A Buzzard seen very high over Stanham Farm as I walked along RiverCray By-way 105 towards Thames Road Wetland, was the avian highlight of a visit to the site yesterday afternoon (March 3rd). After slowly circling for a while, and apparently moving towards the wetland, it then drifted off in the other direction towards Crayford town centre and into the sun. Perhaps it’s the bird seen at Hall Place recently.
I was also delighted to see 3, perhaps 4 or even 5 Snipe burst out of the area of cut Reed at the wetland. They hadn’t moved when I’d walked by earlier, so I was somewhat taken by surprise when I flushed them on wading out to do some more cutting and consequently failed to get a precise count as they quickly disappeared over the ‘horizon’ of tall plant stems.
Thames Road Wetland early in the year.
Water Rails called in agitated fashion from either side of the west pool, before more squealing was heard from a bit further north. This confirms there are definitely at least two birds present still, maybe a third.
Once again a Chiffchaff was forging amongst the dry Reedmace stems, which a pair of Blue Tits were also chipping away at looking for grubs.
Chaffinches have been in short supply here this winter, and only a single female was seen.
A Grey Heron had flown over on my arrival at the site, and a Little Egret flew over towards dusk, heading south west alongside the modest stream of commuting Carrion Crows on their way to roost.
Two baby and one adult Lizards were out basking on old car tyres.
Juvenile lizard warming itself on a tyre at TRW
Chris Rose. Site Manager for Thames21.
Pair of Buzzards spotted at Braeburn yesterday at 12.30,I think it is due to the large scale bramble clearance on the slopes facing Hall Place,which has exposed lots of small mammals and reptiles