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THAMES ROAD WETLAND HITS 20 SPECIES OF ODONATAThames Road Wetland, managed by Thames21 volunteers, has seen an increase of 6 species of Odonata in the last 12 months, adding a couple of the newer arrivals in the UK that have been present at other sites in the Borough for a while now and two undergoing general range expansion. This is likely to be due to increased observer effort, with a helper who lives fairly close now visiting the site 2 or 3 times a week.
Autumn 2025 saw the addition of Scarce Chaser.
A Four-spotted Chaser was photographed on 5th June 2026, a Norfolk Hawker on 1st July, a pair of copulating Southern Migrant Hawkers on July 22nd and a Southern Hawker on 21st August.
A Lesser Emperor was also seen.
Although only 2ha in area, the site benefits from a large expanse of floodplain land to the south and west, and the Outer Crayford Marshes and Dartford Marshes stretching down to the Thames to the north of Thames Road.
The full list of species is currently:
Damselflies (6) - Azure, Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Large Red, Willow Emerald.
Dragonflies (14) - Hairy, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Norfolk (Green-eyed) Hawker, Southern Hawker, Southern Migrant Hawker, Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Scarce Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter.
Thanks to Jim and Tom for photos.
Chris Rose, Volunteer Site Manager
UPCOMING LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY EVENTS AT BEXLEY SITESNon-members welcome on a 'taster' basis. To join: www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/join-now (£20 p.a., under 18/students £5)
Great for beginners as well as the more experienced.
Sat Nov 7th. 2026. 10.00-14.00. London Bird Club section of the LNHS. Danson Park. Meet Welling station. Leader Bexley RSPB's very own Harry Halstead.
Sat Nov 21st. 2026. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Meet Belvedere station 10.00. Leader George Kalli.
Sat 16th Jan. 2027. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Crayford Marshes. Meet Slade Green station 10.00. Leader Harry Halstead.
Sat 6th Feb 2027. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Crayford Rough and Hall Place Gardens. Leader Harry Halstead.
For full list of events across London, covering a wide variety of wildlife topics, see:
www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/activities/full-programme
JOIN A WETLAND HABITAT WORK SESSION AT CRAYFORD MARSHES ......The next Thames21 staff-supported event at Thames Road Wetland, an important wildlife site on the Inner Crayford Marshes, will be on Friday 11th September.
We will be clearing cut Reed to retain open pools, digging out Reed rootmat to 'recover' open water areas for Dragonflies and Water Voles and clearing out more of the road run-off trap so that it has plenty of capacity once the autumn rains kick in.
Samantha Dhedhi will be bringing all equipment provided. No sophisticated skills needed. A chance to meet new people and get close to wildlife.
Basic refreshments available. Loos available at the nearby council depot.
Ffi/to book:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/0WCJmk9xkzaAmCNTk2TC
Looking for a career in environment/wildlife conservation?LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST - Green careers showcase event ..........
www.facebook.com/LondonWildlifeTrust/posts/pfbid0sx533b2dpvpBAVtfA8MiqqZrdxHRBuVnLR97cuL82USNpJSP...
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Category Archives: Barnehurst
Bursted Woods – some general views and ground flora photos, spring 2018
Bursted Woods is small area of woodland dominated by old, outgrown Sweet Chestnut coppice, with Oak, and adjoining mown grassland with a more eclectic mix of scattered trees, including several Poplars. It is situated on Erith Road near Barnehurst railway … Continue reading →
Posted in Barnehurst, Bursted Woods, coppicing
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Tagged Barnehurst, Bursted Woods, Climbing Corydalis, Daffodils, Hedge Woundwort, Lesser Celandine, Pignut, Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel
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Hairy-legged Mining Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) – Bursted decline but second colony found
A nest count for the Hairy-legged Mining Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes), uncommon in London, made by Bursted Woods this year, suggests a decline in numbers. The colony, which has been the only one known in Bexley, appears from an old photograph … Continue reading →
Posted in Barnehurst, Bees, Bexley, Bursted Woods
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Tagged Barnehurst, Bursted Woods, Dasypoda hirtipes, Eversley Avenue, Hairy-legged Mining Bee, nest count
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2 Comments
Hive of House Sparrow activity
May 11th: There were some 15-19 House Sparrows along Mill Road, Northumberland Heath. Another 39-42 were counted across Northumberland Close, Bexley Road, Brook Street, Barnehurst Av, Fairford Av/Appledore Av and Coniston Rd. Birds were seen going up under the eaves … Continue reading →
Posted in Barnehurst, Bird watching, Recording
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Tagged House Sparrow, Mill Road, Northumberland heath
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Swifts back over Barnehurst
There were thirteen or fourteen Swifts back at their usual haunt over Northall Road yesterday evening (May 4th), between Barnehurst railway station and the golf course. This is a known breeding area. The ‘Bexley Wildlife’ team and Bexley Bird Report … Continue reading →
Posted in Barnehurst, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Danson Park, Hall Place, Hall Place North, Recording, Sidcup, Swift
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Tagged Barnehurst, Swifts
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5 Comments
Butterflies of Bexley checklist, status and distribution. Paper significantly revised and updated. Now with photos of selected species.
A new, January 2016, version of THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY: A CHECKLIST OF SPECIES, STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION REPORT is now available for download via this site: https://app.box.com/shared/static/i1xdnau06q7xgjbocbbed1eivttvopkx.doc and available at the foot of this article. This second publication … Continue reading →
Posted in Barnehurst, Barnehurst Golf Course, Biodiversity Action Plan, Braeburn Park, Butterflies, Chalk Wood, Crayford Marshes, Crayford Rough, Crossness, Crossness Nature Reserve, Danson Park, East Wickham Open Space, Erith Marshes, Foots Cray Meadows, Greenwich, Hollyhill open space, Joydens Wood, Lesnes Abbey Woods, Martens Grove, Recording, River Cray, SINC, Thames Road Wetland
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House Sparrow count – Barnehurst to Barnes Cray, and additional Perry Street Farm birds
House Sparrows seen or heard (in the latter case counted as 1 if actual number could not be seen) en route from Grasmere Rd to Maiden Lane on the morning of 20th January were as follows: Grasmere Rd/Merewood Rd: 11 … Continue reading →
FoXXX-rated activity as friendly female re-appears after 5 week ‘absence’
I hadn’t seen the very confiding female Fox that has frequented my Barnehurst garden, and spent a lot of time lounging round on the lawn during the summer, since 1st December. Though she had looked in very good condition then, … Continue reading →
More counting of Crows
One hundred and sixty one Carrion Crows flew into Bursted Woods from the east between 15.36 and 16.24 on December 26th 2015, joining 31 others that were already sat in the trees near the railway bridge, making a total of … Continue reading →
Counting Crows: a low-key local wildlife spectacle to be seen over Barnehurst
Some 343 Carrion Crows were counted heading into Bursted Woods between 19.03 and 19.59 this evening (8th September), from still light until after dark. Whilst the stories on this website about the Danson Ring-necked Parakeet roost, and various woodland fly-out-to-roost … Continue reading →
Elusive White-letter Hairstreak photographed at Footscray Meadows
Novice Lepidopterist Mike Robinson continues to ‘tick off’ the butterflies of Bexley with his camera. On July 22nd he was lucky enough to spot this White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) feeding on a Creeping Thistle head. This is one of the … Continue reading →