ED Nature Watch

[red devil]

I was amazed when I recently saw about 4/5 Goldcrests in the garden, they're even smaller than a Wren...

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/images/goldcrest3.jpg

[snorky]

No sloworms yet, but they only seem to appear on odd occasions

A lizard showed his head last summer, but th newts should be up n running soon

toads playing piggyback a plenty though

[Moos]

Louisa, if it was really small (about half the size of a grey) and had distintively tufty ears then it was a real red squirrel. What a mystery, lucky you.

I've seen them a few times in Hamburg, and embarrassed myself by getting rather excited and squealy. It's somewhat the equivalent of going to London and going Oooh ooh! A pigeon!

[Jeremy]

I heard that red squirreles were starting to return in places... something to do with a disease which is deadly to the greys, but the reds are immune to.

[Asset]

I've seen reds in Scotland

[louisiana]

The bumble bees have been out over the last couple of weeks (yesterday too, but not today).

They seem very fond of a plant I have next to the front steps, and have been nosing around it in search of flowers.

The plant is a perennial (weed), that I have failed to date to ID. Grows a bit like a foxglove (leaf-wise), has a consistent cream-coloured flower, grows back again and again. I don't get rid of it as the bumbles love it so much, although it's hemming out my lavender and japonica.

[louisiana]

Just seen some damned grey squirrels mating on the back fence. So even more of the little buggers.

I hear that they will steal eggs from birds' nests.

[first mate]

I've just watched a bird of prey, either a Peregrine Falcon or a Goshawk, kill and pluck another bird (a young pigeon, I think). It was all I could do not to go out and intervene, as the process took a while and the victim bird was flapping a quite a bit. Quite horrible, but also incredible to see this in your garden.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

There have been sparrow hawks in Peckham - could it have been that?

[louisiana]

Sparrow hawks here too, on the south side (between Dulwich park and Dawson's).

[bigbadwolf]

Sparrowhawks in Forest hill as well. Now where did I put my air rifle.

[Moos]

Weren't sparrowhawks the solution to a problem of pigeon infestation at the original Crystal Palace?

Perhaps these are their great-great-tothepowerof10-grandchildren.

Edited to add link and say ha!

Sparrowhawks, Ma'am

[louisiana]

bigbadwolf, I hope that's to be directed at the pigoens, not the sparrow hawks.

[first mate]

After consulting my trusty RSPB Pocket Birds, and given the overwhelming evidence from fellow forumites, I think we can conclude it was indeed a hen Sparrowhawk- be frightened other birds, be very frightened.

I discounted the Sparrowhawk at first because the bird I saw didn't have the reddish brown tinge of the cock Sparrowhawk, but the hen's plumage looks right.

I'm desperate to hear more of All for Nun's Peckham Rye wild cat episode- or was it an early April Fools joke? I hope not, as walking Peckham Rye at dusk seems much more exciting in the knowledge that we may have a beast of Peckham Rye lurking. Also, I did a quick google and found a report suggesting that some years ago a man living in the Peckham area was given special permission to keep some endangered big cats- I think they were Cloud Spotted Leopards???!!!

[louisiana]

There is of course also the Beast of Sydenham which may have had offspring by now.

I'm currently interested in bats. They supposedly favour ivy-covered trees for roosting (as well as tunnels such as up the road in Sydenham Woods, and buildings), and I have one of those at the bottom of the garden. so am keeping my eyes peeled.

Any bat fanciers or experts on the forum?

[first mate]

Bats, lovely. I always look forward to watching them fly around at dusk, as the weather gets warmer.

The other thing we must all watch out for are Stag Beetles. I've seen some real whoppers over the last few years.

[bigbadwolf]

Louisiana, the only organisms I target wear hoodies. If you're interested in bats there's only one place to be. Ever since I was a pup I've always wanted to see behind the steel gates of the abandoned railway tunnel in Sydenham woods. During the summer they open it every Sunday evening and to my surprise there are hundreds of Bats roosting in there!

[louisiana]

Stag beetles are a feature of the area. Apparently we have more in this little part of London than any other area of UK (?)

They love rotting wood. We could create stag beetle-friendly corners in our gardens...

[Pickle]

We get loads of stag beetles in our garden every year, amazing things. Always quite funny to watch our cat being scared off by them! I haven't seen any bats, to be honest I didn't realise they existed in these parts, so will keep an eye out for them this year.

In both the houses we've owned in ED we've had frogs (toads?) in the garden - I'm figuring it must be quite common around here.

[louisiana]

Female greenfinch in the tree (robinia) at end of garden. First time I've seen her this year.

All the birds seem to love this tree.

I envy you your frogs, Pickle. Would love to start a small (tiny) pond this year.

[louisiana]

Bigbadwolf, I have been known from time to time to wear a hoodie. In fact I'm wearing one now. I hope you won't be targetting me ::o

[bigbadwolf]

That depends Lou. If your trousers/jeans are hanging below your arse and you like playing tinny music on the bus then expect a small bore anti-depressant in the bum any time soon. If not then you don't have anything to be scared of.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Please let us know when the bat watch is on. We could have a forum posse and of course go for drinks afterwards.

[louisiana]

Well I think a bat-lovers Sunday eve visit to Syd Hill Wds is deffo on. (Yes, I've always wanted a peek in there and never knew if/when it was open.)

I hear there are also bats in Dulwich Park and on the hill in front of Dawson's Heights (I'm between the two). And I live in hope of some sign in my own old ivy-clad tree... No doubt there are other bat redoubts in the locality too.

And as you say, Peckhamgatecrasher, there will be social events to organise around all that bat-watching. Perhaps even an annual picnic to the fabulous bat Mecca just south of Midhurst (where they live in the old train tunnels, long since abandoned). And then the various bi-lateral visits, both national and international. Chauve-Souris Sans Frontieres perhaps.

Pickle: we may need to start a stag beetle 'splinter group', as it were :-S

[Sue]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Please let us know when the bat watch is on. We

> could have a forum posse and of course go for

> drinks afterwards.

xxxxxxxx

Hey great idea, I love bats, and of course drinks :))