Beddington Tree Sparrows on Radio 4 today

The London Tree Sparrow Partnership was featured on Radio 4 'Saving Species' today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010x8sq
Also here's some nice photos from Roger.
http://dodge007.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-sparrows_24.html

LIDL SURPRISE

I was in the budget supermarket Lidl today and came across a digital microscope for £30. I thought I'd buy it for my nephew but couldn't resist giving it a spin when I got home. I was pretty impressed with the results on this moth- might keep it as the latest addition to the obs.

Flying Ants

Seems like there was an ant flight this evening which was attracting all the local swifts and starlings into the air. I reckon there was at least 1000 Swift which is the most I've seen in years and Starlings must have been near 1000 too.
Come across 2 Painted Ladies on the mound- weird looking face (click for a better view).

Wildlife Gardening

Wildlife Herbaceous Border at LWT Wildlife Gardening Centre

Beddington Park Herbaceous Border

Went to the London Wildlife Trust Wildlife Gardening Centre today for a bit of inspiration for the obs wildlife garden. Plenty of insects on Verbenas, Tansy, Corncockles, Knapweed, Golden Rods, Agrimony, Scabious, Orpines, Sedums, Lemon Balms and Mints so I'll be bringing in some of them. However might mix it up a bit with some more striking herbaceous plants like in Beddington Park to get the best of both worlds.


Today's featured pan species Beddington lifer is Soapwort. Also today Sloe Shieldbug and on the moth front Purple and Gold pyralid sp, Uncertain and recently also had Shuttle-shaped Dart.

Garganeys

Three Garganey arrived today on the Southern Lake. Garganey is an almost annual scarce migrant to Beddington with 1 to 2 records a year in recent times. Sometimes birds stage for several days in the autumn. 1998 was the best year on record for this species with three spring and three autumn records including a juvenile that stayed from July 12th to September 11th (61 days).
Not sure about the age and sex of today's birds although the more striking head pattern of the bottom pic bird is suggestive of an eclipse male- and I think I glimpsed a grey-blue forewing panel too. The flank pattern is also quite striking.
Also saw the juvenile Redstart again on Irrigation Bridge.

Digi-scoped Sparrows

Juvenile House Sparrow

Juvenile Tree Sparrows

Adult Tree Sparrow

Adult House Sparrow
I've got the money for a new camera now thanks to the insurance company but can't decide whether to replace my old one or upgrade so I am still making do with the old gear. I did some digi-scoping today (first time in a long time). Something special about digi-scoping and the effect is creates.

COMMON LIZARD

Another Beddington lifer this evening in the form of a Common Lizard under the Survey Mats. Pretty good on the bird front too with a juvenile Redstart along the Horse Field path, 1 Garden Warbler along the permitted path, 5 Common Sandpiper, 15 Green Sandpiper, 1 Hobby, 20+ Whitethroat and 15+ Willow/Chiff.
Swift numbers seem to be on the drop- there were about 150 yesterday evening (down from a max of 300-400) and only 50+ this evening.
Darryl says its a female Common Lizard and looks gravid. I googled gravid to find out what it means and found out it does not mean gravy coloured (as I first thought).