems, but that was it.
Up on the embankment there was a small party of Chaffinches (I think) and 2 Redwings.
Before I checked the wetland there had been 3 Mute Swans just upstream of the Thames Rd bridge, and when I came back out there were 2 Cormorants on the river, giving a close view as they took flight in a hurry.
Having done a basic botanical survey in the summer, I thought the snow would increase the possibility of some interesting bird life using the water. But it was almost entirely frozen over. A couple of things I couldn't identify flew up and disappeared back into the dead reed/bulrush stems, but that was it.
Up on the embankment there was a small party of Chaffinches (I think) and 2 Redwings.
Before I checked the wetland there had been 3 Mute Swans just upstream of the Thames Rd bridge, and when I came back out there were 2 Cormorants on the river, giving a close view as they took flight in a hurry.
Mute Swans on the Cray near Thames Road
Man-made wetland area next to where Thames Rd crosses the River Cray. This former field was excavated to below the already high water table, and planted with Reemace and other species. The raised strips of ground with channels between are designed to attract Water Voles.
Numerous animal tracks in the snow leading up to the Sewer Embankment - it's not just Thames Rd that has heavy traffic!
There was a Redwing in a tree in the canalized 'gulley' on the downstream side of Thames Rd. A Heron flew over just as I came under the railway line.
Just before it got too dark to see what was going on, 2 female Shoveler duck, a probable male in flight and a male Pochard were seen on a ditch on Dartford Marshes. 3 Lapwing were spotted, one flying within a few feet of me on the inside the Council compound's fence as I made my way back to the main road.
Around 54 Starlings were in the air behind the 'Jolly Farmers' pub.
25 House Sparrows were seen (and judging by the sound there were more) in low hedging by the 'Imagination' company building on Thames Rd, and more were heard in the bushes in the centre of the Perry St roundabout.
12/1/10: Snow Patrol, Barnehurst to Crayford yields Fieldfares
On leaving the house I had a very good close-up view of the local Wren, hopping along a branch in a gap in my Holly 'Golden King' cultivar in the front garden.
A Collared Dove was sitting on a lamp post down the hill from my home.
6 Redwings and a female Blackbird were feeding on large ornamental Hawthorn type fruits in a street tree opposite the bottom of my road.
Another Collared Dove on a lamp post was seen in Beverley Rd.
30+ Starlings took flight over Barnehurst Golf Course. Large numbers of Wood Pigeons were twice spooked into flight. There must have been at least 60 birds along the western, English Elm-lined boundary of the site alone.
A large Thrush was sitting at the top of a tree in an exposed location and I couldn't get too close, but size-wise, and from its quite heavy markings and this behaviour, I judged it to be a Mistle Thrush.
5 Redwing were seen. The Green Woodpecker was feeding on the ground in the wildlife 'rough' again.
A Collared Dove was sitting on a lamp post down the hill from my home.
6 Redwings and a female Blackbird were feeding on large ornamental Hawthorn type fruits in a street tree opposite the bottom of my road.
Another Collared Dove on a lamp post was seen in Beverley Rd.
30+ Starlings took flight over Barnehurst Golf Course. Large numbers of Wood Pigeons were twice spooked into flight. There must have been at least 60 birds along the western, English Elm-lined boundary of the site alone.
A large Thrush was sitting at the top of a tree in an exposed location and I couldn't get too close, but size-wise, and from its quite heavy markings and this behaviour, I judged it to be a Mistle Thrush.
5 Redwing were seen. The Green Woodpecker was feeding on the ground in the wildlife 'rough' again.
Attractive bark on a pine tree, Barnehurst Golf Course
Another shot of Gorse in flower, Barnehurst Golf Course
There was quite a lot of bird activity in the 'horse field' bounded by Mayplace Rd East, Manor Rd, Perry St and the church graveyard. 2 Lapwings were on the ground. Great Tit, Blue Tit and a Long-tailed Tit were seen. 6 Redwing were foraging on clear ground under trees and shrubs, along with a Chaffinch.
I was delighted to see my first Fieldfares - three of them - sitting aloof in a smaller tree in a hedge line bisecting the field.
Monday, 11 January 2010
11/1/10: Snow Patrol, North Heath
If it's going to be cold, I rather like the snow - makes urban areas look a lot more natural, or at least covers up a multitude of ugly sins perpetrated by the human species, including my pet hate of 'car-parked-over' front gardens.
As is often the case, I took a rather round-about route to the local shops and back, including Northumberland Way, Birling Rd, Ramsden Rd, Buxton Rd, Elm Grove, Lesney Park, Park Crescent, top of Birch Walk, Carlton Rd, Cavendish Av, the alleyway behind Brantwood Av and Brook St. After which I made a circuit of Bursted Woods.
