beddington farmlands

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS BIRD AND WILDLIFE REPORT 2017 Number 28 With thanks to

Viridor Waste Management

© Beddington Farm Bird Group 2018

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CONTENTS

Aims and Objectives

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Officers and list of observers for 2017

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Rare Bird Policy

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Recording Methodology

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Conservation Update 2017

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Birding Review 2017

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Systematic List 2017

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Appendix 1-5

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Beddington Farmlands Breeding Bird Survey 2017

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Beddington Ringing Station Report 2017

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Report on Other Wildlife at Beddington in 2017

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The mammals of Beddington Farmlands by Czech Conroy

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2016 Report Erratum

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Site Maps

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Front and Back Covers: Barn Owls by Tomos Brangwyn

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Views over Beddington Farmlands by Magnus Andersson

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BEDDINGTON FARM BIRD GROUP

The Beddington Farm Bird Group (BFBG) was formed in August 1992 by local birdwatchers concerned about the future of this well-known site. For over a century, various forms of sewage treatment and disposal have been carried out here, and the site’s resulting attractiveness for birds and other wildlife has long been recognised and documented. Beddington is perhaps best known for its passage waders in spring and autumn, but the mosaic of habitats here also holds populations of breeding and wintering species. The breeding colony of Tree Sparrows at Beddington is one of the largest in the country and the BFBG has rightly adopted this species as its emblem. The BFBG acts under licence from Viridor Waste Management (formerly Thames Waste Management (a division of Thames Water Services Ltd)) with access restricted to Group members, the majority of whom are keyholders to the site.

BFBG Aims and objectives To encourage and promote the development of a major urban nature reserve at the site. Promoting the site as a nature reserve in the Wandle Valley Regional Park proposals; having a Group input to the decision-making process via representation on the Conservation Science Group and in the Wandle Forum and making appropriate representations on planning applications that affect the site. To record and document the bird and other wildlife at the Farm. Undertaking breeding surveys and participating in national surveys; monitoring the fortunes of identified key species; ringing; producing an annual bird report; forwarding records to the appropriate Recorders, and submitting details of rarities. To assist and support conservation and management work to enhance the site for wildlife. Working with all interested parties to assist the implementation and monitoring of the Conservation Management Plan for the site; carrying out small scale conservation work sympathetic to the Conservation Management Plan, and supporting the Tree Sparrow nesting and ringing project and the RSPB LondonTree Sparrow project. To raise public awareness of site conservation issues, including the importance of disturbance-free areas in the final restoration scheme. Within the limits of operational and health and safety constraints, providing accompanied access for groups from recognised clubs and societies (as well as other interested non-keyholders); seeking agreement from Viridor Waste Management for rarities to be viewed on site, with twitches to be wardened by BFBG members. th

Note: The wording of the objectives was amended on November 5 2007.

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BFBG OFFICERS FOR 2017 Executive Committee Members

Peter Alfrey, Roy Dennis, Steve Thomas, Mike Netherwood, Christian Cogley Conservation Science Group Reps Derek Coleman and Peter Alfrey Chair Person Alternating Secretary Mike Netherwood assisted by Christian Cogley Treasurer Roy Dennis Census Co-ordinator D.A. Coleman Ringing Officer M.J.Netherwood Sightings Glenn Jones Records and Report Editor Peter Alfrey, David Campbell and Andrew Turner Report Writing Team Peter Alfrey, Czech Conroy, Kevin Guest, Frank Prater, Steve Thomas LIST OF OBSERVERS FOR 2017 P.R. Alfrey Magnus Andersson R.G. Booth (RGB) Tomos Brangwyn Roger Browne David Campbell Peter Casselton P. Chasteauneuf Christian Cogley Derek Coleman C. Conroy R.Dennis Nick .J. Gardner Russell Gardner K.Guest Glenn Jones M. Kohler (MKA Ecology) G.D.J. Messenbird M.J.Netherwood J. Parish (RSPB) F.Prater Dave Stanbridge Bob Stanbridge N.R.Stocks Steve Thomas Paul Walker Steve Woolfendon

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BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS CONSERVATION SCIENCE GROUP (CSG) 2017 The Conservation Science Group was set up as part of the section 106 agreement of the 1995 Planning Application. The Group’s aim and objectives are to contributing scientific advice to the implementation of the Conservation Management Plan. The group is composed of up to four representatives from the council and four from Viridor Members in 2017 included: Peter Alfrey (BFBG) Martin Boyle (Mitcham Common Conservators) Derek Coleman (BFBG) Marcus Kohler (MKA Ecology, Site Ecologist) Edward Sarasketa (Viridor, Site Manager) and Peter Walker (Viridor, Aftercare Manager) Dave Warburton (Sutton Biodiversity Officer)

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS CONSERVATION AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CAMC) 2017 The CAMC was officially set up in 2016 as the management body to oversee future public access and management of the restoration habitats. The CAMC is made up of four community representatives, three Sutton Council representatives and two Viridor Representatives. Members in 2017 included: Viridor Edward Sarasketa (Viridor, Site Manager) and Peter Walker (Viridor, Aftercare Manager) Andrew Turner (Viridor Communications) Sutton Councillor Pathumal Ali Councillor Nighat Piracha (Chair of the CAMC) Local Community Derek Coleman/ reserve Peter Alfrey (BFBG) Alistair Hayes/Matthew Frith (London Wildlife Trust) Marcus Kohler (MKa Ecology, Site Ecologist) Sue Morgan (Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust)

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BFBG RARE BIRD POLICY A committee the “BFBG Rarity Action Committee”, will be set up to assess the potential problems when a rarity occurs and decide how far information on the rarity should be disseminated and viewing arrangements. The committee will be composed of the current incumbent of Chairman and Records Officer, and one other keyholder. The committee has the power to co-opt any other keyholder such that no less than three people should consider the appropriate action. Upon finding a rarity, members are requested to alert one of the committee who will quickly contact other members to discuss the situation. The committee will consider the location of the bird; whether breeding; it’s feeding pattern; disturbance to other birds, especially during the breeding season; the finder’s opinion and any other relevant factors before coming to a decision. The committee will alert Viridor Waste Management (formerly Thames Waste Management) of the presence of the rarity and the decision reached at the earliest possible opportunity. If a “twitch” is possible at an accessible spot on the farm, Viridor will need to sanction it. After reaching a decision, the committee will inform all members of the course of action so ensuring that all members are alerted to the bird’s presence. Members can inform other members (key and non-key holders) whilst this is taking place but should resist from telling others outside the Group until the committee has decided the course of action. Under no circumstances should information be released to the bird information services, which will be carried out by a member of the committee if deemed appropriate. Members are requested to adhere to the committee’s decision. If the course of action is considered inappropriate then it should be raised at the next Group meeting. The definition of rarity should be applied loosely and any bird likely to attract interest within London and Surrey will be considered. {This policy was unanimously adopted at the BFBG Annual General Meeting on 10th January 2000, having been approved by Thames Waste Management.}

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RECORDING METHODOLOGY

The Beddington Bird and Wildlife Report is compiled using data from various sources: a) BFBG member sightings and co-ordinated counts which are conducted on a near daily basis. b) Ornithological Survey Reports conducted by MKA Ecology Ltd commissioned by Viridor. c) BTO Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) carried out by Kevin Guest and Derek Coleman and registration mapping breeding survey carried out by Philip Chasteauneuf, Derek Coleman, Kevin Guest supplemented with surveys conducted by MKA Ecology. d) Ringing Effort results by Mike Netherwood and the Beddington Farmlands Ringing Station e) Regular Moth trapping by Peter Alfrey from the ‘obs’ f) Bat surveys conducted by MKA Ecology Ltd, commissioned by Viridor g) Habitat surverys conducted MKA Ecology Ltd, commissioned by Viridor

Records are submitted for compilation into regional recording schemes organized by: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

6)

London Natural History Society Surrey Bird Club British Trust for Ornithology British Bird Rarities Committee E-bird Butterfly Conservation

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CONSERVATION UPDATE 2017 Apprehension continued to rise over the delay in creating the wet grassland. With the decommissioning of sewage treatment on 100 acre and southeast corner proposed for 2018 the threat of losing the Lapwing population mounted as the wetland habitat would eventually dry out. Superficial works to the wet grassland commenced in early 2017 but was halted awaiting further detail clarification. The development of that key habitat would in theory go some way to compensate for the Lapwing habitat loss so its success is vital. Despite widespread local opposition Irrigation Bridge and 100 acre bridge were demolished in February. This followed a lengthy campaign to preserve at least Irrigation Bridge as a future access point for the developing reserve. Following a petition that collected over 1000 signatures, the matter was debated at council committee and it was agreed unanimously for the committee to support any local community efforts for a replacement bridge.

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Bridge Demolition 2017 In March, conservation works were carried out on the lakes controlling willow growth, removing excess irises from the southern lake wetland and also strimming vegetation on the islands to provide a varied habitat for nesting birds. 11

MKA Ecology Marcus Kohler (Site Ecologist) overseeing conservation works in March In early March, the London Assembly organised a People’s Question Time in Sutton and Beddington Farmlands and the incinerator featured as one of the subject’s discussed as one of the key issues of the local community. With a snap general election called for June 2017 several political campaigns featured Beddington Farmlands. In April, local anti-incinerator campaigners entered the farmlands and started a video petition to Sutton Council calling to enforce conditions on Viridor to complete the restoration and to demand independent air quality monitoring of the incinerator. A BFBG member who inadvertently assisted the anti-incinerator campaigners in publicising non-ecological information was called into Viridor offices and was given a final warning that his access privileges would be taken away if a similar incident was to happen again. A written warning was given by Alan Hyde, Viridor Head of Community Relations. This was the first time that the bird group had ever been contacted by Mr Hydes despite the groups’ extensive volunteer efforts for the reserve. This was considered by some as further confirmation of Viridor’s attitude to the local community- only using their efforts to green wash their social and environmental abuses and to freeze out any genuine assistance in meeting ecological and social objectives. That view was not shared by all parties. Also In April the Poplar tree that the Barn Owls bred in last year were felled. The incident was reported to London RSPB office and Sutton Biodiversity. No action was taken as the Schedule 1 breeding site was destroyed outside the breeding season. BFBG responded by erecting three Barn Owl boxes in the vicinity. This felling was interpreted by some as a deliberate attempt to jeopardise a Schedule 1 species establishing themselves in areas where developers and landowners were considering development options. A request to Viridor to erect a new Barn Owl box in the South east corner was received more favourably 12

and a new box was erected in early 2018- subsequently 3 young were raised, an increase from one in 2017- a significant and well appreciated improvement. There were some reservations on Viridor’s motive behind this as it was a low cost –good PR measure that was introduced while the critical delays to the wet grassland and overall restoration continued. Presumably as some kind of puerile gesture in response to the local community campaigning, Viridor refused three applications from the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group and Ecology Park Group to the Viridor Community Fund (an ERF section 106 condition) for local wildlife gardening, biodiversity improvements to connect the farmlands to the local neighbourhood and also for developing visitor facilities to the reserve. Some members of the local community considered this as the final insult and confirmation of the much suspected sinister agenda by Viridor to water down community aspirations. Consequently there was a move towards a more polarized and focused antiViridor campaign. Through the summer 2017 a steady campaign was started to reflect this polarization. It was agreed that leading members of the campaign who supported both local community and bird group objectives would make their autonomy from the bird group very clear so a letter of conditional resignation was sent to Viridor in order to protect the bird group from any further perceived Viridor persecution. The campaign then started to pick up pace. The aspirations of the bird group and local community groups were laid out: 1) Site restoration complete as per the Conservation Management Plan and the Conservation Target Species objectives 2) Management plans for 100 acre and South East Corner to protect the populations of Lapwings 3) A Visitor’s Centre for the reserve in Hackbridge as per the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Plan to co-ordinate and manage an extensive public engagement programme with the reserve 4) A new bridge over the railway at the preferred site of the visitor’s centre- the land North of Bedzed 5) The integration of the reserve into Hackbridge and the wider regional park through the development of green corridors, green space improvements and access links as per the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Plan to develop Hackbridge as a Hub for the Wandle Valley Regional Park. 6) The integration of the reserve and the Beddington Community as per the Beddington North Neighbourhood Plan The Campaign Plan was as follows: 1) On line petition to call for Sutton Council to enforce planning conditions on Viridor 2) A social media anti-Viridor campaign to highlight their environmental irresponsibility and also to highlight their dissonant relationship with the conservation NGOs and the environmental and local community network 13

3) Demonstrations and Publicity stunts to highlight local issues 4) Formal complaint to Sutton Council for not enforcing planning conditions 5) On-going negotiations to find solutions and for Viridor, the Council and local community groups to work together in a genuine stakeholder community In August as the campaign started to pick up momentum the new school on the land north of Bedzed started to be built. The resulting loss of further parts of the reserve stressed the urgency further to secure a future for Beddington Farmlands.

