I managed to squeeze in about four and a half hours of work at Thames Road Wetland on Tuesday June 9th, though I was unable to get there until 17.45, by which time it was predominantly cloudy with only the odd outbreak of sunshine, and thus not a lot of wildlife activity.
Thames road Wetland basks in a brief sunny interlude on a late June afternoon. (Photo: Chris Rose)
The work done included:
* taking record photos
* recording wildlife
* inspection of the dumped motorbike, scooter and logjams in the River Wansunt by the Sewer Pipe Bridge (which are in need of Thames21 team attention)
* partial re-cutting of maintenance access tracks, including along the ‘Y’ ditch
* cutting back grass around Thames Road litter/oil trap to enable fuller inspection next week ahead of possible upgrade works
* some ‘weeding’ around Square-stalked St. John’s-wort and Alder saplings
* planting more Marsh Sow-thistles and ‘weeding’ around a few others
* there are several largish Giant Hogweed behind the By-way 105 bund a little upriver from TRW, 2 with flower stems developing. These were sliced off with a spade to prevent seeding.
* removed a few items of litter
The straw colour of last year’s Common Reed growth contrasts with the green of new Reedmace leaves in the foreground. (Photo: Chris Rose)
1 Swift was seen overflying the site. About 40 Carrion Crows headed north shortly after my arrival, presumably disturbed off Stanham Farm to the south. There was some chuntering from the Reed Warblers. A brief ‘chip chip chip’ from within the reed swamp may have been a Water Rail. An adult Common Lizard was under a piece of old carpet.
One of last year’s Marsh Sow-thistle flower stems still standing tall against a changeable sky. (Photo: Chris Rose)
A few Hop Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus), uncommon in London, were noticed in a spot where I’d overlooked them before. This was good since elsewhere on site they’re starting to get overrun by Common Reed which I am trying to knock back where this is the case. Quite a lot of Ivy-leaved Duckweed (Lemna trisulca) was noted towards the tail end of the ‘Y’ ditch.
A patch of Flag Iris light up the foreground as dusk begins to set in, and Carrion Crows fly across the west end of the site in the distance. (Photo: Chris Rose)
A brooding sky over Thames Road Wetland as darkness approaches. (Photo: Chris Rose)
Chris Rose, Volunteer Site Manager
