A few migrants

Wheatear- four on the newly cut mound today 

Whinchat- only the third one this autumn at Beddington. Also Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit on the mound and 2 House Martin flying around. Also 30+ Stock Dove feeding on the mound.

 

The tip is full of Starlings and Corvids at the moment- about 2000+ Starling and 500+ Jackdaws/Carrion Crows

Dewick's Plusia- the third one this year caught in the trap yesterday  

A few more recent moths (left to right) - Center Barred Sallow, Willow Beauty and Light Emerald

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS ERF PLANNING APPLICATION

INCINERATOR (ERF) PLANNING APPLICATION


As many would have heard a planning application has been submitted to build an Energy Recovery Facility (i.e. an incinerator) on Beddington Farmlands.

The view of the bird and wildlife group is that we do not support the application because Beddington Farmlands is Metropolitan Open Land (Green Belt) and also the incinerator is not complimentary to the ethos of the nature and country park that Beddington Farmlands is being developed into. The restoration of Beddington Farmlands has been compromised and delayed for many years and most of the species that were targeted for conservation have declined. Therefore our support is not for an incinerator but for conservation targets to be met and for the restoration to be delivered for a nature area for people and wildlife.

The deadline for public consultation of the Beddington Farmlands Incinerator is on 18th September so there is still time to make your comments here:

http://213.122.180.105/FASTWEB/comment.asp?AltRef=D2012/66220&ApplicationNumber=66220&AddressPrefix=&submit1=Go

or you can email your comments to:

developmentcontrol@sutton.gov.uk

Every comment is very important in the planning decision making process.

Previous posts here: http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Incinerator

Sunny Sunday

Hobby eating a dragonfly (probably a Migrant Hawker as quite a few of these about) 

Kestrel on the mound- 4 or 5 of these hunting on the mounds 

Ringing session this morning produced a few migrants- Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler. Not so many migrants about in the continuing hot and sunny weather 

Sedge Warbler 

Paradise Shelducks (I think) flying over 

The Southern Lake from the Mound- plenty of ducks on the southern lake. The reeds are taking off better now (below). The Mound is due to mowed this week and soon seeded to produce a species rich grassland over the southern restored area.

Olympic Park

Olympic Park Flower Meadows 

Iconic sustainable architecture and ecological landscaping

 

Went to the Olympic Park yesterday. Futuristic environment and impressive landscaping too with an emphasis on wildlife habitats- flower meadows, reed beds, a wetland area and lots of tree planting. Plenty of insects about and quite a few birds too despite the 80,000 people walking around.

Sunny September

Common Buzzard- a few moving through during the week 

Cormorant being mobbed by Carrion Crow 

Green Sandpiper- 15-20 present on site 

Lapwing- less than 20 of these around. Also 1 Snipe, 2-3 Common Sandpiper and not many other waders so pretty poor autumn for waders. However 200+ Teal, 50 Shoveler and 10 Gadwall so a good autumn for waterfowl 

Sedge Warbler- quite a few warblers around- 10+ Reed Warbler, 5+ Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2-3 Willow Warbler and the odd Whitethroat 

Small Copper 

Large Fruit Tree Tortrix - a few new moth ticks recently including these three

Hawthorn Moth 

Garden Rose Totrix 

Asparagus Beetle on Asparagus

 

My Beddington pan species list now on 843:
http://peteralfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/beddington-biodiversity.html

THEE BRYANS

Currently making plans to do some live performances of our nature themed music/art project aimed at young audiences.

Here's a few of our tracks and vids:

Daddy Long Legs
A song about early experiences with nature:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNV_RI2wMyk&feature=share&list=ULaNV_RI2wMyk

Jaffa
A song about birding buddies:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyZaaF2Q0es&feature=share&list=ULFyZaaF2Q0es

Four Walls (Simon Says) :
A song about the perils of going against human nature
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmRDSgVP8ww&feature=share&list=ULBmRDSgVP8ww

I wish
A song about wishing things to be different (better)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKD-2L9Z6g&feature=share&list=ULoFKD-2L9Z6g

September Migrants and making Hay

Marsh Harrier- One of two today. Also Common Buzzard, 2-3 Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Kestrel. 

Reed Warbler- a few more warblers about- Chiifys, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Reed  Warblers and Sedge Warbler. Also looks like an increase in tit numbers. 

Chiffchaff 

Whinchat- one of two on the mound.  Also a Tree Pipit over, the odd Yellow Wagtail, 60+ Swift, 2 House Martin and 1 Swallow

Hybrid duck on the Southern Lake . Lots of waterfowl about today- 100+ Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, 15+ Cormorant and also 12 Green Sand and 3 Common Sandpiper. Still broods of Tufted Duck and Mallard around.

We did the haycut of the wildlflower meadow today. More on our meadows here: http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Meadows

 

and a bit of Willow control

Moths in the evenings at the moment are dominanted by Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Vine's Rustic, Large Yellow Underwing, Copper Underwing, Brimstone, Double-striped Pug, White-point and a few micros. Two Diamond-backed Moths yesterday evening. Jersey Tigers have dissappeared now.