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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: RSPB
Report of Bexley RSPB bird walk, Lesnes Abbey Woods, March 11th 2017
Ralph and Brenda Todd report on the birds and other wildlife seen in Abbey woods at Bexley RSPB’s walk on 11th March. Comments are made about the condition of the heathland and wildflower areas, much of the credit for which … Continue reading
Bexley RSPB members see Cattle Egret on Rainham visit
Having the Rainham RSPB reserve just over the water from Crayford Marshes increases the prospects of rarities turning up on our side of the river. Bexley RSPB members visiting on December 17th were delighted they got to see a Cattle … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Cattle Egret, Pintail, Rainham Marshes
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Bexley RSPB Foots Cray Meadows 6th December bird walk – report
Ralph and Brenda Todd report on the 6th December Bexley RSPB bird walk at Foots Cray Meadows, which attracted several members new to the group’s outdoor meetings. 28 species were seen including Little Egret, Kingfisher and Gadwall. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Walk-Foots-Cray-Meadows-December-2016.pdf
Bexley RSPB – report of Danson bird walk, October 27th
An illustrated report from Ralph and Brenda Todd of birds seen on the Bexley RSPB walk around Danson Park on 27th October: http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RSPB-Bexley-Group-walk-Danson-Park-October-2016.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, Danson Park, RSPB
Tagged Bexley, Bexley RSPB, birdwatching, Brenda Todd, Danson Park, Kingfisher, Ralph Todd, Yellow-legged Gull
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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 Bexley RSPB, River Cray, Thames Road Wetland
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River Shuttle and Bexley Woods bird walk report. 5th November 2015.
RSPB Bexley Group Field Trip – River Shuttle/Bexley Park Woods – Thursday 5th November 2015 A dull, drizzly morning but 22 Group members/Friends of the Shuttle joined Brenda and I for a wander along the River Shuttle (or, as we … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Woods, Bird watching, River Shuttle, RSPB
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Bexley RSPB: programme of local bird walks
The Bexley group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is by far and away the largest wildlife/nature group in the Borough, so encouraging its members and other local residents to take a keener interest in the value … Continue reading
Key wildlife legislation needs your support – Birds and Habitats protections under threat from narrow-minded view of ‘progress’
The EU Birds and Habitats directives, which have done much to at least slow the tide of wildlife destruction in this country and abroad, are under threat from ‘revision’ at the hands of the EU Commission President who wants to … Continue reading
Posted in Consultations, development threat, Environment, RSPB
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Fears for Bexley’s iconic summer birds – House Martin survey underway
Can you help conserve Swifts and House Martins? Following on from the piece about Swift’s in this week’s News Shopper, Ralph Todd has submitted the following piece to the paper. If you know of Swift aggregations or House Martin nesting … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, RSPB
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Crossness boss hopes for patter of tiny Pochard feet
Karen Sutton, Crossness Nature Reserve Site Manager and Thames Water Biodiversity Team Leader is hoping Pochard ducklings will be amongst the new arrivals at the site this spring, after Richard Spink took an excellent photo of a pair of these … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Crossness Nature Reserve, RSPB
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