Our Facebook Posts
NO MOW MAY COMING UP - WILL BEXLEY COUNCIL PARTICIPATE? LET'S ASK TO ....Boost wildlife, sign up for NoMowMay.
For residents:
www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/
Local Councils are also urged to sign-up here:
bit.ly/3XAuZGC
They will get advice on what to do. There was a post about this on 'X' on 7/4. Followers might like to join me in copying to Bexley Council and leader Teresa O'Neill, reminding them that it's council policy to protect and ENHANCE biodiversity, and asking them to take part. There may also be versions on other social media platforms that can be used.
With so many gardens covered in paving, we need all the pollinator resources we can get. It isn't helpful that the council 'clear fells' the flowers across acres of open spaces/grass verges all in one go. If it won't stop the incessant mowing, it should at least shift to some kind of rotatational cutting so that there are always some flowers available. It should also dump its policy of driving its mowers over litter, chopping it up into smaller pieces, making it harder/slower to remove and creating soil microplastic pollution.
Plantlife's No Mow May Movement
www.plantlife.org.uk
No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign calling all lawn owners not to mow during May. Let your wildflowers grow this summer.
BEXLEY RSPB SPRING-SUMMER NEWSLETTER AND PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AVAILABLE ONLINE.The two documents are available to be read online, or downloaded separately, at the link below.
The next three local walks are as follows. They are free and non-members are welcome to come as 'taster' sessions, but you must book in adavance as numbers are limited. To book contact Ralph Todd preferably by e-mail on rbtodd@btinternet.com or phone/text on 07838 352393. Please give a contact phone number in case of late changes to arrangements. Please also advise if you have booked and need to cancel as there may be a waiting list.
Thursday 24 April 2025 - Hall Place Gardens and Meadows.
9:30 – 12:00 (Local Walk) – booking essential
Meet in Hall Place car park Bourne Road Bexley DA5 1PQ.
Always a popular walk – with the arrival of spring the first blooms and blossoms should be showing. Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song and Mistle Thrush along with the common tits are resident and active. The River Cray hosts Grey Wagtails, Moorhen and this winter a Water Rail. Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk are regularly seen.
Toilets and café available.
Leader Nicky Wilson
Saturday 3 May 2025 Joyden’s Wood Dawn Chorus
04.30-06.30 (Local Walk) - booking essential
Meet Summerhouse Drive entrance next to house no.178 – buses B12 and 429 use Squires Way stop. Many of you will have enjoyed Honor’s guided walks around the woods, now is a chance to join her on her personal dawn chorus date and be overwhelmed by the fabulous variety of bird song to be heard.
Leader Honor Wheeler
Friday 9 May 2025 – Braeburn Park LWT reserve Bexley
9.30-12 noon (Local Walk) booking essential
Meet in the secure LWT Car Park Rochester Way adjacent to the Access Solutions site DA1 3QU (full directions will be given in the confirmation email two days before the walk). Opposite Hall Place south this London Wildlife Trust reserve offers much for the bird watcher and possibly there will be some early butterflies as well. Despite its close proximity we’ve only visited on three previous occasions. We’ll make this a gentle walk but there are a couple of fairly steep parts of the reserve. We hope to be accompanied by either the warden or volunteers. No facilities.
Leaders Ralph and Brenda Todd
group.rspb.org.uk/bexley/news-blogs/blog/newsletter-out-now-spring-summer-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJi...
Newsletter out now! (Spring-Summer 2025) - Bexley Local Group
group.rspb.org.uk
Our latest newsletter is now out and available to download. If you have signed up to receive by email it will be sent out shortly. The newsletter includes a full programme of events, as well as severa...
Intro to wildlife recording apps ....Online event, 90 mins, 15th April.
£12.50, but could well be worth the fee.
'Advancements in technology have transformed how we capture wildlife observations. Smartphones now allow anyone to record and submit data in real time. However, with so many apps available, it can be challenging for beginners to choose the right one and fully utilise its features. This session will introduce you to popular wildlife observation apps and guide you through key considerations to help you get started with biological recording.
Learn about:
Popular Wildlife Observation Apps: Explore BirdTrack, iRecord, iNaturalist, and more.
Key Features: Learn about AI tools, mapping capabilities, multimedia options, and activity-based projects.
