The Miller

Had one of these last night. Also Clay, Bee Moth, Common Pug, Dark Arches and Lesser Yellow Underwing. I do believe I will be in the market for a real moth trap soon (its rather inefficient chasing these round my flat not to mention the lights being on all night and windows open).

And more Blackwits

The Enclosed Beds- accidental wetland and wader habitat

2 more Blackwits today- feeding on the enclosed beds (above) with the Redshank. It's been a good autumn so far for Blackwits- coinciding with this anticyclonic weather, storms and showers. These Blackwits are making their way from Iceland to the South and Southeast Coasts and July to August is the peak time at Beddington. The average is four or five records a year and the record year was 1996 with 13 records. The highest day count was 23 on July 9th 2996.

It's interesting to see the enclosed beds attracting waders. Unfortunately there is going to be some infilling of these beds which will reduce the wader habitat at the farm. Hopefully if the restoration progresses further the planned wet grassland will compensate for this loss.

A few other bits including a female type Ruddy Duck!- one of the last few survivors in the UK, our first juvenile Mediterranean Gull for the year, the Great Crested Grebe and 1 Common Sandpiper.

More Blackwit

Got a call today from Roger with the news of 5 Blackwits flying over the lake which I got onto just as they went down on 100 acre. After work I went for a stroll and found them still on the beds. Also 25 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 20+ Lapwing. The other chaps also had Dunlin and LRP today so all seeming rather much like autumn now.
Seems to be plenty of Swifts about in the evenings with at least 300-400. Very few House Martins- only 3-4 birds remaining from the once fairly healthy local population. Sand Martins are still around too.
A couple of tit and warbler flocks about- Chiffchaff, Blackcap in with mixed tits and I noticed a family party of Sedge Warbler on the edge of the Southern Lake.
The Great Crested Grebe (becoming a bit of rarity nowadays) also still present on the Southern Lake.
2 Peregrines (at least 1 juv), 1 Hobby and 1 Little Egret.

MOTHS!!!???

Dark Arches?

Garden Dart?

Clay?

No idea

Copper Underwing?

Here's my latest attempt at trying to identify moths. So far I reckon I've seen (or stringed) the following species over the last few weeks:
Buff Arches, Least Carpet, Small Scallop, Riband Wave, Yellow Shell, Common Pug, Brimstone Moth, Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Footman, Cinnabar, Garden Dart, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, Knot Grass, Copper Underwing, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Common Rustic, Silver Y, Mother Shipton, Common Rustic and Dark Arches.

Birds today included 30 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and a juvenile Peregrine. The other guys had some more Blackwits too.

One Percenters at Beddington Farmlands

Green Sandpiper (Up to 1% of the British wintering population is hosted at Beddington)

The latest British Birds (Vol 104) contains the most recent overwinter population estimates of British Waterbirds with new 1% threshold figures. If an individual site contains 1% or more of a species wintering population then it is of conservation significance. At Beddington there are three species that fall into this category.

Greeen Sandpiper (1% threshold is 9): Upto 11 in the winter of 2007 (last published bird report)
Caspian Gull (1% threshold is 1): At least 4 in the winter months of 2007.
Lesser Black Backed Gull (1% threshold is 1,200): Highest count of 2580 in March 2007.

LONDON TREE SPARROW PARTNERSHIP TOUR - JULY 17th

We are sorting out a tour to come and see the London Tree Sparrow Partnership in action. There will be a ringing demonstration, an opportunity to see the Tree Sparrows up close on the feeding stations and a chance to learn more about this special population and the conservation measures in place to protect them. If you are interested in coming along please email me on littleoakgroup@btinternet.com. More here:
http://beddingtonfarmlands.org.uk/#/london-tree-sparrow-project/4552980111

SUPPORTING CAST
In addition to the Tree Sparrows there's plenty more to have a look at including the Sand Martin breeding colony and mid July is also a great time to see butterflies and also other birds.

Sand Martin bank

Marbled White

Bugging

Swallow-tail Moth

Common Footman

Chiffchaff on the neighbours roof
More moths last night- Swallow-tail, Common Footman, Common Rustic and Brimstone Moth were tentatively identified.
I had a Common Tern, Hobby and a Chiffchaff from the garden today.
Looks like the Starling flock has grown over the farm (800+) feeding on the beds and in the tall grass.