Environmentalism now

Trying to get down some thoughts on the relevance of environmentalism within current affairs and the global economic/social/climatic crisis.

Starting with 'The Fall of Capitalism'???? Here:
http://www.peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

Beddington Farmlands- Croydon RSPB Fair

Spent today at the Croydon RSPB fair doing a promotional event for the Beddington Farmlands Urban Nature Project.

Following restoration of a quarrying and landfill operation , the site is set to become one of the largest urban nature reserves in the UK. The habitat is going to be comprised of a mosiac of habitats including grasslands (acidic, mixed and amenity), lakes and scrapes, wet grasslands, reedbeds and traditional beds (see map).

The restoration has recently commenced, with phase one on the southern and northern lakes and the southern cells.

MIGRATION BARRIER- Visible migration at Beddington Farmlands

There was a fairly significant migration over London last night. I woke this morning to 200+ Woodpigeon heading southwest, from the obs window, and a morning watch from the farm produced 600-700 Redwing, 220+ Fieldfare (middle pic), 40+ Chaffinch, 20+ Goldfinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1 Mistle Thrush, 15 Stock Dove and 10+ Skylark .

There were good numbers of birds (thrushes, tits and finches) in the trees around Hangman's bridge- no sign of a Chiffchaff that I had yesterday in the garden.

An interesting feature of the migration at Beddington was that flocks heading southwest started circling and flying in different direction from about 0930. A look a the weather charts show that presumably they detected the approaching fronts and stiffening westerly airflow (top map). A long line of birds heading to the west country have presumably hit it further west and sent a ripple effect back down the line. Last night when they set off from the continent, there was a calm high pressure producing good crossing conditions (bottom map).

Also Jack Snipe flying around Jim's Pit.

Operation Canada Warbler 12/10/09

More birding shots and info here: http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

For Simon's Azores 2009 video click here :http://www.youtube.com/user/Waderwatcher#p%2Fa

BIRDING CORVO

A few images from the past few years on Corvo. More here:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3841708&id=701232517#/album.php?aid=153217&id=701232517&ref=mf

Image one: me and Simon

Image two: Right to left, Eric, Adrian, Rene, Darryl and Simon

Image three:Front to back, Darryl, Fred, Gilles, Simon, Pierre, Adrian and Vincent

EUROVISION RARE BIRD CONTEST

THE 2009 EUROVISION RARE BIRD CONTEST SCORE BOARD
(No. of American landbirds found on Corvo):

Sweden: 12 points (2 x Black-throated Green Warbler, 2 x Red-eyed Vireo, 2 x American Redstart, Bobolink, Philadelphia Vireo, Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Indigo Bunting)

France: 10 points (Chestnut-sided Warbler, Common Nighthawk, Baltimore Oriole (male), Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart,Ovenbird, Yellow throated Vireo, White-eyed Vireo and a brace (two) of Buff-bellied Pipit)

Belgium: 7 points (Yellow Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-eyed Vireo x2, Bobolink, Yellowthroat)

United Kingdom: 8 points (Canada Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole (female), Indigo Bunting, Yellowthroat, 2 x Yellow billed Cuckoo)

Spain: 3 points (Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting)

Germany: 1 points (Yellow-billed Cuckoo)

Finland: 1 point (Chimney Swift)

Denmark: 1 point (Indigo Bunting)

Italy: 1 point (Savannah sparrow)

LAST DAY ON THE AZORES

Spent today on Sao Miguel- 2 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Pied-billed Grebe and 1 Teal on Furnas, with one Azores Bullfinch at the regular site and we also popped in on the Wood Duck. Highlight of the day was the cozido das furnas- a beautiful steamed dish which is cooked in the nearby thermal rocks.

Heard that a Parula had been found on Corvo and there is also a rumour of a grackle on the island. To keep up with Corvo 2009 check out Olof's excellent blog: www.corvo2009blogspot.com

Back home tomorrow and back to the London premier urban nature reserve project at Beddington, building the Beddington Observatory, late autumn migration and planning the next expedition.

Image one: me