The Beddington Farmlands Bird Group Effort

I did some calculations today on the work of the bird group. Here's a summary of what we do and the hours spent on it: 

RECORDING (Birds, butterflies, moths and other taxa, including British Trust for Ornithology BBS, WeBS Surveys and on-going ringing effort)  

25 (max) bird group members, approximately 5044 hours per annum

REPORTING (Daily news, website, social media, national recording schemes and comprehensive annual report). 

Reporting team of 5, approximately 250 hours per annum 

PHOTOGRAPHY (For promotional material, reports and photo specimen collecting)

2 main photographers, approximately 728 hours per annum 

TOURS, TALKS AND WALKS (6 tours a years)

2 guides, approximately 48 hours per annum

PRESENTATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS (Carshalton Environmental Fair and other local events)

Team of 3-4, approximately 30 hours per annum (including prep) 

ADMINISTRATION AND MEETINGS (BFBG Exec Comm meetings, CSG,  CAMC and Local Community Forum meetings. Also group accountancy and membership administration)

1-2 people, approximately 48 hours per annum 

2 people (accounts and admin), approximately 24 hours per annum 

CONSERVATION (Small local projects including Tree Sparrows, maintaining access to Mile Road entrance, bird group wild flower meadow by hide, bird feeders etc)

Small team approximately 45 hours per annum 

CAMPAIGNING AND CONSULTATION (Response to public consultation and planning applications, campaigning for public engagement in planning process, publicising issues through national media etc)

1-2 people, approximately 100 hours per annum

This picture is mainly the Green Party but we had members here and work closely with other local groups

In total that is around 6000 volunteer hours every year.

A phenomenal effort for an independent local group.  

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS NATURE RESERVE

This weekend

 Juvenile/first-winter Iceland Gull- the same bird that has been present since December and has been seen on the Thames and Walton Reservoirs.  

 Buzzard over the Gun Site. This bird has set up a territory in this area.

 Great Spotted Woodpecker. No sign of the Lesser Spotted in the oak wood but a couple of Greens. 

The removal of 100 acre and Irrigation Bridge concluded today. The only access points now to the farmlands from the west are the Gun Site bridge and Mile Road Bridge. A long distance between the bridges  (I took this photo by standing on the Gun Site Bridge and looking towards Mile Road Bridge which you just about see in the distance) which will not assist encouraging public access. Hopefully a replacement bridge will be forthcoming.

Bridge Demolition Day

Despite years of campaigning to save these bridges for access to the developing reserve, today the demolition begins.Please see mini-movie below about the bridges story and also please sign the petition: 

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION FOR A REPLACEMENT BRIDGE

Evolution explained

Iceland

Looks like the same juv/first-winter Iceland Gull is still around. The bird has very contrasting white primaries, visible in this vid when the bird preens. 

The Old Vicarage Works

 Toby removing a hanger from a Willow

 Removal of an Ash growing on the brook bank and unfortunately too close to the house and small bridge so had to be felled

 Several log piles were created around the site

 Excess material and arising were incinerated 

 The Old Vicarage recording areas 

The Old Vicarage in Summer

Spent today doing some tree work at the Old Vicarage. We felled an Ash, lifted the trees along the drive, removed some hangers and cleared a lot of brush piles and created some log piles.

Hopefully will return soon to open up the wild area and vegetable patch area by removing some conifer stumps and excess vegetation. Bryan and James are up for doing some landscaping which will be exciting- a stunning space with loads of potential for improvements and also creating some nice habitats.

I-record The Old Vicarage

Previous posts from Old Vicarage

More Viridor Bullshit

Early Spring at Thursley

Stonechat and Dartford Warblers

Went with Dave Lambert to Thursley to have a listen to the Woodlarks, Dartford Warblers, Crossbills, Siskins, Stonechats and Skylarks warming up for Spring.

Here's a couple of sound recordings by Dave.

Red Crossbill
Dartford Warbler

Glauc again

A few bits on the farmlands today; the juvenile Glaucous Gull again, 4 Jack Snipe, 20 Snipe, 9 Shelduck and 4 Greylag Geese.

A bit of excitement with the Beddington Farmlands Ringing Group over last couple of days:

WATER PIPIT

DARTFORD WARBLER

Hybrid

Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid

The hybrid was on the Northern Lake again today and also the Black Swan. What with the Ross's Goose and Barnacle Goose I had at Otmoor on Monday it's been a week of whacky wildfowl.

Also had the juvenile Glaucous Gull from the obs window this morning. 

Otmoor Visit

 Golden Plovers and Lapwings 

Red Kite and Lapwings

Spent the morning at Otmoor. Impressive numbers of winter birds including 3000+ Lapwing, 3000+ Golden Plover, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Barnacle Goose and a Ross's Goose amongst the Canada and Greylags. 

AZORES PELAGIC 2017- Booking Now

A few places are still available on the Azores Pelagic 2017.

Monteiro's Petrel and Swinhoe's Petrel have been recorded on all of the six trips since 2012.

Option 1: Saturday 26th August to Saturday 2nd September including Azores Bullfinch £1540
Option 2: Sunday 27th August to Friday 1st September (Pelgaic Only)  £879

For more information email me at littleoakgroup@btinternet.com.

Monteiro's Petrel- the main target species of the trip. We visit at a time where the cool season breeding 'Grant's Petrel' can also be encountered. (Gareth Knass) 

Swinhoe's Petrel- recorded on all of the last six trips

Wilson's Petrel- recorded on all 8 trips since 2010 with upto 15 birds (Richard Bonser) 

Barolo's Shearwater- recorded in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015

Great Shearwaters. Up to 300 Great Shearwaters on some trips. Cory's Shearwater is an abundant resident. 

The Azores Pelagics have thrown up a few surprises including this Zino's Petrel in 2012. (Harro Muller) 

This South Polar Skua was recorded in 2014 (Richard Bonser) 

 Sooty Tern breed on Praia islet in some years and have been recorded in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Azores Bullfinch- this endemic species is possible to see in the extended version of the tour 

Cetaceans are frequently encountered including rare sightings such as breaching Sowerby's Beaked Whales (Richard Bonser) 

Spotted Dolphins (Vincent Legrand) 

Sperm Whales- a frequently encountered resident species 

Loggerhead Turtle- recorded on most trips

Blue Shark and Pilot Fish are frequently encountered 

2011

2014 team

Read More about it: (Birdwatch Article 2014)  

Fortune Hunters by Peter Alfrey on Scribd

TRIP REPORT 2016 by Josh Jones 

AZORES NATURE Pelagic Trip Report 2016 (1) by Peter Alfrey on Scribd

For more information or to book a place please email me:  littleoakgroup@btinternet.com

AZORES NATURE

A few Butterflies from Ghana

 Thanks to id from Isaac Nkator FB PAGE HERE

African Beak

African Emigrant

Black Spotted Ciliate Blue

Clouded Flat

Common Bematistes

Common Commodore

Common Cremy Glider (Female) 

Common Grass Yellow

Common Missile 

Common Orange Sprite

Common Pathfinder 

Common Tiger 

Constricted Club Dot Sailor 

Cream Flat

Dark Blue Pansy

False Tiger (male) 

Forest Mother of Pearl 

Forest Pied Pierrot

Hairstreak possibly Large Fiary

Large Vagrant

Monk

Veined Swallowtail and Swordtails

Wandering Donkey 

Widespread Forester