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May Bexley RSPB events that still have places available.This content isn't available at the moment
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EARLIEST RECORDED RETURN DATE FOR BARNEHURST SWIFT NESTING ZONE.There were 3 Swifts circling over the northern half of Hillingdon Road this evening (29/4), the same place as the first ones I saw in this area in 2024. This was my first check of the year, so they could have got back even earlier.
Previous 'first dates' for this 'site' are as follows:
2024 - 1/5. None seen in an hour of circuits on 30/4
2023 - 2/5. My first check of the year so they may have arrived earlier. One reported at Crossness 28/4
2022 -8/5 (checked from 28/4)
2021 - 6/5 (had last checked 3/5)
2020 - 2/5 (first date checked)
2019 - didn't monitor
2018 - 7/5 (had checked every evening starting 1/5)
2017 - 4/5 (no prior daily checks)
2016 - 4/5 (no prior daily checks)
2015 - 6/5 (no prior daily checks)
The earliest Swifts in London this year were one at Rainham on April 14th, and another on the same date at Staines Reservoir.
Chris Rose
HELP CLEAN UP THE LOWER RIVER CRAY !Join FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD on FRIDAY 2nd May
to tackle litter along the banks of the lower Cray,
Meet 10 a.m. at the junction of Footpath 106 and Barnes Cray Road (see graphic below).
The plan is to go downriver along By-way 105 this week before the undergrowth gets too dense.
All welcome, no particular skills needed.
Equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for being out in the open and avoiding stings from Nettles and scratches from Brambles, and bring something to drink.
Best wishes
Sarah
CROSSNESS LATEST - PROTECTED AREA WILL REMAIN CLOSED OVER EASTER WEEKENDA brief update to advise that the Protected Area will remain closed over the Easter period - really sorry about this. As hard as we've tried, we can't get a new locking mechanism on the gate before next week, so it is currently padlocked shut so as to not leave us vulnerable over Easter.
I am taking advantage of the upcoming bank holidays to squeeze in some annual leave, so you will not get a notification from me about re-opening, however please assume that the Protected Area is likely to be re-opened by the following weekend.
Karen Sutton
Crossness Nature Reserve Manager
Free webinar on improving Bee 'hotel' design with Prof Dave Gouslon.Tuesday, April 22 · 1 - 2pm
Improving Bee Hotel Design: The Big Bee Hotel Experiment
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Join Prof Dave Gouslon to hear about how the Buzz Club are investigating the effectiveness of different bee hotels for UK bees.
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 →