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Calling bird photograhers - citizen science project seeks photos of gulls eating things .....Gulls Eating Stuff:
We want to know what gulls are eating and where! Across the world, gulls have been undergoing a huge demographic shift. We want to know what they are eating, when, and where, in order start collecting some hard data on gull diet - whilst also having a bit of fun! This is a project run out of University of Salford, UK.
Just go to this website to get involved and to upload your photos:
citsci.org
NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP - JANUARY CONSERVATION EVENTS AT RUXLEY GRAVEL PITS NATURE RESERVE.The reserve is a SSSI on the Bexley-Bromley border, and normally off-limits to the general public, so besides helping out, this is an opporunity to visit somewhere you may not have seen before.
** Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th January – Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY.
We will be pollarding willow trees growing in the reed bed.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809 334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at the yard in Hall Place or 10am if meeting on site. The gate must be kept locked, if there is no-one there to open it, please call Lucy’s mobile. Follow the track and park underneath the A20. Plenty of parking. Toilets are available at the local Tesco (but it is far from site).
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
** Saturday 18th – Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY
We will be working with Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers to create amphibian pools in the reed bed. Please bring your own refreshments if joining on this day.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809 334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am meeting on site. The gate must be kept locked, if there is no-one there to open it, please call Lucy’s mobile. Follow the track and park underneath the A20. Plenty of parking. A portaloo will be on site and toilets are also available at the local Tesco (but it is far from site).
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
Just a quick reminder that any volunteers who plan to meet us on site should let the member of staff leading the task know as soon as possible so that they can pack the correct number of tools and inform them of any task changes/delays that may occur.
Please also contact staff members leading task days if you require a lift.
If there are any updates or changes with the programme, we will update it regularly on the volunteer page on our website (www.nwkcp.org ). We will also contact the regular volunteers by phone if any last-minute changes to the location of the task happen.
Please remember to bring with you; suitable clothes for the weather conditions, a packed lunch and suitable footwear (we insist working boots with steel toecap and mid sole are worn at all times to comply with health and safety and insurance considerations). We will supply all other equipment, gloves and safety equipment and also hot drinks and biscuits throughout the day.
Each project will be led by a NWKCP member of staff who will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have throughout the day. A health and safety talk will also be given at the beginning of each project. If you are planning to come out on a project for the first time this month then please let us know beforehand which day that will be.
We write a risk assessment for each task day, and a copy of this will be brought to the site and available for you to read if you wish.
51°24'41.7"N 0°07'10.5"E · 51.411583, 0.119583
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FREE WEBINAR ON SWIFT ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATIONThursday January 16th 2025, 12.30-2p.m.
Covering Swifts and their Ecology with Edward Mayer (Swift Conservation) and Swift Threats and Conservation with Cally Smith (Huntly Swift Group).
You can sign up here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Learn about the iconic Swift, threats to these incredible birds and what you can do to help.
THAMES ROAD WETLAND - STAFF-SUPPORTED EVENT FRIDAY 13th DECEMBER, PLUS WORK/WILDLIFE UPDATE.Thames21 staff member Michael O'Neill will be back this week with a van full of kit so we can support extra volunteers.
To sign up for the 13th December (and/or 10th January) go to:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/jyHfDWO68FBjh72gDdBv
On the 13th we will be removing a large amount of cut Reed and Sallow branches from shallow water to habitat piles on the banks, and cutting up the latter. Most of the cut Reed has already been raked into heaps to make it quicker to shift. Depending on turnout we may also do some more pollarding. No particular skills necessary. All equipment provided. First aid back-up. Wear work clothes and bring any food and drink required. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
RECENT WORK
Bramble growth was cut back to make it easier for Horses to get down paths off the sewer pipe embankment and graze the eastern end of the site, where they save us a fair bit of work. Shrubs in the north-west corner of the site have had their height reduced again, by cutting down the summer growth, to restore better views for passers-by using the adjacent By-way 105 by the River Cray.
New arrangements mean we can now have the brushcutter every Friday session. It has enabled us to get quite large amounts of Reedbed cut, although it does fragment the material more than hand-cutting, which means more effort raking it up. Various 'hedges' created from suckering Blackthorn and Dogwood have been pruned.
Thin ice on shallow open water on 22 and 29/11 reminded us that winter had arrived, but it soon melted and didn't hinder our efforts.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS
15/11. At least 3, possibly 4 Water Rail. Don't recall seeing Grey Squirrels by the site before, but there were 2 in trees on the sewer bank. Noticed some Stinging Nettles had leaf undersides covered with a plethora of white fungal 'spots', which are yet to be identified.
22/11. Wild Clary in flower.
29/11. 2 Cormorant over, also a Grey Heron. A single Crow harassed a Sparrowhawk overflying the site. Sallow leaves that were still quite green last week were now yellowed, and several trees were now bare.
6/12. At least 2, possibly 3 Water Rail present. 3 or 4 Cetti's Warblers. 1 Song Thrush was sub-singing for some time. Small party of Long-tailed Tits. The first Teal of the winter was heard from the lake, perhaps only the one bird, but not seen. Wood Mouse spotted. 2 Harvest Mouse nests were found in Sedges along the edge of a ditch. Despite some freezing weather of late, still several clusters of Willow Aphid alive on trees around the 'lake'.
Chris Rose, Volunteer Site Manager.
Tag Archives: Marsh Dock
‘Kent botany 2016’ published – interesting new Bexley records featured
Kent Botanical Recording Group’s 2016 edition of ‘Kent Botany’, compiled by Geoffrey Kitchener and detailing the most interesting and important finds during the year, includes a number of discoveries made in Bexley – which for botanical purposes falls within Vice-county … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bexley Woods, Hall Place North, Kent, Plants in Bexley, Recording
Tagged Chris Rose, Geoffrey Kitchener, Gnaphalium luteoalbum, Golden Dock, Jersey Cudweed, Kent Botanical Recording Group, Kent Botany 2016, Marsh Dock, Mike Robinson, Moenchia erecta, Persicaria capitata, Pink-headed Persicaria, Rodney Burton, Rumex maritimus, Rumex palustris, Upright Chickweed, Urtica membranacea
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