The new school being built- further loss of the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation with the Incinerator in the background In September Sutton Council appointed a new enforcement officer, Simon Taylor who was employed to focus on enforcing conditions at the Farmlands and by October site manager Edward Sarasketa announced that he would be moving on from Beddington Farmlands as soon as possible. A new after care manager Peter Walker was appointed towards the end of the year. Through this period various attempts were made to publicise more widely the environmental and social injustice being carried out by Viridor and the parent company Pennon by using social media. Mark Avery, former director of conservation at the RSPB visited in early September and agreed to assist with that publicising. In December an article was published in the Political Birder column of Birdwatch Magazine calling for support of the on-line petition.

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Mark Avery visiting the farmlands and local area (The Hackbridge Café). Mark later wrote an article in Birdwatch calling on widespread public support for the Beddington Farmlands petition Towards the end of the year Viridor made claims that they were commencing works on the wet grassland and had a publicity event involving CAMC members and a photoshoot opportunity of members holding spades. Most interested followers in the Beddington Farmlands situation simply ignored such gestures of intent (as had seen similar things recurrently in the past) and awaited signs of genuine positive change with the results of the conservation targets being met, the habitats completed and the target species figures improving. By the end of 2017 the campaign was well underway with the plan to peak campaigning activities around the 2018 local councillor elections. The petition that was set up by the Wandle Valley Forum (the statutory body that represents over 120 local community groups) called on Ruth Dombey, the head of council to enforce planning conditions on Viridor and deliver the Beddington Farmlands Nature Reserve. It had over 4000 supporters by the end of the year. Campaigners planned to push the issue as a national case study of corporate irresponsibility to nature, highlighting how fluidity in the planning system is exploited for profit by malevolent organisations such as Viridor and as a result local communities and nature 15

are destroyed in a legal but immoral way and how Beddington Farmlands could assist in calling for national fundamental change to challenge immoral corporate behaviour and deliver corporate, local authority and local community partnership that delivers positive results for nature and local people.

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BIRDING REVIEW 2017 A total of 159 species were recorded through the year including a first for Beddington- a Cattle Egret. This takes the site total to 261 following not only the addition of Cattle Egret but also IOC taxonomic changes that after removing Lesser Redpoll last year, re-established it to full species rank this year. Other annual highlights included a Twite in November, Sabine’s Gull in August , Bittern In January, Waxwings, Goshawk and Temminck’s Stint in April, Black Redstart in May, Spotted Crake in September, Hawfinch in October and Long-eared Owl in December. Barn Owls also successfully bred for the second year running.

January Bittern, Firecrest and Siberian Chiffchaff were the highlights of the month with a good selection of scarce gulls including Iceland, Glaucous and up to 5 Caspian Gulls. Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and Little Owl were recorded in the month. The Dartford Warbler was present all month and up to 3 Cetti’s Warblers were singing. A Black Swan arrived on 15th and was present into March. February The good run of gulls continued with Glaucous, Iceland , Mediterranean and Caspian Gull recorded. A Barn Owl continued to show occasionally (presumably one of the breeding family from 2016). The Dartford Warbler was present throughout and a Yellowhammer was found on 4th. The Black Swan remained on the Northern Lake throughout. March A Common Crane was reported on 29th, two Avocet on 24th, a Mandarin on 31st , a Marsh Harrier on 27th and a string of Waxwing sightings that included 18 on 23rd, 6 on 26th and 11 on 30th were the month’s highlights. An extremely unusual record was of 68 Barnacle Geese heading high to the northwest on 4th April- most probably a feral group re-locating. 120 Snipe on 1st flushed while working on the islands was a very good count. The good gull run continued into March with Glaucous, Iceland, Mediterranean Gull and up to six Caspian Gulls in a day. A Rock Pipit on 15th was a classic date for this scarce spring visitor. Up to 9 Water Pipits were also present. The Barn Owls were present throughout. There was a single record of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. As usual the first spring migrants were Sand martins and Wheatears but interestingly a Ring Ouzel on 17th March was very early. 17

The Black Swan was present until 25th. April A Goshawk on 2nd, Black-tailed Godwit on 11th, a Brent Goose on 14th, Short-eared Owl on 16th and Ring Ouzels on 18th and 23rd were included in the month’s highlights. On the 30th April a red letter day accounted for a further months’ worth of quality birds in one day with a Temminck’s Stint (the first since 2004), Nightingale, Turtle Dove, Arctic Tern, and both Black and Bar-tailed Godwit. The day was the culmination of a month long stake out by Kevin Guest who was surveying migration. Other interesting birds in April included the continuing run of good gulls with Glaucous, Iceland and Caspian Gulls. Most interesting there was a significant overhead passage of Mediterranean Gulls with 21 on 22nd, 8 on 24th, 13 on 25th, 2 on 28th and 4 on 30th. As usual the spring migrant arrival escalated mid-month onwards. Barn Owls and Little Owls were seen throughout. May Winter refused to give in with a Glaucous Gull on 3rd , several Caspian Gull records and a second calendar year Iceland Gull remained all month. A Black Redstart on 3rd in the ‘obs’ garden showed well. Early May is a classic time for waders with Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover recorded with a Wood Sandpiper , Oystercatcher and Whimbrel recorded later in the month. The spring Mediterranean Gull passage concluded with 2 on 6th. A Spotted Flycatcher on 15th was the first for the year and there were two Garganey records. The Barn Owl was seen throughout.

June Overall a rather quiet month on the bird front with up to two Barn Owl being the highlight seen most evenings. There were also up to four Tawny Owls reported. Green Sandpipers had returned by 19th marking the beginning of the autumn passage. July Another relatively quiet month on the bird front with the Barn Owl continuing to be the highlight. Interesting early autumn migrants included Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gulls, Garganey , a single Oystercatcher and Green Sandpiper numbers started to build. August A Sabine’s Gull on 9th was present for most of the morning proving to be a popular local attraction. A stunning bird in full summer plumage. That was topped on 14th when the farmlands first Cattle Egret was discovered by the Prof. What a month! 18

Other interesting birds included a Wood Sandpiper present for most of the month, a Spotted Flycatcher on 19th, 4 Black-tailed Godwit on 2nd and Barn and Tawny Owls were seen throughout. September A Spotted Crake was present but was very elusive from the 18th until the end of the month. Another elusive bird was a Firecrest that was first seen on the 7th and on several subsequent days until the month’s end. Two juvenile Ruff from the 3rd were much more obliging and provided excellent views on 100 acre. A Little Stint was seen on 20th. It was a good month for fly over harriers with a Hen Harrier on 20th, two Marsh Harrier on 26th with one on 2nd. A Short-eared Owl also did a fly over on 22nd. Two Pintail on 25th heralded the arrival of late autumn and there were up to 10 Wigeon present by the end of the month. The first Stonechat appeared on 16th. 5 Little Gulls flew over on 11th, a Wood Sandpiper was present for most of the month, there were a couple of Caspian Gull sightings and Barn and Tawny Owls were showing most evenings. October Beddington finally joined the national Hawfinch party on 28th of the month when first two and then four birds flew over the mound. These are only the 4th record for the Farmlands. Other highlights in the month included a Raven on 29th with Short-eared Owl and Brambling on the same day. There was also a Great White Egret on 27th, a Coal Tit the same day and a Caspian Gull on the 21st. Four Bullfinch on 21st could have been part of the national influx of that species but there have been local birds around this year too. Visible migration observations included high counts of 1,900 Woodpigeon on 28th with 295 Fieldfare and 140 Redwing the same day. There were also 300 Redwing and 320 Chaffinch on the 19th of the month. The breeding Barn Owls raised one young successfully and there were also regular sightings of Tawny and Little Owl through the month. November The highlight of the month and also one of the highlights of the year was the discovery of a Twite by David Campbell and Magnus Andersson on 22nd. The bird was colour ringed, part of the South Pennine Ringing Group Project. Previously this individual had wintered on the Norfolk coast and generally all of the ringed individuals’ winter on the east and south east coast. The bird remained until the end of the year and into 2018 so was indeed a remarkable record by wintering inland and in London. Other interesting records through the month included the arrival of a wintering Dartford Warbler, additional records of Firecrest, Brambling and a Siberian Chiffchaff. Two Mandarins on 18th are a local rarity. Caspian, Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gull were recorded in the month and the Tawny and Barn Owls were recorded throughout. 19

December The Twite remained throughout and into 2018. Other highlights through the month included Long-eared and Short-eared Owl, (in addition to the regular Tawny and Barn Owls), Iceland Gulls and Caspian Gulls and there was a Brambling on 21st.

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SYSTEMATIC LIST FOR 2017 nc = Count not taken but birds present on site.

MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) Monthly Maxima (including juveniles) as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 14 8 8 13 12 6

Jul 10

Aug 9

Sep 13

Oct 10

Nov 13

Dec 14

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 0

Three territories were allocated in the breeding bird surveys.

GREYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 7 10 15

May 3

Jun 4

Jul 8

Aug 0

Sep 2

Unfortunately following last year’s first breeding pair did not breed again this year.

Greylag Goose (Peter Alfrey)

CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 127 160 186 135

May 100

Jun 125

Jul 140

Aug 50

Sep 60

Oct 146

Nov 128

Dec 124

31 territories were allocated- the highest number ever. This species is being eyed-up for culling measures which have been supported by a Wandle Valley Partnership report and low key marketing pitches by one particular commercially vested interest. 21

BARNACLE GOOSE (Branta leucopsis) A flock of 68 heading high to the northwest on March 4th were most probably a feral group re-locating (RG et al)

Barnacle Geese (Peter Alfrey)

BRENT GOOSE (Branta bernicla) One on April 14th (FP)

EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Alopochen aegyptiacus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 3 3 5 3

May 4

Jun 3

Jul 2

Aug 4

Sep 2

Oct 4

Nov 2

Dec 5

Oct 0

Nov 2

Dec 3

COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 4 9 6 9

May 5

Jun 5

Jul 0

Aug 0

Sep 0

Unfortunately despite pairs being present throughout the breeding season, there was no successful breeding.

