Snow at the obs

Spent a couple of hours today looking for some hard weather action from the obs window. 2 Dunlin, 25+ Redwing, 10 Fieldfare and 3 Skylark was the lot.

Focusing On Peregrine at Beddington Farmlands

The pair of Peregrine were showing well today- got this photo of the male.

One of the more positive stories to tell about Beddington's birds.

The first record was in 1947 but there were no further sightings thereafter until 1993. This was mainly related to the poor fortunes of this species on a regional scale due to human persecution and DDT poisoning.

The bird in 1993 was welcomed with great excitement and by 1994 there were 11 records which was later to prove to be the beginnings of a mini-colonisation. Between 1994 and 2002 records fluctuated as the species struggled to get a toe hold with only 3 records in 1997 but by 2003 over 30 records marked the tipping point with birds at Beddington believed to be the pair that were breeding on Battersea Power Station. Pairs were soon after found breeding in central Croydon and in the last few years a pair has become established in central Sutton. Using the surrounding power stations and tower blocks as 'man-made cliffs' and watch towers it is great to know that these South London Pergrines are using Beddington Farmlands as one of their key feeding areas.

Beddington Farmlands Winter Birding Tour

Highlights of the local community winter birding tour included a Redshank on the northern lake and luckily the Water Rail was performing too (much to Gillian's joy).

I think the species count was 38 including 25+ Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 100+ Teal, 3 Snipe, 15+ Goldfinch, 10+ Chaffinch, 4 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker (heard), 15+ Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 1 Water Pipit (heard), 1 Sparrowhawk and a male Kestrel.

There was a concentration of winter thrushes along the path, attracted by a good crop of Hawthorn berries. In addition to the Redwings and Fieldfare there were also good numbers of Blackbird (10+) and a few Song Thrush- presumably winter migrants boosting our resident thrush populations.

Aliens

Just enjoyed reading the latest BB, I couldn't help thinking that it read a bit like 'a far right' publication. Tony Fox writes 'Quite apart from the ecological and economic damage that they may or may not do, I simply do not like to see alien species...they represent some kind of litter (and in many cases self-sustaining, increasing litter at that)'.

Seems a bit hard on some of my favourite introduced birds such as Mandarin (above with a Wood Duck). I also liked Ruddy Ducks until they were eradicated.

More here:

www.peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2009/12/birding-far-right.html

Mid-winter Beddington Farmlands

I've got a winter birding tour on Sunday, meeting at 0915 at Hackbridge Station. All are welcome. Target species will be Water Pipit, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Stonechat, Teal and Peregrine. Had a quick look round today and met up with the Praters, Kojak and Dodge- pretty quiet on the birding front. 2 Peregrines about, a Water Pipit, Chiffchaff and still a few Redpolls. Gull numbers (pic) are typically very high this time of year on the landfill. Someone had a Med.

Local Guardian Photo Shoot

This is the photo I was hoping was going to be in the paper - i.e. with me in it! :-)) I posed and everything, the farm in the background, got the scope in the lot. Next time......

Thanks for the photo Staph.

Photo by M.Ousellam

Planting at the obs

Things at the obs are progressing well. Like the farmlands, that it overlooks, the estate that I am living on suffers from mismanagement and neglect. Locally Hackbridge is known as a 'shite hole'.
Anyway, what shite holes need is a bloody good clear out, so, so far in addition to refurbishing my flat, I've managed to get the blinking carpet cleaned in the communal area and lucky for me the lady of the night that lived next door got evicted. I also have got permission to start improving the garden environment around my block. Of course all those improvements will be with birds in mind so today we turned the area outside my front door (above-before) into a planted area with pyracantha and cotoneaster for the birds, a bit if lavender for the insects and some photinia, eunoymous and pieris for decoration and aesthetics (below -after). I've got more extensive plans for the large communal area to the rear but first of all I want to see what happens to this little experiment. Not sure how the local vandals and kids are going to respond.