Category Archives: Reedbeds

Reed Warblers back at Thames Road Wetland as Green Hairstreak shows up for 2nd year and first Damselfly seen.

As reported from other sites, Reed Warbler is back in Bexley from its African wintering grounds, and a few could be heard chuntering from out in the reedswamp at Thames Road Wetland on April 12th. A Cetti’s Warbler was present … Continue reading

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Harvest Mice – first images of this London rarity in Bexley

Nests of of Harvest Mice (Micronomys minutus) , the UK’s smallest rodent, were first found at Thames Road Wetland in 2014, when 7 were discovered in the course of vegetation management work. None were located in 2015, but another three … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Biodiversity Action Plan, Harvest Mouse, Mammals, Raptors, Recording, Reedbeds, SINC, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bexley RSPB visit to Thames Road Wetland

Just 6 of us turned out early on a dull morning with rain forecast, for a walk down the river Cray from Crayford town centre and around Thames Road Wetland, but it’s probably about the best number for keeping people … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Crayford, Plants in Bexley, Reedbeds, River Cray, River Wansunt, Rivers, RSPB, Thames Road Wetland | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Thames21 team brave rain to clear river and plan Thames Road Wetland work

Cray River project boss Michael Heath, Chris Rose, Ray,  Ron Pearson and Wren Rose turned out for a planning meeting at Thames Road Wetland on Wednesday 16th, despite the persistent rain, but first cleared a blockage of rubbish in the … Continue reading

Posted in Cray Riverkeepers, Environment, Litter, Reedbeds, River Cray, Rivers, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Ruxley Gravel Pits SSSI working group announces autumn/winter dates

Ruxley Gravel Pits is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Come and help conserve the key features of this important wildlife site on the Cray by the Bexley/Bromley border. The birds have flown but the buddleia & the brambles continue … Continue reading

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QWAG members enjoy ‘back to nature’ experience at Thames Road Wetland

Seven members of the Quaggy Waterways Action Group, a river restoration organisation, and the Secretary of Friends of Sutcliffe Park, all from Lewisham, visited Thames Road Wetland on Saturday July 18th to learn more about the possibilities for enhancing wetland in … Continue reading

Posted in Crayford, Galls, Grass Snake, Reedbeds, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Cray, River Wansunt, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21, Uncategorized, vegetation management | Leave a comment

‘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

Posted in Bird watching, Butterflies, Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Invertebrates, Recording, Reedbeds, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Cray, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21 | Leave a comment

Spring into summer at Thames Road Wetland

Things were hotting up at Thames Road Wetland on Tuesday (June 16th). Reed Bunting bred on site in 2013, but last year the male seemed to spend most of the summer singing, with no apparent success. Now he is back … Continue reading

Posted in Butterflies, Common Lizard, Crayford, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Environment, Harvest Mouse, Invertebrates, Plants in Bexley, Recording, Reedbeds, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Cray, River Wansunt, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Marsh Harrier drops in for Crossness briefing

Crossness showed with impeccable timing, just what makes it one of the very best wildlife sites in Bexley today, as Karen Sutton – recently promoted to Biodiversity Team Manager for Thames Water – showed two new members of her team … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Crossness, Crossness Nature Reserve, Erith Marshes, Raptors, Reedbeds | 1 Comment

Ruxley team in coppicing action to maintain reedbed

Martin Watts reports on yesterday’s action (Jan 18th) from Ruxley Gravel Pits SSSI, just over the Bexley border in Bromley: ‘Sunday morning saw a light drizzle but it didn’t deter a party of nine from getting stuck into the re-growing willow … Continue reading

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