The next Friends of Crossness newsletter is imminent, but a preview of the April to June wildlife records that will be published therein has been circulated by Site Manager Karen Sutton. Karen does a massive job collating all the data provided by a number of different observers.
Highlights include up to 10 Cetti’s Warblers at a time, 3 Barn Owls, Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, 5 Peregrine Falcon, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Curlew, 3 Skylark, 1 Ring Ouzel, Common Redstart, Stonechat and Wheatear.
This Ring Ouzel dropped into Crossness in April, on the way back to the uplands of northern England to breed (Photo: Mike Robinson)
A number of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were seen, in what was a much better year for the species, which has declined badly. But numbers were still very low in absolute terms, with the single day maximum being only 4. A lone Ringlet added yet another site for a species which has been found in a number of new locations during 2014.
A mere £10 will now secure you LIFE MEMBERSHIP of Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve. Benefits include:
- an informative colour newsletter,
- access to the fenced-off part of the site
- entry to the two-storey bird-hide within, which provides panoramic views over the marshes and beyond, and which will offer much-appreciated shelter from the elements during inclement weather
- opportunities to get involved with a variety of hands-on habitat management work
- indoor winter wildlife talks by experts in their field
- making new friends!
Ffi: Karen Sutton <karen.sutton@thameswater.co.uk>
Karen Sutton at the official opening ceremony for the new Crossness bird hide in May, flanked by David ‘The Urban Birder’ Lindo and long-serving Thames Water Biodiversity Manager Andy Tomczynski.