Beddington Farmlands- Photo-shoot

Had a photo shoot today with the Sutton Gaurdian local newspaper. They are doing an article on Beddington Farmlands and wanted to get a Beddington Farmlands Bird Group photo but they sprung it on us yesterday and most people were working. Therefore it was just me and Mike Spicer. Looking forward to the article.

Woodcock- Beddington Farmlands 11th November

Flushed a Woodcock from the old hay field. Last time I saw Woodcock at Beddington was in 1988!
Spent the rest of the time trying to find a Firecrest in the bushes around the Old Hay Field and Old Gravel Pit and then a failed attempt at flushing a Dick's Pipit or Snow Bunting from the Bikers Field.
I need a few Beddington tart's ticks which are gettable this time of year- Snow Bunting, Hen Harrier and White-fronted Goose so need to put in more on the daily grind front.

Beddington Farmlands- BIRDS

Oh yer- better put some birds on here. Tree Sparrow- the Beddington mascot.

Beddington Farmlands

A bit of vis mig today. 150+ Woodpigeons, 50+ Fieldfare, 6 Skylark, 10 Redwing and 15+ Chaffinch over. 40+ Goldfinch and 10+ Greenfinch around the old hayfield.

After a couple of hours out there it was back to the obs for some sky watching from the window (image one). Check out the sheep skin.

P.S The Beddington farmlands birder infighting has gone online:

www.patchpigs.blogspot.com/?spref=fb

Beddington Farmlands

Had a look for the Long-eared Owls on Hangman's bridge with Bedzedder Gillian but no luck- too early I guess. We had a Golden Plover flying around the lake towards dusk and I had an adult Mediterranean Gull from the obs window during the day.
A good day- I sorted out a sheepskin rug and coffee table for the obs front room and spent the evening going through the Beddington Farmlands plans with Gillian (poor girl).

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.