The Data Journey: Understand where your wildlife data goes and how it’s used.
Species Identification and Validation: Discover how records are verified and validated across different apps.'
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-wildlife-observation-apps-tickets-1124426011469?fbclid=IwY2xjawJhEOt...
Using Wildlife Observation Apps
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Delve into the pros and cons of using various wildlife observation apps for recording wildlife.
BRAEBURN PARK (London Wildlife Trust), CRAYFORD. A large site on the other side of the railway line to Hall Place**Work sessions every Thursday - next one 10th April.
A variety of tasks are undertaken depending on priorities at the time. Path management and targeted habitat work often feature.
Meet 10a.m. at the compound by the industrial estate off the old Rochester Way (see image appended).
The team usually finishes at 3p.m., but you can come and go as you please.
Trained leaders and first aiders will be present. No experience required. Equipment provided. Wear suitable work clothes and sturdy footwear. Tea/coffee and biscuits supplied. Bring any other food and drink you may require.
Contact Simon Hawkins <shawkins@wildlondon.org.uk> in advance for more details / to let him know when you're likely to arrive if not by 10 a.m.
Report of Bexley RSPB local bird walk at Danson Park, 20/3/25.www.facebook.com/RSPBbexleylocalgroup/posts/pfbid02N8skFyw1E1AG24FLB4KuE3aVbAzwTENtDMNYQWbPpZHAUA...
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Category Archives: Bird watching
Abbey Wood ‘eyesore’ provides a home and food for declining House Sparrows and a recovering Moth species
Tiny brownfield site is oasis for nature The site of the long-demolished ‘Harrow’ pub at the junction of Knee Hill and Abbey Road, labelled in the local media as a dangerous and untidy eyesore by some, was on the sunny … Continue reading
Danson Bird Reports July 2015
John Turner’s records from Danson Park for July 2015. John comments “Both the little grebe nest (disappeared) and great crested grebe nest (abandoned) have failed it seems. The garden warbler was a quick glimpse of a brown warbler! Thus the ? The … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Danson Park
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Danson Ringneck Parakeet roost.
Ralph Todd’s video of the birds at their Danson roost.
Posted in Bird watching, Danson Park
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Please support battle to save Swanscombe Marshes from ghastly ‘theme park’
Swanscombe marshes is threatened by a giant theme park, supported by local Councils mesmerised, as usual, by the prospects of money, jobs and ‘growth’ at any cost, and with about as much understanding of the importance of wildlife and wild … Continue reading
Fears for Bexley’s iconic summer birds – House Martin survey underway
Can you help conserve Swifts and House Martins? Following on from the piece about Swift’s in this week’s News Shopper, Ralph Todd has submitted the following piece to the paper. If you know of Swift aggregations or House Martin nesting … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, RSPB
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Bexley birds maintain media profile
Crossness Kestrels in hardcopy ‘News Shopper’ two editions running. Joined by Swifts this week. The Kestrel family at Crossness Nature Reserve on Erith Marshes was splashed across the top of the front page in last week’s ‘News Shopper’, so it … Continue reading
Posted in Belvedere, Bird watching, BNEF, Crossness, Crossness Nature Reserve, Environment, Erith Marshes, Raptors
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Birder gets on his bike to study other species
Plants, Odonata and fish photographed. From Bexley Bird Report author, Ralph Todd. Mid June-Mid July are relatively quiet times for active birdwatchers so I often pursue other avenues of natural history but keep with the flying beasties as much as possible but … Continue reading
Danson: lack of algal mats hits Red Eyes
There was an almost complete lack of floating algal mats at Danson lake on 29th June. I had gone to check on Himalayan Balsam eradication efforts, but also to see if both species of Red Eyed Damselfly were now on … Continue reading
Bryony Ladybird reaches Crossness
The Bryony Ladybird (Henosepilachna argus) has been found at Crossness by Chris Rose. The GiGL dataset, and Site Manager Karen Sutton having been consulted, it appears to be a new site record for the species, which was first recorded in … Continue reading
‘Conservation grazing’ at Thames Road Wetland
It’s been a while since the local ponies were on the site when I was around, but last week (June 23rd) I was intently studying the spread of the rare Brookweed when there was a quiet rustling right behind me. … Continue reading