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Report of Bexley RSPB local bird walk at Danson Park, 20/3/25.www.facebook.com/RSPBbexleylocalgroup/posts/pfbid02N8skFyw1E1AG24FLB4KuE3aVbAzwTENtDMNYQWbPpZHAUA...
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RING OUZEL SPOTTED AT UPPER COLLEGE FARMThe Ring Ouzel is a declining, Red-listed, close relative of the Blackbird, which winters in North Africa, but breeds in the upland areas of Wales, Scotland and northern England. Individuals are very occasionally seen in our area, coming in or on their way back out.
Tim Rymer saw one at Upper College Farm, a former quarrying and landfill site between Old Bexley and Albany Park, on 22nd of March.
There are now large fenced off areas containing Japanese Wagyu cattle at low density, with a path down the middle between them and around the southern perimeter. It provides the sort of extensive grassland habitat where these birds can be found on passage.
UCF has hosted uncommon species in the past, notably a Little Bunting.
Other notable species found in the Borough recently include 2 Black Redstarts, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ yet-to-depart Redwings, Wheatear and returning Sand Martins at Crossness, and 50 Black-tailed Godwit at Erith.
Ring Ouzel Bird Facts | Turdus Torquatus
www.rspb.org.uk
Male ring ouzels are particularly distinctive with their black plumage with a pale wing panel and striking white breast band. Find out more
HELP CLEAN UP THE LOWER RIVER CRAY CORRIDOR !Join FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD on FRIDAY 4th APRIL
to tackle litter along the banks of the lower Cray,
Meet 10 a.m. at the junction of Footpath 106 and Barnes Cray Road (see graphic below).
All welcome, no particular skills needed.
Equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for being out in the open and avoiding stings from Nettles and scratches from Brambles, and bring something to drink.
Photo from last month's session when the group was joined by Bexley Councillor Geraldene Lucia-Hennis
Best wishes
Sarah
THAMES ROAD WETLAND TEAM WELCOMES CHINESE STUDENTSWORK REPORT
Thames21 did its bit for international relations on a sunny 14th March when six Chinese students studying design at Goldsmith's College came down to help out. They have been taking an interest in water pollution issues.
A further nine volunteers turned out, giving a grand total of 15, who delivered 66 and a half person hours of work, mainly clearing all the previously cut and raked up Reed/fragmented debris/silt piles (as well as creating a few new ones).
Suckering shrubs were thinned out in an open area of the Thames Road bank, to benefit reptiles, which was also the objective behind brushcutting Bramble in the south-west corner,. Additional Bramble cutting by the railway will help conserve nice patches of Common Fleabane and Spearmint in a boggy area at the foot of the embankment.
Three of the 'domestic' attendees were new recruits, two of whom said they would come again.
Thanks are due to Thames21 staff member Michael O'Neill brought the van full of waders and other equipment.
Five volunteers were out on 21/3, when the brushcutter again proved invaluable. We were able to significantly reduce the extent of a bramble patch that had spread to the point where there was only a one-horse-width space left between it and the top of the Wansunt riverbank, which was consequently suffering heavy erosion. Four horses were grazing in the Reedmace/Rush beds at the time. They were quick to move in on the fresh grass once we had raked away the cut material.
Reedmace in the east ditch was thinned out with the pole-saw to improve it for Dragonflies and Frogs. Buddleia and Rose by Thames Rd, including stems impinging on the adjacent pedestrian footway, were pruned back.
WILDLIFE
The Blackthorn is now in flower, as are a number of the blue and plum-purple Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum). A volunteer saw a Snipe on a Saturday visit. Our first ever Green Woodpecker within the official boundary of the site was recorded on the 14th.
On the 21st two Chiffchaffs were calling. Coltsfoot was still in flower by the railway end gate. London rarity Hound's-tongue, a biennial, continues to survive in small numbers at the east end, in the same place I first found it in the summer of 2018. It is now re-sprouting and there are also several seedlings. But it doggedly 'refuses' to spread, apart from the odd one that comes up by the nearby roadside fence. I've distributed seeds by hand, and planted out extra plantlets grown from seed at home, but to no avail.
BOOK NOW!
Our next staff-supported event is on Friday April 11th, with Thames21's Michael O'Neill. Book here: book.plinth.org.uk/e/jyHfDWO68FBjh72gDdBv
Chris Rose. Volunteer Site Manager.
LESNES ABBEY WOODS - WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SESSIONSEvery WEDNESDAY 10am to 1pm. Meet at the north side of the Lodge by the yard entrance.
Next Wednesday session will be 26th March.
AND ......
The first SUNDAY of each month 10am to 1pm. Meet outside CHESTNUT'S COFFEE KIOSK at 10:00 am. The group then collects tools and equipment from the yard that is opposite the toilets.
Next Sunday session will be 6th April.
Note: these events tend to involve fairly active work and may require walking with tools to remote parts of the woods, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.
All tools and materials provided.
Ffi see: www.friendsoflesnesabbeyandwoods.com/get-involved/conservation
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Category Archives: Rivers
Please respond to UPCOMING CONSULTATIONS WITH MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS!
There are a number of consultation deadlines looming on Bexley Council (‘Growth’ strategy, Budget, Flood Review) and key GLA (London Infrastructure plan to 2050) and Transport for London (east London river crossings – yet again) proposals, all of which have … Continue reading
Posted in Light pollution, London Wildlife Trust, Parks, Planning, Rivers
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Thames Estuary Airport impact on birds.
BTO reports on plans for the Thames Estuary airport British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ecologists have recently reported on controversial proposals to build an airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. The study shows that this development … Continue reading
Foots Cray Meadows river habitat enhancement programme continues apace
Thames21 River Cray Project officer Michael Heath writes: Our plan to put the River Cray at Foots Cray Meadows back on the map as a premiere habitat for wildlife, and a natural and recreational feature for the local community, is … Continue reading
Posted in Foots Cray Meadows, Rivers, Volunteering
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Reintegrating Bexley’s Rivers
An interesting opinion piece published on the Thames21 website by Theo Thomas in which he discusses the need for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and how they can be retrofitted giving us more environmental areas, cleaner rivers and reducing the risk of … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers, Sustainable housing
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Thames Tideway Tunnel will reduce pollution
There are interesting videos on the Thames Tideway Tunnel website explaining the need for this major engineering project which will reduce the pollution of the Thames. With sewage and other rubbish in the Thames taking weeks and sometimes months to … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers
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Sea fish in the Borough
It is easy to forget that Bexley has marine life too. With the tidal Thames extending far up into London, the river as it forms the border of Bexley contains many saltwater fishes. For example, a report in the Thurrock … Continue reading
Posted in Fish, Rivers
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Thames21 at The Old Mill, Bexley Village
Michael Heath and his team working this morning on the River Cray in Bexley Village at The Old Mill. Passing through the Village I bumped into Michael and his team hard at work. Work Michael described to me as “a cross between … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers, Uncategorized
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Thames21 events to July 2014
Forthcoming Thames 21 practical conservation events in Bexley listed at: http://www.bexleywildlife.org/thames-21-bexley/#comment-14
Posted in Rivers, Volunteering
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Friends of The Shuttle events – March 2014
Dear Friends of the Shuttle volunteers and supporters, February saw a very successful event on the River Shuttle with a brilliant turn out of volunteers, a film crew and the removal of 15 bags of rubbish along with a bike, … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers, Volunteering
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