Saturday 8 December 2018

Wipits

At least 10 Water Pipits at Beddington at the moment- on 100 acre and South East Corner. Also had 3 Green Sandpiper, 40+ Pied Wagtail and Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrush in south east corner.  These areas (southeast and 100 acre)  have received a lot of fresh sludge recently as the enclosed beds have been emptied as the de-commissioning process develops and the habitat is looking pretty good. However  this may well be the last spreading that occurs and then these major areas of wetlands will begin to dry out (unless a habitat management plan is forthcoming) threatening this important wintering area for Green Sandpiper and Water Pipit and for breeding Lapwing. 

 Water Pipits (above and below) 
Water Pipits have been up and down over the decades at Beddington- 10-15 wintering between 1967 and 1978, then only 2-5 until 1985 and then 1-2 until 10 wintering between 1991 and 2001/2002 then only 1-4 each winter until 2015 then 8 in 2016, 9 in 2017 and breaking the 10 again this year.
 Up to 40 Pied Wagtails in Southeast Corner 
A lot of these in southeast - a Parasol Mushroom 

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