EURASIAN WIGEON (Anas penelope) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 7/6 6/5 8/3 1/1 0 0 0

22

Aug 1/1

Sep 15/11

Oct 13/14

Nov 10/3

Dec 5/3

GADWALL (Anas strepera) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 85 110 50 25

May 15

Jun 11

Jul 5

Aug 21

Sep 45

Oct 75

Nov 42

Dec 36

An adult female with young was seen on July 31st (PA) but unfortunately the young were not seen after that date. This is the first breeding record in many years.

Gadwall with young (Peter Alfrey)

COMMON TEAL (Anas crecca) Monthly Maxima as follows (second line MKA Ecology counts which differ significantly from the bird group counts in the first line: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 175 150 175 65 6 4 2 15 70 100 146 100 224 299 244 nc nc nc nc 14 263 115 206 282

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 40 53 44 40

May 30

Jun 35

Jul 54

Aug 40

Sep 30

Oct 52

Nov 26

Dec 31

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 1/1

17 territories were allocated this year.

NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 4/1 2/1 0 2/1 0 0 0

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Aug 0

Sep 1/2

GARGANEY (Anas querquedula) It was a good year for this summer migrant duck, with three birds logged over the summer. A female seen on May 10th was followed by the arrival of a drake on May 19th. A juvenile female was found on July 23rd.

NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 80 75 49 18

May 4

Jun 3

Jul 2

Aug 8

Sep 107

Oct 136

Nov 74

Dec 82

Oct 6

Nov 21

Dec 35

Oct 18

Nov 16

Dec 24

Nov 0

Dec 1/1

COMMON POCHARD (Aythya ferina) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 25 49 11 0

May 1

Jun 3

Jul 0

Aug 2

Sep 0

Mid-summer birds were present again but no territories were allocated.

MANDARIN (Aix galericulata) One on March 31st and two on November 18th.

TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 25 62 87 50

May 39

Jun 35

Jul 33

Aug 22

Sep 26

Only four territories were allocated this year.

GOOSANDER (Mergus merganser) A drake was seen on December 5th (GJ).

COMMON PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 12/4 10/4 11/5 9/3 6/1 1/1 0

Aug 0

Sep 0

A single breeding territory was allocated this year- the first since 2005.

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Oct 0

Common Pheasant (Peter Alfrey)

LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 8 6 24 18

May 10

Jun 10

Jul 18

Aug 26

Sep 32

Oct 30

Nov 19

Dec 8

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) One on February 1st. One on April 2nd and 13-16th. One on May 16th, 17th and 19th. One on August 8th. Unfortunately no territories were allocated this year. Successful breeding occurred in 2015.

GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 6 6 5 4

May 3

Jun 1

Jul 5

Aug 13

Sep 8

Oct 7

Nov 6

Dec 4

BITTERN (Botaurus stellaris) One on January 22nd (The 7th record for the farmlands). See appendix 5.

CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) The first for Beddington Farmlands was found by ‘The Prof’ on August 14th(PCa) the 261st species for the farmlands. The bird was on the North Lake and appeared to roost in the trees on Eland’s island but was not seen the next morning or thereafter. 25

Cattle Egret (Peter Alfrey)

LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2/1 5/1 10/4 6/1 6/2 0 3/1

Little Egret (Peter Alfrey) 26

Aug 13/3

Sep 10/6

Oct 5/3

Nov 4/1

Dec 6/2

GREAT WHITE EGRET (Ardea alba) One on October 27th and 30th (RB et al)

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 32 25 17 10

May 11

Jun 11

Jul 36

Aug 48

Sep 42

Oct 43

Nov 45

Dec 38

Sep 1/1

Oct 0

Nov 2/1

Dec 0

RED KITE (Milvus milvus) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 1/1 1/1 7/4 13/4 4/3 2/1 2/1

Aug 2/1

MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus) A female flew over on March 25th and two (a male and a female) passed through two days later on 27th. In September, a juvenile was noted on 2nd and both a male and a female were seen on 26th.

Marsh Harrier (Peter Alfrey)

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HEN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus) A ringtail flew over on September 20th (ST).

Hen Harrier (Steve Thomas)

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 1 3 2

May 1

Jun 0

Jul 2

Aug 3

Sep 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) One on April 2nd (RB et al).

Northern Goshawk (Roger Browne)

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Oct 2

Nov 1

Dec 2

COMMON BUZZARD (Buteobuteo) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 7/2 9/2 14/16 22/12 4/6 2/1 6/2

Aug 10/10

Sep 17/15

Oct 11/4

Nov 9/2

Dec 11/2

Sep 3

Oct 3

Nov 2

Dec 2

Common Buzzard (Peter Alfrey)

KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 2 2 4 3

May 3

Jun 1

Jul 5

Aug 4

One territory was allocated.

Kestrel (Peter Alfrey)

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HOBBY (Falco subbuteo) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 0 0 0 1/4 4/1 1/1 3/1

Aug 11/3

Sep 5/1

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 0

Oct 4/1

Nov 1/1

Dec 5/2

Hobby (Peter Alfrey)

PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) One of London’s Biodiversity Action Plan species Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 3/1 1/1 7/2 11/2 3/1 1/1 4/2

30

Aug 5/1

Sep 1/3

Peregrine Falcon (Peter Alfrey)

WATER RAIL (Rallus aquaticus) Data:- Highest count Jan Feb Mar 5 3 5

Apr 1

May 0

Jun 0

Jul 1

Aug 0

Sep 2

Oct 2

Nov 4

Dec 4

Sep nc 102

Oct 106 152

Nov 90 144

Dec 95 164

Sep 425

Oct 400

Nov 210

Dec 182

COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) Monthly Maxima as follows: - (line 1 BFBG, line 2 MKAEcology) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug 120 90 50 25 35 50 50 75 199 126 94 nc nc nc 134 94

48 territories were allocated.

COMMON COOT (Fulicaatra) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 284 156 125 100

May 95

Jun 100

Jul 201


31

Aug 240

SPOTTED CRAKE (Porzana porzana) A single elusive bird was present at the base of the Sand Martin bank from September 18th to the end of the month (RB et al).

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus) One was heard then seen in flight near the observatory on May 11th (PA). On July 27th, a single bird was seen on 100 Acre and then in flight over the lakes (PC/ FP).

PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) Two on March 24th (RB).

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 0 0 11/3 25/4 11/4 9/4 10/5

Aug 0

Sep 0

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 0

Adult Little Ringed Plover (Frank Prater)

RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2/1 3/6 0 0 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

0

0

0

0

NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 62 51 35 15

May 14

Jun 16

Jul 29

Nine territories were allocated.

32

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

32

29

26

29

68

LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta) A juvenile was on Hundred Acre on September 20th (ST/GJ).

Juvenile Little Stint (right) and juvenile Ruff (Steve Thomas)

TEMMINCK’S STINT (Calidris temmincki) On April 30th, one was observed on the North Lake between 08:40-08:50hrs (KG).

DUNLIN (Calidris alpina) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 1/2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

0

0

1/1

0

A very poor year indeed for this species.

Dunlins (Peter Alfrey) 33

RUFF (Philomachus pugnax) One was on the North Lake on August 9th. Two juveniles arrived on the North Lake on September 3rd and stayed till 12th, spending most of their time of Hundred Acre. One of these birds remained till September 26th and three were seen the next day, before dropping back down to one on 28th.

Juvenile Ruff (Peter Alfrey)

JACK SNIPE (Lymnocryptes minimus) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 9/6 7/5 4/8 1/1 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

0

1/1

3/2

1/1

COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 89 100 120 14

May 1

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

0

3

11

10

14

35

Very good numbers in this February and March.

WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) One was flushed from the South-East Corner on December 30th.

34

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2/1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

1/4

0

0

0

Black-tailed Godwit (Kevin Guest)

BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Kevin Guest) One was on the North Lake on April 30th (KG).

35

WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrel (Kevin Guest)

On May 14th a single bird was found in the ploughed area of the mound (DKC) and presumably the same bird was seen there two days later (KG). CURLEW (Numenius arquata) One on September 22nd. COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 1/1 3/1 4/1 1/1 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

0

0

1/1

0

0

COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 3/2 6/1 0 0 0 0 0

36

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

7/8

2/2

0

0

0

Common Greenshanks (Magnus Andersson)

GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus) Data:- Highest count Jan Feb Mar 3 2 9

Apr 2

May 3

Jun 5

Jul 11

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

14

11

10

4

8

WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

Wood Sandpiper (Kevin Guest)

37

On May 6th, a single bird was found on 100 Acre (PA) and presumably the same bird was seen on the North Lake on 8th. One took up residence on Hundred Acre between July 30th and August 16th, followed by what seemed to be a new arrival on August 28th. What was probably this individual was noted on September 2nd and further sightings on September 15th, 21st and 23rd most likely related to what would be the year’s fourth bird.

COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 10/2 10/13 0 13/3 0 0 0

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

22/14

4/5

0

0

0

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Larus melanocephalus)

Adult winter Mediterranean Gull (Peter Alfrey) Data:- Number of days each age recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Juv 1/1 st1 w 2/1 nd2 w 2/1 Ad 1/1 5/1 5/21 2/1

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1/1

2/1

An amazing passage of birds in April included 21 on 22nd, eight on 24th, 13 on 25th, two on 28th and four on 30th. A juvenile was present on July 26th (MK).

38

Migrating Mediterranean Gulls in April (Kevin Guest) 39

LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus) One on April 3rd (KG et al). Five flew over on September 11th (ST).

BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus ridibundus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 8770 7215 2000 6

May 10

Jun 1

Jul 373

Aug 225

Sep 592

Oct 977

Nov 3520

Dec 5946

Nov 6

Dec 31

Nov 63

Dec 173

An interesting Black-headed Gull variant (Peter Alfrey)

COMMON GULL (Larus canus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 81 22 4 1

May nc

Jun 0

Jul 1

Aug 1

Sep 0

Oct 2

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 293 200 242 20

May nc

Jun nc

Jul 70

40

Aug 56

Sep 23

Oct 25

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis) Data:- Number of days each age recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Juv 2/1 st1 w 1/1 2/1 3/2 4/3 st1 s nd2 w 2/1 1/1 nd2 s rd3 w rd3 s th4 w 2/1 Ad 3/1 1/1 7/5 1/1 3/1 1/1

Sep

Oct

1/1

Nov

Dec

1/1 1/1

2/1

1/1

3/1

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (right) (Peter Alfrey)

HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 12947 5129 6973 Nc

May Nc

Jun nc

Jul 3777

Aug 3691

Sep 4146

Oct 3881

Nov 9102

CASPIAN GULL (Larus cachinnans) Month January

February

Day 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 11th 13th 16th 17th 19th 25th 1st

st

1 -winter 1

st

1 -summer

1 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 1

nd

2 -winter 1 1 1 1 1 1

rd

3 -winter

Adult

2 1 1

2 1 1 1

41

Dec 11245

March

May

August September October November

December

21st 22nd 23rd 25th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 6th 7th 8th 10th 11th 17th 18th 21st 2nd 3rd 10th 15th 15th 15th 16th 21st 4th 21st 22nd 25th 21st

1 3 1 2 1 1 1 3 4 2 4 1 5 2 2 1

1 2 1

1 1 1 1 1 juvenile 1 juvenile 1 juvenile 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1

At least eight different individuals in March including a ringed bird X319 which was ringed in Germany.

