ED Nature Watch

[Nigello]

I had a 2? wasp in my house yesterday. It stayed near the glass of a door to outside and I flicked it out. Could it have been a queen looking for somewhere to bed down after summer (or doing something else)? I don?t think it was a hornet because it was yellow/black, not orange or amber.

[Penguin68]

The European Hornet is yellow and black

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet

[Nigello]

Thanks

It may well have been a European hornet ? maybe a queen. Its buzz was loud. Are they seen often?

On a side note, there are a fair few spiders around. It seems earlier than last year for them.

[malumbu]

Annie5 Wrote:

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> Have seen red squirrels in Scotland but nowhere in

> England

Small pockets in the North, sad that nobody has quoted Sefton (North of Liverpool)and the like https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/red-squirrels

[Penguin68]

There are red squirrels in the Isle of Wight

[seenbeen]

And Brownsea Island Dorset

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island/features/red-squirrels-in-the-autumn

[Nigello]

Has anyone had continued success with bird boxes? If so, which kind of box, which kind of bird, where is the box situated, etc? Sparrows roost in gaps between my and my neighbour's house (because the houses are actually detached but look terraced) but nothing else. When to put up a box?

[elloriac]

We've had success with blue tits nesting on our allotment (One Tree Hill) and our friends have on Blythe Hill, again with blue tits.

The RSPB has guidance on where to site bird boxes, depending on who you are trying to attract: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/nestboxes-for-small-birds/making-and-placing-a-bird-box/

Seeing that blue tit have nested in those cigarette disposal bins outside offices in the past, I think they are probably not very picky!

[malumbu]

I had great success the first year of next boxes, but feel that building activity in the area has put them off and this spring so many out in their gardens strimming and mowing their lands sown to the last mm. I cleaned out and refurbed the bozes and did get one pair of blue tits, didn't see that much activity but when I thought a long enough time found it empty with two unhatched eggs, two dead fledglings, which as blue tits usually have clutches of ten or more thought a good result. There are also too many cats round here but not sure how much this puts of nesting.

On other subject a cheeky squirel raids our hazel tree and then mocks you by cracking the nuts in a nearby tree. I'd crack its nuts if I had half a chance. Also had a rat in the shed (what am I going to do).... but think it fled after we had a clear out, loads of poo and wee and knawed some of the woodwork. Rat trap down (I've caught mouse humanely in the house but rats a different thing. Neighbourhood cats not helpful.

Saw our first bats recently at sundown; get them in the nearby Horniman museum.

And some wrens, which whilst very common don't tend to be seen in the garden. Eating something on the trees, I expect small invertebrates.

[malumbu]

Rat trap worked although I had to finish him off with a broom. It was a him so no babies which is a good thing. I'm quite surprised that I could do the deed. No noise so I can sleep sound that I hadn't left it half dead suffering, rather it was stunned perhaps mortally injured. I'm not doing a postmortem as I haven't dissected a rat since A level biology.

Continuing on the subject of pests there was a repeat of Alison's Steadman's radio programme about parakeets today. I'm not going to cull them and as as they thrive in urban areas the programme suggested that a cull would attract too much negative attention. Looks like they are here to stay. The series on alien birds is here (blackbirds??) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/b01m42gz

[AylwardS]

Peckham Rye Park Consultation - Redevelopment of Bowling Green

On my walk round Peckham Rye Park today I saw signs up about a consultation on plans to redevelop the bowling green.

https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/peckham-rye-park-bowling-green-and-pavilion/

The consultation closes on 11 October.

The online survey suggests mini-golf or a pop up licensed bar in the summer and asks for suggestions of other uses.

I?ve made a suggestion of an area managed for wildlife with viewing areas. I think this would be good and one thing to come out of the pandemic is a recognition of the importance of nature to wellbeing.

If you support this or not you might want to fill in the survey

[sunbob]

We saw a green woodpecker in a tree in PRP near Harris boys today!

[mancity68]

Not ED, but I was delighted to see a seal in the Thames between Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast today. Bobbing around eating eels.

[McMurphy]

buzzard seen yesterday from Peckham rye, fairly high up and circling, looked like roughly over nunhead cemetery.

[Sue]

AylwardS Wrote:

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> Peckham Rye Park Consultation - Redevelopment of

> Bowling Green

>

> On my walk round Peckham Rye Park today I saw

> signs up about a consultation on plans to

> redevelop the bowling green.

>

>

> https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment

> -leisure/peckham-rye-park-bowling-green-and-pavili

> on/

>

> The consultation closes on 11 October.

>

> The online survey suggests mini-golf or a pop up

> licensed bar in the summer and asks for

> suggestions of other uses.

>

> I?ve made a suggestion of an area managed for

> wildlife with viewing areas. I think this would be

> good and one thing to come out of the pandemic is

> a recognition of the importance of nature to

> wellbeing.

>

> If you support this or not you might want to fill

> in the survey

That would be lovely.

Great idea!

I'll do the survey!

[louisemurray]

A very noisy mass gathering of magpiesd near the Wildlife garden centre, must be 15-20 with more appearing to fly in.

[Earl Aelfheah]

mancity68 Wrote:

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> Not ED, but I was delighted to see a seal in the

> Thames between Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast today.

> Bobbing around eating eels.

Wow, do they often come up the river that far?

[BrandNewGuy]

Big drama on Barry Road just now... I was quietly sipping my coffee when I heard a parakeet squawk ? and a louder squawk than usual. All of a sudden, the parakeet came hurtling towards my back window, closely pursued by a sparrowhawk. The hawk must have realised it was going too fast to stop in time and wheeled away at the last second, but the parakeet banged straight into the window. I feared the worst, but it was only briefly stunned. After a minute or two it woke up, shook its feathers, squawked angrily at me ("It wasn't my fault, mate!") and flew off. A lucky escape.

[louisemurray]

It all happens in Barry Road

[Peckhampam]

This one wasn't so lucky

[Nigello]

Caravaggio!

BNG - which part of Barry was it? I?m expecting it to be near the Rye. I?d love to see a bird of prey here.

[BrandNewGuy]

Yes, it's between the Upland Road junction and the Rye.

[heartblock]

Long-tailed tits....loads of them in the garden 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[Sue]

heartblock Wrote:

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> Long-tailed tits....loads of them in the garden

> 😁😁😁😁😁

> 513;

Oh lucky you. My favourite birds.

Where do you live? Near the woods?

[heartblock]

Greendale isn?t far and my very small garden has trees, so I think I was a pit stop for some tasty insects!