dazeykat Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 Swifts arrived yesterday (or that's when I first heard,then saw, them)And I still haven't got round to putting up a nest box. Next year..! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1244516 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 BrandNewGuy Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Just heard the first swift of the year near> Dulwich Hospital. Summer is definitely on the way.> Here's how the arrival compares to previous> years:> 2011 ? May 9> 2012 ? May 1> 2013 ? May 17> 2014 ? May 8> 2015 ? May 9> 2016 ? May 4> 2017 - May 6> 2018 ? May 8Thanks for that! We have been wondering when they would arrive! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1244540 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandNewGuy Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 dazeykat Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Swifts arrived yesterday (or that's when I first> heard,then saw, them)And I still haven't got round> to putting up a nest box. Next year..!Ah, thanks! I was in Mitcham yesterday biting my nails and then celebrating Dulwich Hamlet's victory, so didn't notice any local swifts :-) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1244564 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asset Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 I noticed some on Saturday (also near the hospital) but haven't seen any since. Maybe they were the advance party and have gone further north? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1244921 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rendelharris Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 A pair of beautiful small but perfectly formed greater spotted woodpecker fledglings in the garden on Copleston Road a few days back, exhibiting a behaviour I've never seen before: they seemed to be making repeated passes through the stream of the little ornamental fountain in the pond, though whether to catch a drink or just get a bit of water on them (it was one of the scorching days) I don't know. I know there are plenty of insects hanging over ponds, but they were quite definitely deliberately flying straight into the stream. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1244926 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Poste's Child Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Robert Poste's Child Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> In Brockwell Park there's a swan sitting on a nest> with seven big blue eggs. It seems completely> unfazed by all the interest from passers-by but> the park keepers have put up a fence to stop> people getting too close.Now six fluffy grey cygnets swimming on the pond in a tight group, one parent in front and the other close behind.Can't help wondering what happened to number seven. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1245987 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Heron? :( Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1246161 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny1 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 It's reached that time of year when it feels unfair to venture too much into the garden (which is small). If I do I disturb a pair of harassed blackbirds as they frantically try and feed their enormous baby. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1246170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckhamgatecrasher Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 I think we can safely cast our clouts. The hawthorn blossom on ED Road is beautiful. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1246189 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Poste's Child Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 The walled garden in Brockwell Park is looking gorgeous and smelling delicious right now. There are big fat peony buds just about to open. A great place for shirkers like me to spend the afternoon with a book. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1246219 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Robert Poste's Child Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> The walled garden in Brockwell Park is looking> gorgeous and smelling delicious right now. There> are big fat peony buds just about to open. A great> place for shirkers like me to spend the afternoon> with a book.That's my favourite garden.Apart from the hideous thing they did to the pond :( Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1246275 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comeback Book Group Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Clearing up behind my garden shed this morning, I lifted up a bin bag in which I've been storing a dismantled mini greenhouse. Underneath was a small smooth newt - around 5-6cm in length. It didn't appear to be discomfited by having been disturbed but I quickly replaced the bin bag and left it in peace. The clearing-up can wait until another day! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1248096 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny1 Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Comeback Book Group Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> a> small smooth newtHow exciting! And may I congratulate you on your flawless 'newt etiquette'. I spotted my first dragonfly of the summer yesterday - not quite such a big deal, but still really pleasing. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1248134 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornelia Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Anyone else seen this? I had always heard rosemary leaf beetles had no natural predators in the UK but I've just seen this spider eating one... Is the spider an alien invader too? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250368 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 No, but please can you train it to eat lily beetles and asparagus beetles too :)) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250475 Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilservant Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 ... and snails? I must have picked off half a stone of the blighters, by hand, over the last weekdo blackbirds eat them? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250501 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Thrushes do. They hammer them on rocks to break the shell, so they can get the snail out. I've seen one do it (not in London).Don't think blackbirds do that though. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilservant Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 that's bad news - because if they (blackbirds) did eat them (snails), i probably wouldn't have a gardenful of bare chewed stalks - and good news - because me getting rid of the snails hasn't left the blackbirds to starve. well, i hope you see what i mean...and does anyone have any humane suggestions for getting rid of snails (besides tying them up in a dog-poo bag and sticking that in a bin?) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250652 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 civilservant Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> > and does anyone have any humane suggestions for> getting rid of snails (besides tying them up in a> dog-poo bag and sticking that in a bin?)Take them to a wood or something far, far from your house :)) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250672 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynne Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Any suggestions? Last night, around dusk, something flew slowly a couple of times around my garden. It was about the size of a bat or very small bird, but it flew like an insect. It looked like an enormous bee, but I suspect it was a large flying beetle. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250708 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandNewGuy Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Possibly a stag beetle. They do fly, but very badly. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250710 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Wot about this?https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs-and-habitats/common-cockchafer Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250717 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Stag beetle?Ooops sorry hadn't seen other posts. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250718 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Poste's Child Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 There are definitely stag beetles about at dusk, I saw one a few days ago in Burbage Rd which has a hotspot. There have been a lot of small flying insects in the air with all the wet weather so perhaps they're after those. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250768 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 I should have mentioned my link above was about the Cockchafer bug. Quite dramatic in flight.MarkT Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/330000-ed-nature-watch/page/81/#findComment-1250775 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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