Monday 20 August 2012

Back to Patch

Jersey Tiger- up to seven a night of these in the trap. Plenty of moths over the last couple of weeks including Iron Prominent, Cloaked Minor, Rush Veneer, Ruby Tiger and a few new micros. Loads of Meadow Browns on the mounds (about 100+ across the site).

Things are feeling a bit more autumnal on the bird front- up to 30 Green Sandpipers, 6 Common Sands, 1 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit today. About 50+ Swifts still about and the young Sand Martins are buzzing around. Quite a few Chiffys calling in the bushes but other warblers are keeping their heads down. A few Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler in the morning nets indicated that there were more warblers on site but just being elusive. The ducks are on the move also with 11 Shoveler and 12 Teal about. On the mounds there's about 60+ Goldfinch and 10+ Linnet.

Last weekend went with Gillian to check out a nearby London Wildlife Trust Reserve- Hutchinson's Bank in South Croydon. Meadow land is going to be one of the major habitat types at Beddington so interesting to see how the reserve is managed there- including the use of Dartmoor Ponies and Sheep.

Chalk grassland at London Wildlife Trust Reserve Hutchinson's Bank 
Grazing at Hutchinson's Bank
Wild Parsnip and Majoram at Hutchinson's Bank

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