ED Nature Watch

[ianr]

Two Tuesdays ago, around 10:40,  I was walking up Greendale, still in the flattish bit, just before the first side paths, when I met a family of geese who were walking down the path in the opposite direction.  One adult at the front, accompanying maybe 8-10 little furballs, with a second bringing up the rear, honking loudly at about fifty to the minute.

I moved out of their way and wondered what if anything to do.  A man who was walking behind them -- I didn't know whether with them -- mentioned the park, which did seem the obvious good and likely destination.  Wherever, they seemed to know what they were doing, and seemed to be getting on with it very well without any help at all, so I just stood there and wondered ...

A couple of minutes later, no-one in sight.  A woman sitting outside JAGS said she'd seen a man/men who'd stopped the traffic on EDG so that the geese could cross safely, so well done them.

Did the geese get to the park, or anywhere hospitable?  I was hoping and half expecting to read that they'd been seen arriving, but nothing here at all.

 

[Sue]

4 hours ago, ianr said:

Two Tuesdays ago, around 10:40,  I was walking up Greendale, still in the flattish bit, just before the first side paths, when I met a family of geese who were walking down the path in the opposite direction.  One adult at the front, accompanying maybe 8-10 little furballs, with a second bringing up the rear, honking loudly at about fifty to the minute.

I moved out of their way and wondered what if anything to do.  A man who was walking behind them -- I didn't know whether with them -- mentioned the park, which did seem the obvious good and likely destination.  Wherever, they seemed to know what they were doing, and seemed to be getting on with it very well without any help at all, so I just stood there and wondered ...

A couple of minutes later, no-one in sight.  A woman sitting outside JAGS said she'd seen a man/men who'd stopped the traffic on EDG so that the geese could cross safely, so well done them.

Did the geese get to the park, or anywhere hospitable?  I was hoping and half expecting to read that they'd been seen arriving, but nothing here at all.

 

At least there were still two adult geese  with them. Hopefully they reached somewhere green and safe. Well done to the people who stopped the traffic for them to cross! 

I recently read a very sad story of a similar goose family where one of the parents had been run over by a car, and the other goose and the goslings were standing at the side of the road wailing 😭

[first mate]

I know one of the Peckham Rye Egyptian geese sadly lost its mate a few years ago. There now seems to be a pair with goslings from two different hatchings. But, there is a solitary Greylag goose, did this ever have a mate? Also, do the Canada geese ever have offspring? I have not seen any this year?

[Sue]

29 minutes ago, first mate said:

Also, do the Canada geese ever have offspring? I have not seen any this year?

Yes, there have been goslings this year ❤️

[first mate]

Thanks Sue, I can see the Egyptian goslings and the Coots and Moorhens, but have not seen Canada young. Did their goslings survive? One of the Egyptian goslings looks almost adult now, the other from a later clutch is still at the fluffy stage.

I have also noticed what look like very large terrapins... which is not great.

[alice]

The terrapins have been there for years - I saw another in the pond recently. Did it walk over?

[Sue]

1 hour ago, first mate said:

Thanks Sue, I can see the Egyptian goslings and the Coots and Moorhens, but have not seen Canada young. Did their goslings survive? 

If memory serves, they disappeared one by one 😭

[first mate]

Alice, I was kind of aware of the terrapins but now wondering if they are actually turtles? I'm surprised if terrapins that they would survive the winter?

[alice]

Hmm they seem to disappear in the winter - and there are some who say that terrapins are a kind of turtle. 

[exdulwicher]

12 minutes ago, alice said:

and there are some who say that terrapins are a kind of turtle. 

They're turtle-y different.  😉

32 minutes ago, first mate said:

 I'm surprised if terrapins that they would survive the winter?

They hibernate, burying themselves under mud or at the bottom of the pond. There have been regular sightings in there (and in Dulwich Park) for years and terrapins can live for 15-20 years in the wild, 30+ years in captivity. They are however an invasive species - whether or not the RSPCA or a local wildlife charity would come out to try and trap / remove them is another matter.

[Penguin68]

I think for the English, turtles are salt-water (sea) beasts whereas terrapins are fresh water, but I know e.g. Americans use 'turtle' for all chelonians including tortoises. 

[Sue]

I presume the terrapins originally came to the park as unwanted pets.

It seems to be fairly common for people to dump them in park ponds etc when they realise they don't stay the small size they were when they bought them.

[first mate]

 

I have read conflicting accounts, some say the Peckham Rye pond chelonians are fresh water turtles others that they are red-eared terrapins. As well as terrapins, there are reports of Musk Turtles, a non native, fresh water turtle species also being released into the wild. They are also better equipped to survive our winters and do not seem to need to bask as much as terrapins. Perhaps we have both. I have not been able to see them close enough to observe markings.

Edited Wednesday at 13:41 by first mate

[fatherlukeduke]

Walking round Dulwich park lake yesterday with my camera, Merlin bird app running and keeping and eye out for anything interesting.  Merlin reports that it has heard a Curlew then a minute later a Ringer Plover. I think this is very unlikely (though weird that it apparently heard both waders within a minute), but I thought I'd have a good look anyway.

Watching the lake I see a grey and white bird coming in across the water - too big for the Plover, but got my camera on it as it landed and started pecking round the margin.  Zoomed in, got a few shots and worked out it was a Common Sandpiper!  Not sure how it got so far from it's natural habitat, but there you go.

I wonder about the Curlew and Plover, but still assume they must have been Merlin getting confused.  Keep an eye out though.

Edited Wednesday at 15:38 by fatherlukeduke
Addtion

[Sue]

2 hours ago, first mate said:

 

As well as terrapins, there are reports of Musk Turtles.

Are you sure they are not reported as Mock Turtles, by a confused reader of Alice in Wonderland? 🤣 

[first mate]

14 hours ago, Sue said:

Are you sure they are not reported as Mock Turtles, by a confused reader of Alice in Wonderland? 🤣 

LOL, no Sue, definitely Musk Turtles.