Adult Caspian Gull (Peter Alfrey) 42

First-winter Caspian Gull (Peter Alfrey)

Second-winter Caspian Gull (Peter Alfrey)

43

ICELAND GULL (Larus glaucoides) The juvenile from 2016 was present on January 4th and again on February 18th, 21st and 25th. The bird was also seen at Walton Reservoirs and on the River Thames at Hammersmith by Josh Jones. Seen again on seven dates in March. In April birds were seen on six dates which mainly involved the juvenile bird from 2016 but a second more uniform bird was also seen on a couple of dates. One first-summer Iceland was seen regularly through May. The first of the winter was a juvenile/first-winter on 16th December with a second juvenile/first-winter present from 23rd December. Both birds were seen occasionally until the end of the year and into 2018.

Juvenile Iceland Gull (Peter Alfrey)

44

First-summer Iceland Gull (Joe Grainger)

Juvenile Iceland Gull (Peter Alfrey)

45

GLAUCOUS GULL (Larus hyperboreus) The juvenile from 2016 was seen on January 2nd, 6th and 25th, and in February the same bird was seen almost daily from 15th to 24th. In March single birds were seen on several dates involving three different first-winters. Single birds were seen on 13 dates and up to two on three dates. In April, single birds were seen on four dates and the last sighting of the season was on May 3rd.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull (Peter Alfrey)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 22 20 2 7

May 0

Jun 0

Jul 1

Aug 1

Sep 4

Oct 5

Nov 13

SABINE’S GULL (Xema sabinii) An adult in full summer breeding plumage on September 9th (PRA et al). This is the second consecutive year where an adult Sabine’s Gull has been seen in the autumn - perhaps it is the same returning bird?

46

Dec 65

Adult Sabine’s Gull (Peter Alfrey)

47

COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 0 0 0 0 1/2 0 0

Aug 1/1

Sep 0

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 0

ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea) Three flew over the North Lake on April 30th (KG).

FERAL ROCK DOVE (Columba livia) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr nc 2 nc Nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

10

8

2

12

26

2

STOCK DOVE (Columba oenas) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 15 42 24 24

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

14

nc

26

26

20

17

5

2


COMMON WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 34 68 106 Nc th

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

67

96

54

1900

3230

26

th

th

th

October: 184 on 15 , 1,400 on 27 , 1,900 on 28 and 1,549 on 30 . th November: 3,230 on 6

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 3 4 5

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

2

2

4

1

2

1

2

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) th

One flew south across the North Lake on April 30 .

ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 45 Nc nc Nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

nc

nc

nc

1000+ 231

694

Four territories allocated. High counts are related to roost flights with birds heading to Mitcham Common. 48

BARN OWL (Tyto alba) Sightings were quite regular throughout the entire year from January 26th to December 16th. Occasional sightings of two during the spring from March 16th inspired early hope of breeding so it was a delight to eventually see two juveniles from October 6th as proof of a successful attempt.

Barn Owl (Tomos Brangwyn)

Barn Owl (Tomos Brangwyn) 49

LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua) January: Two on 5th and one on 21st and 23rd. February: One on 4th. March: One on 12th. April: One on 10th and two on 24th. June: One on 1st. July: One on 3rd and 8th. October: One on 16th. November: Three on 16th. December: One on 9th.

TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco) January: One on 16th and 28th. June: One on 10th and four on 23rd. August: Singles on 1st, 7th, 17th and 23rd. October: One on 4th, 14th and 15th. Two on 16th. November: One on 16th and two on 26th. December: One on 3rd, 17th, 21st and 27th. Two on 4th and 5th.

LONG-EARED OWL (Asio otus) One was heard on December 28th and 29th.

SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) April: One on 16th. September: One on 22nd. October: One on 29th. December: One on 4th and 17th.

SWIFT (Apus apus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

0

3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

100

400+

1000

250

10

0

0

0

th

th

Seen regularly after the first arrived on April 20 . 100 moved through on May 6 and an accumulation nd of 400 on June 22 provided one of the highest counts of the year, though this was trumped th somewhat by 1,000+ on July 27 . Passage began to die down in the latter half of August, following nd th th th counts of 200 on 2 , 250 on 7 , 150 on 14 and 60 on 16 , with low double figures over the rest of th st the month (e.g. 15 on 28 and 31 ). Swifts were logged on 12 dates in September, peaking at nine on th st 17 and finishing the year with one on 21 .

KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2/1 1/1 nc 1/1 1/1 1/1 4/1

50

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3/1

4/1

2/2

7/1

4/1

GREEN WOODPECKER (Picus viridis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 2 2 2 3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

1

2

2

1

1

12

1

One territory allocated.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 3 2 2 4

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

1

2

2

2

4

2

6


Great Spotted Woodpecker (Peter Alfrey)

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos minor) January: Female on Commonside on 14th. March: Male on 1st.

SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis) . Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 9 3 6 2

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

1

2

1

4

21

14

13

Two territories were allocated. October recorded on 14 dates, peaking at 21 on 28th.

51

SAND MARTIN (Riparia riparia) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

24

50+

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

5

nc

4

8

23

0

0

0

March 11th produced the first of the year with a single bird. Two were then seen on 17th before sightings became regular from 27th. Passage was quite strong in April, starting with 34 on 1st and with mid-month counts of, for example, 15 on 10th and 15th, and 24 on 24th. The year-high of 50+ came on April 29th. Few were seen in May, with reports received only for six dates, mainly early in the month and presumably involving lagging migrants. Two were seen on 27th. After a blank June, returning birds trickled through from July 4th, with seven dates logging Sand Martin during the month, though four on 12th was as high as counts got. Migration intensified in August, when there were 11 dates, including eight birds on 7th, and 14 further records by September 24th concluded the exodus, with 23 on 23rd being the biggest total for autumn 2017.

EURASIAN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

5

38

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

145

nc

4

19

187

2

0

0

Our earliest bird came on March 21st and four more March sightings included five on 29th. The rest of the spring migration was a subdued affair, with 17 April dates and eight May dates by 17th, when movement finished. A total of 145 on May 6th is worth a mention. The return passage began with four on July 23rd and resulted in 38 further dates with records by the time the final straggler went through on October 17th. The year-high of 187 occurred on September 15th.

HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbica) . Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

0

15

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

4

2

6

127

159

2

0

0

Spring passage commenced with two on April 14th and this month saw a further 11 dates but the intensity soon dropped, with only two May records, both early in the month. An isolated record of two – perhaps a failed, relocating pair? – came on June 28th and a gap followed until the return movement slowly began on July 20th, a trickle of birds moving through during the last few days of the month. A few birds passed through in early August then came another gap before migration truly started with 11 on 25th then 127 on 30th and 80 on 31st. September boasted 14 dates, all by 23rd, including the year-high of 159 on 21st. The final two birds of the year were an isolated occurrence on October 1st, not a particularly late departure.

TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis) April: One on 29th. September: Singles on 10th and 23rd.

52

MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 10+ 8 70+ 20+

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

Nc

nc

nc

150

58

10+

15

Spring passaged included a movement of 70+ on March 27th and most birds had passed through by April 22nd. The first of the autumn appeared on September 7th and the year’s highest count was of 150 on 15th; the main window of migration concluded by the end of the month. Small numbers of wintering birds were on site during both winter periods.

WATER PIPIT (Anthus spinoletta) Monthly Maxima as follows: - (first line BFBG, second line MKAEcology) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 5 8 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 8 11 7 nc nc Nc 0 0 0

Oct

Nov

Dec

7 0

8 8

6 7

The last bird of the spring was noted on April 22nd and the first to return were two on October 22nd. The year’s peak count of eight was made on 26th.

Water Pipit (David Campbell)

53

ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus) March: One of the ‘Scandinavian’ form littoralis on 15th. September: Singles on 9th and 15th.

YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava flavissima) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

0

0

0

5

5

nc

1

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

10

1

0

0

First recorded on April 14th, the 5 birds seen that day being the highest count of the month. The same number was recorded on May 10th and spring passage ceased on May 13th. An early autumn migrant appeared on July 9th. Three records in August included three on 26th but the majority of southbound birds moved through in September, with eight dates by 23rd and a peak of 10 on 7th. An isolated late migrant generated the departure date of October 21st.

GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 8 8 7 1

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

4

1

3

2

8

6

5

4

Five territories were allocated.

PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba yarrellii) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 40+ 13 10 3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

1

12

3

7

50

32

39

WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba alba) A single bird on April 15th was the first of the year and further individuals were recorded on 17th and 22nd.

WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) A string of Waxwing sightings in January that included 18 on 23rd, 6 on 26th and 11 on 30th . WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 34 31 61 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

36

22

34

46

25

28


NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia megarhynchos) One on April 30th.

54

DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 25 19 26 nc

May nc

Jun nc

Jul 5

Aug 7

Sep 13

Oct 20

Nov 11

Dec 31

Sep 34

Oct 31

Nov 12

Dec 23


ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 24 25 35 nc

May nc

Jun nc

Jul 12

Aug 20+


BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) One on May 3rd in the ‘obs’ garden (PA, RB et al).

Black Redstart (Peter Alfrey)

COMMON REDSTART (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) September: One on 20th.

55

WHINCHAT (Saxicola rubetra) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/4 0/0 0/0 0/0

Aug 2/1

Sep 14/2

Oct 0/0

Nov 0/0

Dec 0/0

Nov 10/3

Dec 4/1

Nov 0

Dec 0

Whinchat (Frank Prater)

EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 5/8 9/5 7/5 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

Aug 0/0

Sep 10/10

Oct 6/4

European Stonechat (Peter Alfrey)

NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe) Data:- Number of days recorded in month / Highest count Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 0 0 2/2 11/6 3/2 0/0 0/0

56

Aug 6/1

Sep 8/2

Oct 3/1

Northern Wheatear (Kevin Guest)

RING OUZEL (Turdus torquatus) Monthly Counts as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 0 0 1 2

May 1

Jun 0

Jul 0

Aug 0

Sep 0

Oct 0

Nov 0

Dec 0

Sep 6

Oct 18

Nov 12

Dec 52

Sep 0

Oct 541

Nov 230

Dec 25

Oct 12

Nov 26

Dec 49

BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 20 19 22 Nc

May Nc

Jun Nc

Jul 20

Aug 6


FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 15 9 1 1

May 0

Jun 0

Jul 0

Aug 0

SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 14 14 6 5

May Nc

Jun 3

Jul 5


57

Aug 2

Sep 5

REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Jan 200+

Feb 200+

Mar 30+

Apr 0

Monthly Maxima as follows: May Jun Jul Aug 0 0 0 0

Sep 0

Oct 12

Nov 340

Dec 159

Oct 2

Nov 0

Dec 1

MISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 0 3 1

May 0

Jun 0

Jul 0

Aug 1

Sep 3

SEDGE WARBLER (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

0

3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

4

1

2

5

5

0

0

0

April 10th was the arrival date but spring passage was light with peak counts of three on three April dates and four on May 6th. Only one bird was seen in June, on 18th. However, autumn passage commenced with two on both 17th and 27th, while eight records in August included counts of five on 14th and four on both 25th and 28th. 15 dates in September included a peak of five again on 15th and the final bird on 25th. Two territories were allocated.

CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti) Three were present in January, increasing to four in March and April. Up to three birds were on site between May and July, and the first juvenile of the year was trapped and ringed on June 29th. The number of individuals on site was restored to four in September, dropping to three in October and two in November-December. Five territories were allocated – the highest number to date of this colonising species.

EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

0

10

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

15+

5

23

6

4

0

0

0

The first of the year was reported seen on April 11th. Notable counts included 10 on April 22nd and 29th, as well as 15 on both May 10th and 13th. Passage spanned much of August and September, with six on August 2nd being the highest count and four on 25th representing the final record of the year. 47 territories were allocated. The highest number of this increasing population.

58

Eurasian Reed Warbler (Peter Alfrey)

BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 1 6 12

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

10

10

3

5

3

2

0

0

January: A female on 2nd. February: A male near the Mile Road bridge on 21st and 25th. April: The peak count of 12 on 29th was low compared to that of 25 on April 12th 2016. 30 territories were allocated.

GARDEN WARBLER (Sylvia borin) The year’s first bird was heard by the North Lake on April 19th. The only other reports over the rest of the year involved singletons on April 23rd and 29th, as well as one trapped and ringed on July 27th.

LESSER WHITETHROAT (Sylvia curruca) The first of the year arrived on April 13th and encounters were regular from then until early June, when breeding birds became more elusive and slipped away. Five were counted on April 24th. Three juveniles were trapped and ringed on June 7th. The sole record of an autumn migrant came on September 21st. One territory. 59

WHITETHROAT (Sylvia communis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

0

30

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

20+

6

19

7

2

0

0

0

Whitethroats were present almost continuously from April 11th to September 23rd. Spring passage climaxed with 30 on April 29th. Autumn passage was light, with just six records in August, with a peak count of seven on 6th, and nine dates in October, never exceeding two birds. 53 territories were allocated.

DARTFORD WARBLER (Sylvia undata) One originally found in November 2016 was on site till February 17th, when it was trapped and ringed. Another bird arrived on November 4th, lingering to 28th.

Dartford Warbler (Frank Prater)

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 7 7 7 6

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

6

4

3

19

50+

17

3

3

Up to seven wintering birds were on site in January, including a ‘Siberian Chiffchaff’ (form tristis, see below). Spring migrants seemed to arrive from mid-March but numbers remained quite low over the course of the spring. Autumn passage was stronger, however, and the main movement spanned from early September to mid-October, bringing about the year’s peak count of 50+ on September 15th. October’s peak count was of 17 on 14th. By November, numbers dropped (peaking at three) and birds seen were presumably birds 60

intending to winter on site or late migrants. Among them was another tristis. Up to three birds remained in December. 12 territories were allocated- the highest number to date.

Common Chiffchaff (Peter Alfrey)

‘SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF’ (Phylloscopus collybita tristis) One on January 7-8th and another was found on November 12th (NG).

WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr

0

0

2

5

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2

1

1

6

6

0

0

0

The first two birds of the spring arrived on March 29th. The species was logged on 12 dates in April, including a count of five on 10th. Singletons were recorded on six May dates and a straggler was observed on June 3rd. Autumn passage started when one appeared on July 30th and was relatively strong in August, with nine dates and a peak count of six on 4th. A further six dates saw Willow Warblers present in September, including another record of six on 15th and a departure date of 20th.

GOLDCREST (Regulus regulus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 6 4 2 1

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

1

nc

4

5

7

6

9

61

FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapullus) January: One on 7th and 14th. September: Singles on 3rd, 7th and 20th. November: One on 12th, 23rd and 24th. December: Two on 16th and one on 28th.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Two records: One on 15th and 19th August. LONG-TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 11 12 9 3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

6

nc

10

11

26

33

15

28

Five territories allocated.

BLUE TIT (Cyanistes caeruleus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 9 7 7 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

4

6

4

7

7

26

12 territories allocated.

GREAT TIT (Parus major) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 32 35 42 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

20

13

17

27

21

29

44 territories allocated.

COAL TIT (Parus ater) February: One on 11th. June: Two on 7th. September: Two on 26th and one on 27th. October: One on 27th. December: One on 16th.

EURASIAN NUTHATCH (Sitta europaea) January: Two on 28th. February: One on 12th. March: One on 10th and 25th. April: One on 1st. July: Two on 27th. December: One on 24th.

TREECREEPER (Certhia brachydactyla) One on January 18th.

62

EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 2 3 3 3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1

2

2

2

7

4

1

3

EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 33 28 34 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

Nc

20

12

nc

26

29

47

EURASIAN JACKDAW (Corvus monedula) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 2000+ 1463 133 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

Nc

976

500

162

196

1555

3342

ROOK (Corvus frugilegus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 27 9 5 5

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

27

23

19

nc

1

1

nc

2

May: Ones and twos noted early in the month, then three on 23rd, four on 25th, 27 on 27th and 19 on 29th. June: 7 on 23rd & 11 on 14th. July: 19 on 5th.

CARRION CROW (Corvus corone) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 423 357 670 250

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

Nc

535

448

397

315

121

444

Dec

COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax) One on October 29th.

COMMON STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 468 1270 719 nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

nc

Nc

1429

1500+ 921

971

4000+ 1680

Early morning counts on several dates between November 14-29th revealed around 3,000 birds commuting from wherever they had roosted, with 4,000 counted on 25th.

63

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 50 25 20+ nc

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

nc

nc

45

55

65

52

40

52

Oct

Nov

Dec

4 0

3 3

6 0

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) Monthly Maxima as follows: - (first line BFBG, second line MKAEcology) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 4 4 4 5 5 2 1 8 2 7 12 8 nc nc Nc 5 11 0

Two territories allocated.

Tree Sparrows

CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 16 20 10 3

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Nc

2

nc

nc

3

320

18

35

There was a strong movement during October, with 320 on 19th and other good counts including 110 on 14th, 100+ on 15th, 40 on 16th, 20 on 21st, 22 on 22nd, 80 on 28th and 25 on 31st.

BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) January: One on 25th. October: Two on 26th, three on 28th and one on 29th. November: One on 2nd, two on 7th and singles on 14th, 15th, 18th and 22nd. December: A male on 21st.

64

GREENFINCH (Carduelis chloris) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 5 20 11 15

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

12

5

20

3

11

12

2

2


GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 30+ 34 27 9

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

7

45

80+

80+

100

90

60

Five territories were allocated.

SISKIN (Carduelis spinus) With none in the first winter period, the first bird of the year was recorded on March 7th and spring passage was limited to this individual and another lone bird on 11th. The autumn movement was better, starting with a sole September record of one on 22nd and followed up by records on seven October dates, though four on 28th was the highest number recorded. A light passage persisted until November 8th, the fourth further date on which Siskin was logged, with a peak November count of three birds on 6th. After a period of absence, 11 birds were counted on December 16th, followed by the final record of the year involving two on 28th.

LINNET (Carduelis cannabina) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 92 40+ 16 11

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

8

4

21

55

51

110

164

118

12 territories were allocated. As a colonial breeding species the territories were clustered.

TWITE (Carduelis flavirostris) One of the highlights of the year was a colour-ringed male Twite. The bird was ringed as a juvenile at Dove Holes, Derbyshire, on September 13th 2016 and was seen at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, on October 16th of that year before being re-sighted at Dove Holes on May 30th 2017. The next sighting was at Beddington Farmlands as David Campbell and Magnus Andersson found it on the west side of the landfill site on November 22nd. It went on to stay into 2018. An upland breeder of conservation concern, Twite has a sparse wintering range on the north-west and east coasts of Britain, just about extending south into Essex, but inland records away from their northern breeding areas are extremely rare. This was the first time there had been a report of one of the project’s birds outside their core wintering area of the east and south east coast. Some 26 years after the only other record for Beddington Farmlands, the bird also represented the first to be seen in Surrey since 2004.

65

Twite (Peter Alfrey)

LESSER REDPOLL (Carduelis cabaret) Two on March 4th were the first of the year. The species was not recorded again till October 9th when a lone bird was the first of the autumn but it was logged on another eight October dates, with a peak of 12 on 28th. November also logged nine dates, including 17 birds on

66

18th. Once passage drew to a close, sightings became fewer and further between, with just four dates in December, with a peak count of four noted on 16th and 28th.

BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) January: Male and female on 21st and 22nd. Febuary: Female on 11th. March: Female on 7th. October: Four on 21st and two on 28th. November: One on 21st and two on 23rd. December: Two on 9th, three on 16th and a female on 22nd, 28th and 29th.

HAWFINCH (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). October: Six on 28th, involving a duo and a group of four (PRA et al).

YELLOWHAMMER (Emberiza leucocephalos) January: A female on 4th.

REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoeniclus) Monthly Maxima as follows: Jan Feb Mar Apr 12 10 8 6

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

5

1

1

1

2

10

9

9

Three territories were allocated.

67

Appendix 1 HYBRIDS

Aythya hybrid present in January and February (David Warren) . This actual picture was taken at Waddon Ponds but involves the same bird that was at Beddington.

Appendix 2 ESCAPES

68

Black Swan present in the first winter period (Peter Alfrey) (Also a Caspian Gull in this photo.)

Appendix 3 UNSUBMITTED REPORTS

Appendix 4 UNACCEPTED REPORTS COMMON CRANE (Grus grus) One on March 29th

Appendix 5

NON-CRITERIA MEETING LOCAL RARITY RECORDS BITTERN (Botaurus stellaris)

One on January 22nd (The 7th record for the farmlands).

69

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS BREEDING BIRD SURVEY 2017 Derek Coleman A survey of the breeding birds of the farm has been conducted every year since 1993. Up to ten visits are made from mid-March to early July, with ideally, no three visits within ten days of each other. On each visit, every bird seen or heard is mapped as accurately as possible onto a large scale map to give a 'visit map'. At the end of the breeding season, registrations for each species are transferred onto a separate map to give a 'species map'. The number of territories is estimated by looking for clusters of registrations on the species maps and a territory is allocated if there are clusters with three or more registrations. This methodology follows the Common Bird Census developed by the British Trust for Ornithology. The farm is divided into a number of plots that are covered by different observers. This year, BFBG surveyed two plots and MKA Ecology surveyed all plots. Table 1 shows the number of territories where a BFBG survey was carried out, otherwise it shows the territories found by MKA Ecology. Lapwing is also surveyed using the field by field method where the whole site is covered three times at intervals of about three weeks. Tree Sparrow numbers come from nest box inspections. In some circumstances, the data is supplemented where a species was known to have bred (eg Tufted Duck broods, which appear after surveys have finished; Great and Blue Tit from nest box inspections). Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling and House Sparrow are only surveyed by MKAEcology (who do not include Great and Blue Tit nest box inspection totals in their analysis). Table 2 shows the number of species breeding for the last five years, excluding these species. The plots surveyed with observers were: 1. 2. 3.

4.

5. 6. 7.

