Category Archives: Reptiles and Amphibians

Cory ‘Environmental’ doesn’t believe its own propaganda

Posted on 18/03/2016 by Chris Rose

Cory ‘Environmental’, the company that has submitted to Bexley Council – in the name of its Belvedere incinerator arm – a plan for two four-storey buildings to cover most of the former Borax fields next to Crossness Nature Reserve, has not … Continue reading →

Posted in Belvedere, Bexley Council, BNEF, Crossness Nature Reserve, development threat, Erith Marshes, Grass Snake, Mammals, Planning, Reptiles and Amphibians, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Voles the highlight of allotment wildlife survey visit

Posted on 10/10/2015 by Chris Rose

Four Field Voles (Microtus agrestis) were found on Harland Avenue allotments on Friday October 9th, in the course of ongoing wildlife survey work across all of Bexley’s allotment sites that I am doing as the Bexley Federation of Allotment and … Continue reading →

Posted in Allotments, Recording, Reptiles and Amphibians, Slow Worm | 2 Comments

Newt rescue at Danson Park

Posted on 19/09/2015 by Chris Rose

Thanks to an alert from John Arnold, I was able to rescue 50 baby – almost certainly Smooth (and not Palmate) –  newts from the pond in the Danson Park Old English Garden yesterday (Sept 18th). I have looked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Danson Park, Old English Garden, Reptiles and Amphibians | 1 Comment

Thames Road ‘dryland’ is nursery for little Lizards

Posted on 12/09/2015 by Chris Rose

When is the best time for Common Lizard-watching? Probably now – the weather isn’t too hot and can be changeable, plus the year’s crop of babies are very keen to come out and bask rather more obviously than their parents. … Continue reading →

Posted in Grass Snake, Reptiles and Amphibians, Thames Road Wetland | Leave a comment

Snakes in the grass

Posted on 24/08/2015 by Chris Rose

Evidence of Natrix natrix breeding at Thames Road Wetland Grass Snakes, Britain’s largest native snake species, are only occasionally seen at Thames Road Wetland, and are difficult to get photographs of. There is a particular, and somewhat surprising spot, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Reptiles and Amphibians, Thames Road Wetland | 3 Comments

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

Posted on 21/07/2015 by Chris Rose

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

Posted on 30/06/2015 by Chris Rose

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

For the sake of Slow Worms, be careful with your compost heap!

Posted on 26/06/2015 by Chris Rose

For some years now there have been Slow Worms (Anguis fragilis) in my Barnehurst garden , and at some point one or more (the most was 5 at once) turn up in one of the compost heaps. Indeed there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Allotments, Barnehurst, Bexley, Biodiversity Action Plan, Common Lizard, Gardening for wildlife, Gardens, Open spaces, Recording, Reptiles and Amphibians, Slow Worm | 2 Comments

Spring into summer at Thames Road Wetland

Posted on 20/06/2015 by Chris Rose

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

Some Shuttle wildlife observations, June 4th – another Hairy Dragonfly range expansion?

Posted on 06/06/2015 by Chris Rose

Call it a bit mercenary, but I helped out on the BETHs stretch clean-up so I could cover a part of the river I’d not done before for the Water Vole survey I’m leading, without having to make special arrangements … Continue reading →

Posted in Bexley, Bexley Woods, Bird watching, Butterflies, Crossness, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Friends of the Shuttle, Hollyoak Wood Park, Lamorbey, Marlborough Park, Parish Wood Park, Parks, Plants in Bexley, Raptors, Recording, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Shuttle, Rivers, Sidcup Golf Course, Uncategorized, vegetation management | Leave a comment