ED Nature Watch

[maxxi]

DawnSE22 Wrote:

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>

> swifts are declining and need all the help they

> can get from homeowners - ...

I read this too - well judging from the group of 8-10 that dart around dive-bombing and screeching at dusk in the Shawbury-Hansler Rd area they seem to be thriving in ED (unless they are the same as those wolis has seen on Barry Rd?). They are just above roof-top level rather than high up so I'm assuming they have nest sites nearby.

[DawnSE22]

Yes we are lucky that swifts seem to be doing okay in ed. Ive been keeping records for the bto since moving to the area in 2004 and numbers seem to have remained the same. A few times in July once the juveniles are on the wing I have counted over 50 from my garden! I guess with all the Victorian housing swifts have been able to find nest places despite all of the refurbishment in the area.

[ultraburner]

Was watching the swifts from my friends flat the other night... can't believe how fast they fly when they go into a dive(!)

[titch juicy]

i'm afraid i'm not going to read 44 pages, although i'm sure it's riveting stuff- and i'm sure the pair of sunbathing tortoises in the japanese garden pond in peckham rye park have already been mentioned- but in case they haven't, there are

[Sue]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> i'm afraid i'm not going to read 44 pages,

> although i'm sure it's riveting stuff- and i'm

> sure the pair of sunbathing tortoises in the

> japanese garden pond in peckham rye park have

> already been mentioned- but in case they haven't,

> there are

xxxxxx

If you'd read at least some of the more recent 44 pages, you might have discovered that they aren't tortoises :))

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

... and there are more than two.

[maxxi]

Got a couple of bees sleeping on plants at the moment - suggestions are they are either avoiding the rain or the cooler air makes them tiredquestion mark or they're just catching a nap... anyone know?

Photos attached - not great quality as the wind kept moving the little sods around... but anyone know what type of bee and why they might be so knackered?

added photos underneath - after much swearing

[maxxi]

'

[maxxi]

[civilservant]

On the footpath past Green Dale, I was hit by a falling piece of bread - looked up to see a squirrel perched on a branch chomping away on a slice as big as itself. A magpie was sitting next to it - they seemed quite comfortable together, although the magpie did look as if it would have liked a share of the bread...

Back home, no sooner do I put a fat ball in the bird feeder than the local squirrel ruffians do a Mission Impossible-style upside down raid on it. The birds wait to see if there's any left!

We've got a lot more birds as well as the cheeky little fluffy-tailed blighters this year - possibly since some of the local cats moved away.

[minder]

My cats are scared stiff of the magpies and the racket they make - they stay well clear of them (and squirrels).

Going back to the photos and they look like normal honeybees to me.

[lousmith]

Hi Maxxi, I reckon the critter on the nasturtium is a hover-fly(one pair of wings),which tend to be active on warmer days and don't really have a home to go to, so anywhere is good for a quick nap. Think the other one is a honey bee, maybe bucking the trend.

[reetpetite]

civilservant Wrote:

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> On the footpath past Green Dale, I was hit by a

> falling piece of bread - looked up to see a

> squirrel perched on a branch chomping away on a

> slice as big as itself. A magpie was sitting next

> to it - they seemed quite comfortable together,

> although the magpie did look as if it would have

> liked a share of the bread...

>

Walking past Harris Acadamy in Homestall road yesterday , a squirrel

was dragging half a pizza up the tree l

>

>

[Harry]

On the subject of squirrels,I could not believe my eyes on Thursday morning, as looking out of my window in East Dulwich Grove I saw a red squirrel jumping around my pond. I have seen several such squirrels in the Lake District but never in London. I just wondered if anyone else has seen a red squirrel in the local area as I presume that if there was one there must be more !

[Sue]

Harry Wrote:

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> On the subject of squirrels,I could not believe my

> eyes on Thursday morning, as looking out of my

> window in East Dulwich Grove I saw a red squirrel

> jumping around my pond. I have seen several such

> squirrels in the Lake District but never in

> London. I just wondered if anyone else has seen a

> red squirrel in the local area as I presume that

> if there was one there must be more !

xxxxxx

This has already been discussed on this thread, and links to pictures posted.

Grey squirrels sometimes appear to be red.

There is about a zillionth to one chance of the one you saw having been a true red squirrel of the tufty-eared variety.

[Only me!]

Blackbird chicks all gone.

There yesterday morning, bouncing around garden during the day .... & all gone now

Plus point, we still have oodles of Great Tit chicks on feeder all day.

[tiddles]

the english garden in peckham rye is just glorious at the moment. Does anyone know what the plant with the tall white flowers is. It has large flat leaves at the base, with very tall stems with masses of tiny flowers - rather like a giant gypsophila?? sorry if a bit of a long shot but they are really quite lovely.

[Sue]

tiddles Wrote:

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> the english garden in peckham rye is just glorious

> at the moment. Does anyone know what the plant

> with the tall white flowers is. It has large flat

> leaves at the base, with very tall stems with

> masses of tiny flowers - rather like a giant

> gypsophila?? sorry if a bit of a long shot but

> they are really quite lovely.

xxxxxxx

Haven't seen it, do you have a picture?

Could it be Crambe Maritima (Sea Kale)?

[henryb]

Had a swarm of feral honey bees make what looks like a temporary nest in a tree in our garden. The site is too exposed for them to stay long I imagine.

[picapica]

Hi Maxxi,

the first two are indeed hoverflies (very short antennae, single pair of wings, big eyes) probably of the genus Volucella. Many hoverflies mimic bees and wasps. All hoverflies are harmless (no sting).

The third is a honeybee (longer antennae, two pairs of wings, smaller eyes).

[maxxi]

Thanks picapica - yes, I have researched a bit and have to admit did not know so many different types of hoverfly were around in the UK (270 as it turns out) and was more used to the smaller common 'Marmalade Fly'.

Still not sure why the hoverfly and bee were asleep for several hours (to paraphrase a well known journalist - I counted them when I went out and I counted them when I came back in) in their respective places though.

[leenorris78]

Just seen a "small Blue" butterfly on the corner of Ondine Road/Adys Road. Supposidly rare and localised.

[Sue]

leenorris78 Wrote:

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> Just seen a "small Blue" butterfly on the corner

> of Ondine Road/Adys Road. Supposidly rare and

> localised.

xxxxxx

I've seen these in my garden this year(North Cross Road area) but don't recall seeing them here before - don't know what they are though.

[leenorris78]

They are called "Small Blue".

I went into the British wildlife place and they have Kidney Vetch planted in there, the butterfly's only food source.

[ironjawcannon]

Just the other day my husband saw a greater spotted woodpecker in our tiny patch of garden. We do have a feeder and get lots of sparrows tits etc. And happily have seen our first brood of sparrows feeding their young on nearby branches. Happily not drowned by the weather, yet. They nest every year in our roof.