There were good numbers of House Sparrows in Northumberland Way, where a number of properties have older style eaves, also 3 Blackbirds. 3 Collared Doves were seen in this road, and 2 more up to Lesney Park.
14 Starlings were feeding on the grass embankment next to the school on Colyer's Lane, and there were significant numbers along my route. 4 Black-headed Gulls were on roofs in Ramsden Rd. A Great Tit, House Sparrows and a Robin were at the junction of Ramsden Rd and Avenue Rd.
2 Magpies were seen in Park Crescent.
Very large numbers of Wood Pigeons were seen, usually sitting in the crowns of larger trees.
There was a Redwing, 2 Blackbirds and a couple of Grey Squirrels at the top end of Birch Walk. A Fox was seen foraging on the north side of the path.
2 more Redwings (possibly 4 in total) were seen around Brantwood Avenue.
A Pied Wagtail was on the roof of the Nat West bank on the corner of Limewood Rd/Bexley Rd. Another, or possibly the same individual, was later seen foraging on the ground outside a fast food outlet at the junction of Brook St and Mill Rd. There were also 8 Feral Pigeons here.
4 Redwings were in a tree in a garden behind Sussex Rd. They too could have been the same ones seen earlier.
There were several Magpies in Bursted Woods. A couple of Brown Rats were seen, and squabbled briefly. A Wren was foraging on the ground in patches kept free from snow cover by brambles. At the west end of the wood 2 Ring-necked Parakeets were seen, and more than 30 Wood Pigeons took to the air.
A Dunnock was later seen in my back garden.
As is often the case, I took a rather round-about route to the local shops and back, including Northumberland Way, Birling Rd, Ramsden Rd, Buxton Rd, Elm Grove, Lesney Park, Park Crescent, top of Birch Walk, Carlton Rd, Cavendish Av, the alleyway behind Brantwood Av and Brook St. After which I made a circuit of Bursted Woods.
There were good numbers of House Sparrows in Northumberland Way, where a number of properties have older style eaves, also 3 Blackbirds. 3 Collared Doves were seen in this road, and 2 more up to Lesney Park.
14 Starlings were feeding on the grass embankment next to the school on Colyer's Lane, and there were significant numbers along my route. 4 Black-headed Gulls were on roofs in Ramsden Rd. A Great Tit, House Sparrows and a Robin were at the junction of Ramsden Rd and Avenue Rd.
2 Magpies were seen in Park Crescent.
Very large numbers of Wood Pigeons were seen, usually sitting in the crowns of larger trees.
There was a Redwing, 2 Blackbirds and a couple of Grey Squirrels at the top end of Birch Walk. A Fox was seen foraging on the north side of the path.
2 more Redwings (possibly 4 in total) were seen around Brantwood Avenue.
A Pied Wagtail was on the roof of the Nat West bank on the corner of Limewood Rd/Bexley Rd. Another, or possibly the same individual, was later seen foraging on the ground outside a fast food outlet at the junction of Brook St and Mill Rd. There were also 8 Feral Pigeons here.
4 Redwings were in a tree in a garden behind Sussex Rd. They too could have been the same ones seen earlier.
There were several Magpies in Bursted Woods. A couple of Brown Rats were seen, and squabbled briefly. A Wren was foraging on the ground in patches kept free from snow cover by brambles. At the west end of the wood 2 Ring-necked Parakeets were seen, and more than 30 Wood Pigeons took to the air.
A Dunnock was later seen in my back garden.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
10/1/10: Heron and Hop Trefoil
A Heron flew over the top end of my north Barnehurst garden today - possibly the same one as seen flying low over a nearby road yesterday. Couldn't help wondering whether it had located an artificially ice-free fish pond ....
There were two Grey Squirrels and the Fox.
I was very surprised to see some heads of Hop Trefoil flowers poking out of the snow. This species appeared in the garden, for the first time ever, last year. I haven't seen it anywhere else in the vicinity yet. I transplanted the resulting seedlings elsewhere because the site is now occupied by my large greenhouse. These are presumably precocious seedlings that ought to flower later on, or transplants that struggled to get going in the dry summer.
There were two Grey Squirrels and the Fox.
I was very surprised to see some heads of Hop Trefoil flowers poking out of the snow. This species appeared in the garden, for the first time ever, last year. I haven't seen it anywhere else in the vicinity yet. I transplanted the resulting seedlings elsewhere because the site is now occupied by my large greenhouse. These are presumably precocious seedlings that ought to flower later on, or transplants that struggled to get going in the dry summer.
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