Hundred Acre - north of and including Cuckoo Lane (MKA Ecology) Area between south of Cuckoo Lane and Barn Owl Dyke (MKA Ecology) Pylon area - north of Mile Road to Barn Owl Dyke a) Northern lake (DA Coleman & K Guest) b) E half (MKA Ecology) SW plot – south-west of Mile Road a) Southern lake (MKA Ecology) b) E half (MKA Ecology) SE plot – south-east of Mile Road (P Chasteauneuf) Landfill to south of Mile Road (old enclosed lagoons) and treatment works (MKA Ecology) Storm tanks (MKA Ecology)

Table 1 Territories for each plot in 2017 with other years for comparison (* = present but territory not allocated, ns = no survey) Plot number Number of visits Mute Swan Greylag Goose Canada Goose Egyptian Goose Shelduck Gadwall Teal Mallard

1 8 1 * 6 * * * 8

2 8

2

* 2

3a 10 1 * 16 * * 1 * 3

3b 8

4a 8 1

*

3 * * * * 2

*

70

4b 8

5 18

6 8

*

3

*

* * * 1

*

7 2017 2016 2015 2014 8 3 3 3 3 * 1 * * 1 31 24 21 13 * * * * * * 1 1 1 * * * * * * * * 1 17 12 7 3

Plot number Shoveler Pochard Tufted Duck Pheasant Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Grey Heron Sparrowhawk Kestrel Water Rail Moorhen Coot Little Ringed Plover Lapwing Field by field Snipe Redshank Stock Dove Ring-necked Parakeet Barn Owl Green Woodpecker GS Woodpecker Skylark Sand Martin Meadow Pipit Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Blackbird Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Cetti’s Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Blackcap Garden Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Jay Jackdaw Tree Sparrow Chaffinch Greenfinch

1 * * *

2 *

3a *

3b

3 1 4

2 *

*

*

* 2

1 4 3

6 24 *

* *

* *

*

*

* * 1

* * 25 18 4 6 3

* 9 3 8 4 4

5 * 8 3

3 2 7 1 5 6

1

1

3

1 2 5 *

1 2 8

* 2 4

* 1 3

* 2

* *

*

* 23 9 3 9 2 * 1 * 12 * 8 6

3

5

3

4b

5

6

*

*

3

* 14 4 * 4 2 *

4a * * *

1 * 4 4 * 2

1

*

5 18 * 1 1 *

*

7 6 *

1 1

* 1

* *

1 1 1

*

* *

12

7 6 5 2 2 1 * 11 * 3 5

1 2 3 * *

1 71

6 1

* * 1

* * *

4

* *

*

4 * 2 5 1

* * 17 11 8 13 7

3 * 20 8 4 3 *

4

* 3

* *

2 1

18 9

8 *

1 * 1

2

2

* 1 8

*

*

*

* 6

2 7 * * 4

7 2017 2016 2015 2014 * * * * * 1 1 4 12 12 4 1 * * 9 9 7 4 * 1 * * * * * * * * * 1 * 1 1 * * 1 48 43 40 27 1 51 37 38 32 * * * * 12 11 10 10 9 10 9 10 * * * * * * 1 * * * 4 3 1 * 1 * 1 * * * * 1 * * * 2 2 1 * * * 1 * * * * 1 5 5 1 1 * 2 * * 9 118 129 96 59 2 61 70 45 16 2 36 48 31 27 2 46 51 32 22 * 19 12 7 4 * * * * 5 3 * 2 1 * 5 47 36 32 13 1 * 1 1 * 53 60 53 41 * 30 29 19 17 * * * 12 8 7 3 * * * * 1 5 3 4 3 * 12 6 2 9 4 44 38 19 29 * * * * * 1 2 2 5 2 1 * * 1 * 2 24 15 16 13

Plot number Goldfinch Linnet Reed Bunting Totals 2017 2016 2015 2014

1 1 * *

2 * 3 *

3a *

3b *

1

127 105 124 133 103 105 85 67 108 60 32 81

17 20 16 7

4a 1 * *

4b * 3

5 * 3 1

6 1 3

93 66 48 44

27 127 21 118 18 109 8 96

74 87 47 26

7 2017 2016 2015 2014 2 5 2 4 * 12 9 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 36 39 23 ns

Table 2 Number of species recorded and holding territory by year 2013 48 30 388 -23

No. of species recorded No. of species holding territories No. of territories % change in no. of territories

2014 51 29 354 -7

2015 56 34 521 41

2016 59 34 692 33

2017 57 38 730 5

For the third year running, there was an increase in the number of territories, albeit a modest one compared with large increases in the previous two years. In contrast, MKA Ecology surveys showed a small decline of 5%. BFBG only surveyed the Northern Lake and SE plot and used MKA data for the other plots. Table 3 shows the number of territories found by BFBG and MKA Ecology for different plots. The BFBG plots showed an increase while the same plots for MKA Ecology showed a decline. Surveys conducted by different observers under different weather conditions having different number of visits are unlikely to give identical results; further differences can be introduced at the analysis stage when allocating territories.

Table 3 Number of territories in 2016 and 2017 found by BFBG and MKA Ecology (MKA Ecology surveys amended to exclude species not surveyed by BFBG)

2016

2017

% change

BFBG and MKA

692

730

+5

MKA

723

689

-5

BFBG

223

251

+13

MKA

254

210

-17

Plots surveyed only by MKA

469

479

+2

All plots

Plots surveyed by both BFBG and MKA

The undoubted highlight was a pair of Barn Owls, which nested on the floor of the pump house in the Storm Tanks. In the first week of September, three juveniles were heard calling for food but only one fledged leaving the nest in the second week of October. Last year, they successfully bred in a black poplar tree on London Road, opposite Mill Green (outside of our survey area). The tree was cut down prior to the breeding season so it may have been the same pair. In the past, they were suspected to have bred in the silos, since knocked down, on Beddington Lane between 1997 and 2000. The origin of these birds may have been released captive birds, since a dead female with a closed ring was found along Beddington Lane in 1995. Another highlight was a brood of eight Gadwall; the first brood to be seen since 2004. This year, the brood was seen on 31 July when the female was seen protecting her 72

brood from a gull; predation was probable since only one young, assumed to be from the same brood, was present on 13 August. The brood in 2004 was seen on just one day (11 August). Gadwall are always present during the breeding season and presumably must attempt nesting more often than broods are seen. Also of note was the first Pheasant territory since 2005. A number of species recorded their highest ever number of territories: Canada Goose 31 previous highest 24 in 2016 Coot 51 previous highest 38 in 2015 Ring-necked Parakeet 4 previous highest 3 in 2008 and 2016 Song Thrush 19 previous highest 13 in 1995 Cetti’s Warbler 5 previous highest 3 in 2016 Reed Warbler 45 previous highest 36 in 2016 Blackcap 30 previous highest 29 in 2016 Chiffchaff 12 previous highest 9 in 2012 Long-tailed Tit 5 previous highest 4 in 2005, 2007 and 2015 Goldfinch 5 previous highest 4 in 1999, 2000 and 2015 Linnet 12 previous highest 9 in 2016 Of the target species still holding territories, Lapwing territories remained low in Hundred Acre; for the fifth year running despite seemingly available habitat. There were two fewer Lapwing territories in the SE, which were monitored intensively by Philip Chasteauneuf, who recorded seven broods from 13 attempts (9 from 10 in 2016). He also considered that survival was higher than last year, which he considered to be good. Little Ringed Plover were present during the breeding season but were not considered to have bred, although it is possible that they bred on the Felnex site that had suitable habitat. As already noted Reed Warbler territories are at their highest levels while Whitethroat territories were lower than last year. Both Sedge Warbler (2) and Reed Bunting (3) were allocated more territories, although they remain at low levels. The graph shows the contrasting fortunes of Reed and Sedge Warbler. One pair of Tree Sparrows had three broods and another pair laid eggs that were deserted, this pair is suspected of relocating to Irrigation Bridge where it successfully had one brood.

Number of territories of Reed (red) and Sedge Warbler (green) by year

73

I would like to express my thanks to Philip Chasteauneuf and Kevin Guest for surveys, Tomos Brangwyn for information on the breeding Barn Owls and to MKA Ecology for the use of their data.

74

Beddington Ringing Station Report -2017 Mike Netherwood, David Campbell, Roger Browne, Derek Coleman, Frank Prater and Kevin Guest

Our area of operations was increased with the addition of David Campbell to our team - he, with various helpers, began netting an area on 100 acre Even with a limited number of sessions they were able to catch & ring 157 birds including Water Pipit & Ring Necked Parakeet The remainder of the team maintained their usual sites around the Lakes area where we added Little Ringed Plover & Dartford warbler to our growing list. We were able to catch & ring 676 birds of 36 species. Sadly only 5 Tree Sparrow pullus were ringed this year despite diligent monitoring of the nest boxes by Derek & Kevin. They have all but disappeared! Cetti’s Warbler appear to be thriving around the Lakes with 10 new birds ringed including juvenile birds and Reed Warbler maintain their interest in the area both on passage & breeding. For various reasons we did not ring between early September & the end of the year. Again we would like to thank Thames Water & Viridor for allowing us access to our various netting areas & to the members of the BFBG for their enthusiastic support of our projects MJN

75

SPECIES

New for 2017

Retraps from previous years 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Moorhen

2

Little Ringed Plover

1

Ring necked Parakeet

5

Water Pipit

1

Wren

47

2

Dunnock

31

7

5

Robin

48

Whinchat

1

Stonechat

3

Blackbird

44

5

1

Song Thrush

17

2

Redwing

6

Cetti’s Warbler

10

Sedge Warbler

16

Reed Warbler

85

Dartford Warbler

1

Lesser Whitethroat

2

Whitethroat

29

Garden Warbler

1

Blackcap

53

2

Chiffchaff

58

1

Willow Warbler

6

Goldcrest

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

76

2

1

2

Long tailed tit

19

3

2

1

Blue Tit

33

4

2

1

Great Tit

72

2

3

4

Jay

1

Magpie

1

Starling

7

House Sparrow

23

Tree Sparrow

5 PULLUS

Chaffinch

1

Greenfinch

5

Goldfinch

3

Linnet

14

Reed Bunting

8

1

1

36 Species TOTAL 676

Controls & Recoveries -2016

77

1

Z544308

Reed Warbler 5

Ringed BSF 17/05/15

Controlled Kempton Park Nature Reserve.Surrey 05/08/2016 Distance 18km Duration 446 days

Z738739

Reed Warbler 3j

Ringed BSF 05/08/2015

Controlled Castronuno Valladlid, Spain 28/08/2016 Distance 1176 km Duration 389 days

