Carshalton Environmental Fair

Went on a reconnaisance mission to the Carshalton Environmental Fair to see what local groups might be interested in supporting the Beddington Farm campaign. Hopefully should be able to get this lot on board the idea of a premier urban nature reserve in their borough.

Interestingly there was a big music presence- mainly rock, folk and country music. Might have to try and get my band there next year.

You can hear and see some of our music and art here. It's all environmentally stuff:

http://www.myspace.com/theebryans1

Bird Fair and Thames Estuary Weekend

The Monarch of Birding- Killian Mullarney- at the British Birdwatching Fair.
More shots here:
http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

Ended the weekend in the Thames- Dunlin and Ringed Plover (top), juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and adult Knot (bottom).

Beddington Farm Campaign

As part of a fresh wave of campaigning for a major urban nature reserve at Beddington Farm, the Beddington Farm Bird Group had a meeting yesterday evening to discuss matters.

In summary, the situation is as follows. At present there are major landfill operations at Beddington Farm. Phased restoration and a conservation management plan was an integral part of the planning permission conditions which was granted as a result of a public enquiry. These conditions were stipulated to manage the area for birds and wildlife during the landfill operations. The idea was to mitigate for the loss of habitat for birds and also restoring areas for wildlife as soon as possible after areas had been utilised for landfill. The end result is that the area will form part of wider Wandle Valley green area and will form a major urban nature reserve.

Perhaps rather unsurprisingly, the restoration is behind schedule and mitigation measures have been rather minimal. Target species such as Yellow Wagtail have become extinct and one recent survey (unpublished at present) reveals that there has been a 50% decline in certain areas of the avifauna.

In order to achieve the goal of the farm being restored to an urban nature reserve a new campaign has been launched. Basically what we hope to achieve is public support and also support from bird conservation bodies to help and encourage Sutton Council to help the operators of the landfill to meet their obligations as set out in the public enquiry. Hopefully by a campaign of public awareness, volunteer work, help from NGO's and our own hard work, we can help the operators of the site build one of the most important nature reserves for London.

Watch this space.

Related posts:
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/07/beddington-farm-local-community-birding.html
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/07/guided-bird-tour-at-beddington-farm.html
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/06/urban-birder-at-beddington.html
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/05/bird-tours-at-beddington.html
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/04/beddington-politics.html

Beddington Farm

The juvenile Peregrine was out again causing havoc. I dipped the Wood Sandpiper but 4 Greenshank, 8 Green Sandpiper and 5 Common Sandpiper on hundred acre. Not many passerines today which were obvious. About 6 Shoveler on the lake and a couple of Teal.

Botany Day

Met up with Bedzedders Gillian and Sophie today for a bit of Beddington botany.

Saw some Redshank- these had roots, leaves and flowers. We noticed that tit flocks, Goldfinch and warblers were favouring areas of Hemlock, Willowherb and Creeping Thistle. The lake islands are covered in a purple haze of Purple Loose-strife.

Saw Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and 5+ Willow Warbler on our travels. Got gripped with a Cuckoo.

SX- 080809

A change of weather to prevailing conditions and a lot of birds which moved into the Thames (Canvey area) yesterday (including juvenile Kentish Plover and 120+ Black Tern) had gone by today.

However still a marked increase in birds from two weeks ago with 50+ Mediterranean Gulls (top two photos), about 10 Little Terns (pic 3) still around, 30+ Common Tern, 15 Sandwich Tern, a marked increase in Turnstone (pic 4) with 150+ in the roost and at least 7 Black Tern (bottom) remaining. Also 4 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30+ Grey Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 150+ Black-tailed Godwit (Two Tree), 700+ Oystercatcher, 80+ Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 15 Teal, 1 Peregrine and 5 Yellow Wagtail.

Beddington Farm- Influx

A big influx at the farm in overcast conditions and a northerly airflow.

8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin (1 ad,1 juv), 5 Greenshank, 1 ad Redshank, 11 Common Sandpiper, 30+ Green Sandpiper and 1 Whimbrel (which I saw from flying over the Post Office at lunchtime). Also a Common Tern (bottom) on hundred acre.

Stacks of passerines- 2-3 Garden Warbler (top) on path, 6+ Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 5+ Whitethroat, 6+ Reed Warbler, 60+ Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Linnet, 30+ Blue/Great Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Yellow Wagtail over.

Also 7 Teal on hundred acre.

Beddington Farm

Southwest winds and frontal conditions with some rain tend to bring down diurnal migrants. New birds between hundred acre and the lake included 1 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank and 1 Common Tern. Also more Greenfinch today (10+ ). A flock of Great and Blue Tits also on hundred acre, a few Whitethroats evident and only a couple of Chiffchaffs remaining from yesterday.

Beddington Farm

About 15+ Willow Warblers/Chiffchaffs (top) representing a marked influx. Family parties of Reed Warblers around and must have been 30+ Goldfinch across the site. Not sure where these migrants come from, I presume these could be local populations moving south. The Whitethroats look like they have cleared out already- unless they are keeping hidden. Sand Martin young are flying around. Not many Swifts or House Martins.

On the water front- 25+ Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 100+ Lapwing (second from top), 5 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and 60+ Mallard. At least four broods of Tufted Ducks (middle and bottom) which clearly breed a lot later than other wildfowl- do they time the breeding to coincide with food supplies? Also this female Tufted Duck (bottom) appears to be the mother of 17 chicks- must be a creche I presume.

Beddington Farm- 2nd August

The first Wheatear of the autumn today.

Also 24 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 100+ Lapwing (post breeding flock building- numebrs usually peak in August), 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 25+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch, Chiffys calling in cover, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat about but keeping quiet.

The juvenile Peregrine was present again.