DVT481

Chiffchaff 2

Ringed Guildford, Surrey

Controlled BSF 25/08/2016

04/08/2016

Distance 33km Duration 21 days

D097206

Blackcap 4


Controlled Nuthampstead, Herts 06/05/2016

Z846429

Reed Warbler 3

Ringed BSF 03/09/15

Controlled Durlston Country Park, Dorset 08/09/2015

*

Distance 155 km Duration 5 Days

D293959

Reed Warbler 4


Controlled Tring, Herts. 02/08/2015

*

Distance 59 km Duration 763 days

Y952289

Reed Warbler 3

Ringed Icklesham, East Sussex 03/08/2013 78

Controlled BSF 23/06/2015 Distance 79 km Duration 689 days

*

JBJ 205

Ringed BSF07/09/2015

Chiffchaff 3

Controlled Icklesham, East Sussex 13/09/2015

*


EY87101

Ringed Denham, Bucks 10/06/2015

Kestrel 3

Controlled BSF 07/09/2015

*


SA 40980


Kingfisher 3

Dead-Hit window Wallington 12/10/2015

*


Birds marked with an asterisk * were inadvertently omitted from the 2015 Report

Controls & Recoveries -2017 Ring Number

Species

Z761173

Blackcap 3

Duration 731 days

Distance 29km

Age Ringed

Controlled/Recovered

BSF

Wraysbury,Berks

07/08/2015

07/08/2017

Direction 105 ESE

79

S133001

Blackcap 5

Little Wilbraham Fen. Cambs 12/05/2016

Duration 333 days

Distance 95 km

Direction 196 degrees SSW

Z738716

Reed Warbler

Duration 291 days

Distance 92 km

Z846425

Reed Warbler

Duration 703 days

Distance 427 km

4

BSF !5/07/15

BSF 10/04/2017

Bramsbury Common, Hants. 01/05/16

255 degrees WSW

3

BSF 03/09/2015 DIrection 184 degrees S

80

Noyant, Soulaire-etBourg Maine-et-Loire, France

REPORT ON OTHER WILDLIFE AT BEDDINGTON IN 2017 BUTTERFLIES As part of the scaled down recording effort, no systematic recording of butterflies was carried out in 2016 Systematic recording will hopefully resume when a productive naturalist community is developed further. The list of butterfly species recorded in 2017 was as follows: ESSEX/SMALL SKIPPER(Thymelicus lineola/ Thymelicus sylvestris) CLOUDED YELLOW (Colias croceus) BRIMSTONE (Gonepteryx rhanni) LARGE WHITE (Pieris brassicae) SMALL WHITE (Pieris rapae) GREEN VIENED WHITE (Pieris napi) ORANGE-TIP (Anthocharis cardamines) PURPLE HAIRSTREAK (Neozephyrus quercus) SMALL COPPER (Lycaena dispar) BROWN ARGUS

(Aricia agestis)

COMMON BLUE (Polymmatus Icarus) HOLLY BLUE (Celastrina argiolus) RED ADMIRAL (Vanessa atalanta) PAINTED LADY (Vanessa (Cynthis) cardui) SMALL TORTOISESHELL (Aglais urticae) PEACOCK (Inachis io) COMMA (Plygonia c-album) SPECKLED WOOD (Pararge aegeria) MARBLED WHITE (Melanargia galathea)

81

GATEKEEPER (Pyronia tithonus) SMALL HEATH (Coenonympha pamphilus) MEADOW BROWN (Maniola jurtina) RINGLET (aphantopus hyperantus)

82

MOTHS 2017 Moth Trap Monthly Evening Maxima as follows: *Day flying moths No recording in January and February.

285 species were recorded in 2017 of which 18 were new for the farmlands (with an additional 3 new species identified retrospectively from previous years) taking the moth list total to 564. The majority of the moth recording was by regular (near daily) running of an actinic trap from the ‘obs’. Also, day flying moths are recorded. No MV traps were run in 2017. Unless otherwise specified the records below refer to the catches from the obs trap. Species

BF

Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Eriocrania subpurperella Ghost Moth

14

Orange Swift

15

Common Swift

17

Stigmella aceris

120

Adela cuprella

149

Cauchas rufimitrella

152

*Adela reaumurella

150

Six-spot Burnet*

169

Festoon

173

Skin Moth

227

Monopis obviella

229

Monopsis crocicapitella

230

Common Clothes Moth

236

Case bearing clothes moth Tineo trinotella

240

Apple Leaf Miner

263

Caloptilia elongella

282

Caloptilia betulicola

283

Caloptilia rufipennella

284

Caloptilia robustella

287

Caloptilia stigmatella

288

Caloptilla semifascia

290

Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Notes

6

1

5 1

1

1

Underrecorded this spring Underrecorded this summer

3

1

1

1

2

10+

247 1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

New for site. 260717

1

1

83

Likely this species infested the obs bird skin collection

Aspilapteryx tringpien

294

Phyllonocryter messaniella

321

1

Horse Chestnut Leafminer

366a

300

*Anthophila fabriciana

385

Green-brindled Crescent Glyphipterix fuscoviridella Argyresthia trifasciata

394

Argyresthia geodartella

411

Bird Cherry Ermine

424

2

Orchard Ermine

425

1

Apple Ermine

426

1

Spindle Ermine

427

1

Zelleria herpariella

435

Swammerdamia pyrella

438

Paraswammadamia nebulella Roeslerstammia erxlebella Ash Bud Moth

441

Hawthorn Moth

450

Ypsolopha scabrella

455

Ypsolopha ustella

461

*Diamond Backed Moth Epermenia chaerophyllela Coleophora albitarsella

464

Coleophora trifolii

516

Coleophora alcyonipennella Coleophora albicosta

517

Coleophora alticolella

584

150

40

1

1

New for site. 041017 and 201017 and 011117. Large numbers in July and August Underrecorded this summer

396 409

1

New for site 200617 1

1

New for site. 300617.

447 449

1 2

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

483 515

544

1

Coleophora sp Elachista maculicerusella Batia lunaris

609

Batia unitella

642

Borkhausenia fuscescens Borwn House Moth

644

640

647

1

2

2

84


1

1

1

White-shouldered House Moth Tachystola acroxantha

648

1

1

1

1

1

656

1

2

1

Carcina quercana

658

1

1

1

Diurnea flagella

663

Parsnip Moth

672

Agonopterix heracliana

688

1

2

2

Agonopterix alstromeriana Agonopterix ocellana

695

2

4

10

Parachronistis albiceps

756

Brytropha terrella

787

1

Bryotropha domestica

789

1

1

Platyedra subcinerea

808

3

2

Scrobipalpa costella

819

Aproaerema anthyllidella Anarsia linatella

843

Helcystogramma rufescens Oegconia quadripuncta

868

1

870

1

1

Blastobasis adustella

873

4

4

Blastobasis lacticolella

874

2

1

Batrachedra praeangusta Mompha jurassicella

878

Mompha subbistrigella

892

Mompha epilobiella

893

Blastodacna hellerella

905

1

Cochlimorpha straminea Agapeta hamana

936

1

Aethes beatricella

951

Cochylidia implicitana

956

Cochylis roseana

962

Cochylis molliculana

964

Cochylis hybridella

965

Cochylis atricapitana

966

Chequered fruit-tree Totrix Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Dark Fruit-tree Totrix

969

Large Fruit tree-Totrix

977

1 3

3

2

2

1

1

4

1

701 (1)

4

4

New for site. Retrospective identification from 130615 1 1

857

2

2

1 1

1

1 New for site. 260817.

890 1

937

970

New for site, 260617

1

1

1 1

1

1 1

2

1

1 1

972 1

85

1

Variegated Golden Totrix Syndemis musculana

980

Clepsis consimilana

994

Light Brown Apple Moth Lozotaeniodes formosana Red-barred Tortrix

998

1

986 2 1

1

1

1 2

2

1

2

2

2

1001 1010

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana *Cnepthasia sp

1011

1

1

1016

1

5

Grey Tortrix

1020

Tortricodes alternella

1025

Aleimma loeflingiana

1032

Green Oak Tortrix

1033

Epinotia bilunana

1133

1

Acleris forsskaleana

1036

1

Acleris sparsana

1041

Acleris aspersana

1043

Acleris notana

1045

Acleris schalleriana

1047

Garden Rose Tortrix

1048

Celypha striana

1063

Celphya lucanna

1076

Plum Tortrix

1082

1

Marbled Orchard Totrix

1083

1

Hedya salicella

1086

Apotomis betuletana

1093

Ancylis achatana

1115

Epinotia subocellana

1132

Epitonia immundana

1136

Epinotia nisella

1138

Crocidomesa plenjana

1157

Zeiraphera isertana

1165

Gypsonoma sociana

1168

Epiblema cynosbatella

1174

Bramble-shoot Moth

1175

Epiblema trimaculana

1176

Epiblema foenella

1183

1

Underrecorded this summer 1

(1)

New for site. Retropsective identification from 260615 1 1 1 1

1

4

1


1

1

1

1

1

86


Spilonota ocellana

1205

Pine Leaf Mining Moth

1207

Pammene fasciana

1236

Grapholita compositella

1241

Grapholita lunulana

1252

Cydia ulicetana

1255

Pea Moth

1257

Cydia splendana

1260

Codling Moth

1261

Dichroramppha petiverella Dichrorampha vancouverana Twenty Plume Moth

1273

Garden Grass Veneer*

1293

2

Crambus pascuella

1294

1

Crambus lathoniellus

1301

4

Crambus perlella

1302

1

Agriphila straminella

1304

1

Agriphila tristella

1305

1

Agriphila inquinatella

1306

2

2

Agriphila geniculea

1309

Catoptria pinella

1313

1

3

Catoptria falsella

1316

1

1

6

2

Water Veneer

1331

Scaparia Pyralella

1333

Scoparia ambigualis

1334

Eudonia pallida

1336

Dipleurina lacustrata

1338

Eudonia angustea

1342

1

1

Eudonia mercurella

1344

Brown China-mark

1345

Small China-mark

1354

Garden Pebble

1356

1

Small Purple and Gold

1361

1

Pyrausta purpuralis

1362

Pyrausta despicata

1365

Sitochroa verticalis*

1371

4

European Corn Borer

1375

1

(1)

New for site. Retrospective identification from 130615. 1

2

1

1

1284 1288

1 4

1

1

1

Underrecorded this summer

2

2

1

2 4

4

8

1

2

1

2

1

2

1 3

87

Underrecorded this summer 1

Small magpie

1376

Pylotaeneia coronata

1378

Anania perlucidalis

1380

Udea Olivalis

1392

Rusty Dot Pearl

1

1 1

2

1395

1

3

Rush Veneer

1398

2

1

Mother of Pearl

1405

Palpita vitrealis

1408

Boxworm Moth

1409a

1

1

3 on 4th August with a total of 11 through month 1

100+ 100+ 1

Large numbers in the nettles on 100 acre 1

1

1

3

Gold Triangle

1413

5

2

3

5

Orthopygia glaucinalis

1415

1

1

1

1

Meal Moth

1417

1

1

1

1

Large Tabby

1421

Endotricha flammealis

1424

Wax Moth

1425

Bee Moth

1428

Crytoblables bistriga

1433

Acrobasis repandana

1436

1

Trachycera advenella

1439

2

Oncocera semirubella

1441

1

Rhodophaea formosa

1445

1

Phycita roberella

1452

1

Thistle Ermine

1458

Euzophera pinguis

1470

Ephestia unicolorella

1474

Homoeosoma sinuella

1481

Rose Plume

1496

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Platyptilia gonodactyla

1497

Platyptilia pallidactyla

1504

Emmelina monodactyla

1524

December Moth

1631

Oak Hook-tip

1646

Pebble Hook-tip

1648

Peach Blossom

1652

10 individuals –a colonizing species 1

1

1 5

4 1

5

5

1

1

2

1

2

1

1

1501

1

1

1

1

1

1

88

1

Buff Arches

1653

1

Figure of eighty

1654

Frosted Green

1660

March Moth

1663

Blotched Emerald

1667

1

Common Emerald

1669

3

Small Emerald

1673

Maiden’s Blush

1680

1

2

Blood-vein

1682

1

1

Small Blood Vein

1690

1

Cream Wave

1693

1

Least Carpet

1699

2

Dwarf Cream Wave

1705

1

Small Dusty Wave

1707

2

Single-dotted Wave

1708

Treble Brown Spot

1711

Riband Wave

1713

Plain Wave

1715

Vestal

1716

2

Gem

1720

1

Flame Carpet

1722

Silver-ground Carpet

1727

Garden Carpet

1728

Shaded Broad-bar

1732

Common Carpet

1738

Yellow Shell*

1742

Mallow

1745

The Streamer

1747

Dark Spinach

1749

Red-green Carpet

1760

Common Marbled Carpet Barred Yellow

1764

Blue-bordered Carpet

1766

Grey Pine Carpet

1768

Cypress Carpet

1771

1

2

1

1

2

New for site. 2 on 130717. 1

1

3

1

1

1 1

2

5

5

2

1 1

5

Nine recorded through October. Mainly associated with exHurricane Ophelia. First for site. 151017.

1

2

1

1

1

1

3

5

1

1 3

3 1

1

1765

1 1

89

1

Green Carpet

1776

July Highflyer

1777

Waved Umber

1781

November Moth

1795

Autumnal Moth

1797

Winter Moth

1799

Northern Winter Moth

1800

Barred Rivulet

1804

Grass Rivulet

1807

Foxglove Pug

1817

Lime-speck Pug

2 5

4

1

1

1

1825

1

2

2

2

Freyer’s Pug

1827

1

Wormwood Pug

1830

Currant Pug

1832

Common Pug

1834

4

1

1

White-spotted Pug

1835

Grey Pug

1837

Tawny Speckled Pug

1838

Bordered Pug

1839

Shaded Pug

1840

Brindled Pug

1852

Oak-tree Pug

1853

Cypress Pug

1855

Green Pug

1860

Double-striped Pug

1862

Treble Bar

1867

Lesser Treble Bar

1868

Small Seraphim

1882

Yellow-barred Brindle

1883

Clouded Border

1887

Scorched Carpet

1888

Peacock

1889

Tawny-barred Angle

1893

Latticed Heath

1894

Brown Silver Line

1902

Brimstone Moth

1906

August Thorn

1912

Canary-shouldered Thorn Dusky Thorn

1913

September Thorn

1915

1 1

4

1

1

2

1

1 1 1

2

1

1

3

2

3

5

1

1

1 1 1 1 1


1

1


2

1

1914 1

90

Early Thorn

1917

1

Scalloped Oak

1921

Swallow-tailed Moth

1922

Feathered Thorn

1923

Small Brindled Beauty

1925

Pale Brindled Beauty

1926

Brindled Beauty

1927

Oak Beauty

1930

Scarce Umber

1933

Dotted Border

1934

Mottled Umber

1935

Waved Umber

1936

Willow Beauty

1937

Common White Wave

1955

Common Wave

1956

Clouded Silver

1958

Light Emerald

1961

Lime Hawkmoth

1979

Poplar Hawkmoth

1981

Elephant Hawkmoth

1991

Small Elephant Hawkmoth Buff-tip

1992

Sallow Kitten

1997

Poplar Kitten

1998

Iron Prominent

2000

Pebble Prominent

2003

Swallow Prominent

2007

Pale Prominent

2011

Lunar Marbled Brown

2015

Chocolate Tip

2019

1

Oak Processionary

2022

3

The Vapourer

2026

Pale Tussock

2028

Yellow-tail

2030

Black Arches

2033

Gypsy Moth

2034

1 1 1

3

1

2

1

2

1

4

1

1

1

3

1

2

1

1 1

1994

1

1

1

1

1 1

5

3

91

1

One long dead found on 220817 A total of eleven caught in August Seen in flight in autumn

A total of nine of this colonizing species

Rosy Footman

2037

1

1

Orange Footman

2043

Dingy Footman

2044

1

2

Hoary Footman

2045

1

Scarce Footman

2047

5

3

Common Footman

2050

3

6

Garden Tiger

2057

White Ermine

2060

Buff Ermine

2061

Muslin Moth

2063

Ruby Tiger

2064

Jersey Tiger

2067

Cinnabar*

2069

Kent Black Arches

2076

Short-cloaked Moth

2077

Least Black Arches

2078

Scarce Black Arches

2079

Garden Dart

2082

Turnip Moth

2087

1

Heart and Club

2088

1

1

Heart and Dart

2089

10

5

Dark Sword Grass

2091

1

1

1

Shuttle-shaped Dart

2092

1

1

1

Flame

2098

2

1

1

Flame Shoulder

2102

1

Large Yellow Underwing Lesser Yellow Underwing Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Least Yellow Underwing Autumnal Rustic

2107

True’s Lover Knot

2118

Small Sqaure-spot

2123

1

Setaceous Hebrew Character Six-striped Rustic

2126

4

Square-spot Rustic

2134

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

4

1

1

1

Regularly seen during day in July and August

1

1

8

1

1

1

2

1 1

2109

1

2

1

1 2

1

1

1

6

1

5

6

1

4

4

1

2110 2111 2112 2117

5

2133

92

Relatively low numbers this autumn

Nutmeg

2145

Shears

2147

Cabbage Moth

2154

Dot Moth

2155

Light Brocade

2157

Bright-line Brown-eye

2160

Small Ranunculus

2165

Broad-barred White

2164

Lychnis

2173

Small Quaker

2182

Powdered Quaker

2186

Common Quaker

2187

7

1

Clouded Drab

2188

1

1

Twin-spotted Quaker

2189

2

Hebrew Character

2190

1

Brown-line Bright-eye

2192

Clay

2193

White-point

2194

Southern Wainscot

2197

Smoky Wainscot

1 1


3

2

2

1

1

1

1 1 3

1

4

1

2

2

2

12

2198

6

4

Common Wainscot

2199

1

1

L-album Wainscot

2202

Obscure Wainscot

2204

1

Shoulder-striped Wainscot Wormwood

2205

1

Shark

2216

Toadflax Brocade

2223

Deep-brown Dart

2231

Black Rustic

2232

Grey-shoulder Knot

2237

1

Blair’s Shoulder Knot

2240

1

Early Grey

2243

Green-brindled Crescent Bridled Green

2245

Large Ranunculus

2252

1

Satellite

2256

1

The Chestnut

2258

Dotted Chestnut

2260

The Brick

2262

1

4

1 1

2211


1


1

1 New for site 201017

1 1

1

2248

1

93

Red-line Quaker

2263

Yellow-line Quaker

2264

Beaded Chestnut

2267

Centre-barred Sallow

2269

Lunar Underwing

2270

2

Orange Sallow

2271

1

Barred Sallow

2272

Pink-barred Sallow

2273

Sallow

2274

Poplar Grey

2278

Grey Dagger

2284

Knot Grass

2289

Coronet

2291

Tree-lichen Beauty

2292

2

1

Marbled Beauty

2293

1

1

1

Copper Underwing

2297

2

1

Svensson’s Copper Underwing Mouse Moth

2298

Straw Underwing

2303

Angle Shades

2306

Dingy Shears

2314

Lesser-spotted Pinion

2316

Dun-bar

2318

1

1

Dark Arches

2321

2

2

Light Arches

2322

3

Dusky Brocade

2330

1

Rustic Shoulder-knot

2334

Double Lobed

2336

2 2

1 1

Marbled Minor

2337

Tawny Marbled Minor

2339

Middle-barred Minor

2340

Cloaked Minor

2341

Rosy Minor

2342

Common Rustic

2343

Small Dotted Buff

2345

Dusky Sallow

2352

Flounced Rustic

2353

Ear Moth

2360

Rosy Rustic

2361

The Crescent

2368

1 1

1 1 1

6 1

2299

Minor sp

1

3

1

1

1 2

1

1

4

6

5

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1

2

1

1 1

1

1

1

94

Bulrush Wainscot

2369

Webb’s Wainscot

2373

Large Wainscot

2375

Treble Lines

2380

1

Uncertain

2381

1

Rustic

2382

Vine’s Rustic

2384

Small Mottled Willow

2385

Mottled Rustic

2387

Pale Mottled Willow

2389

Bordered Sallow

2399

Scarce Bordered Straw

2400

Scarce Silver Lines

2421

Oak Nycteoline

2423

Nut-tree Tussock

2425

Burnished Brass

2434

Dewick’s Plusia

2436

Silver Y

2441

Spectacle

2450

Red Underwing

2452

Mother Shipton

2462

Burnet Companion*

2463

Herald

2469 27

Beautilful Hook-tip

2473

Straw Dot

2474

Snout

2477

Button Snout

2480

15

10 1

1

4

6

1

1

1

1

4

5

2

2

2

15

5

4

5

1

1

1

2

New for site. One on 190817 and one on 080917. 1

1

1

1

1 1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

One seen in field by John Parish on 250617. Singles at light on 100817, 12140917, 050717 and 191017

1

1

1 24

1

32

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

95

22

3

1

26

27

Underrecorded this summer. Winter hibernation tunnel and one found in a house in Bedzed in December

Oak Beauty (Peter Alfrey)

Red Underwing (Peter Alfrey)

96

Blotched Emerald (Peter Alfrey)

Dewick’s Plusia (Peter Alfrey)

97

Small Emerald (Peter Alfrey) A first for the farmlands.

Small Blood Vein (left) and Small Ranunculus (Peter Alfrey)

98

Sallow Kitten (Peter Alfrey)

Early Thorn (Peter Alfrey) 99

Box Tree Moth – this species continues its range expansion into the area

The Wormwood- a first for Beddington 100

Beautiful Plume (Peter Alfrey)

September Thorn (Peter Alfrey) 101

Figure of Eighty (Peter Alfrey)

Vestal (Peter Alfrey) An influx in October.

102

Blastodacna hellerella (left) and Caloptilia betulicola- both firsts for the farmlands

Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella- a first for the farmlands

103

Gypsonoma sociana- a first for the farmlands

Peacock- a first for the farmlands 104

Brown Silver Line- a first for the farmlands

Shears- a first for the farmlands

105

Obscure Wainscot (top) with Smoky Wainscot – a first for the farmlands

Scarce Bordered Straw- a first for the farmlands

106

Gem (Peter Alfrey)

Grey Shoulder Knot (Peter Alfrey)

107

BEDDINGTON'S DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES IN 2017 Czech Conroy

This year 10 Odonata species were seen, of which five were damselflies and five were dragonflies. The highlight of the year was a sighting of a Red-veined Darter, which was only the second record at Beddington in the last decade and the third overall. Systematic recording began in June and finished in early October: no systematic counts were done in July. Damselflies

Small Red-eyed Damselflies ovipositing (Czech Conroy) The first species of the year were Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue and Blue-tailed - all seen in the first half of June. Common Blues were then seen in small numbers (with a maximum of 10 at the end of August) all the way through to early October; and Blue-tailed until late August. Only small numbers (1-3) of Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies have been seen on any one visit. All three of these species have been recorded in both 2016 and 2017, and in at least three of the last five years. Small Red-eyed Damselflies were first seen at Beddington in 2014. They are still largely confined to a specific part of the North Lake. Nevertheless, they appeared to be the most abundant damselfly species this year (as they were last year), with numbers typically 10-50 when weather conditions were favourable. In light of this, and the fact that this was the third year of the last four in which they have been seen, we have changed their status from 'vagrant' to 'common'. The Willow Emerald was recorded at Beddington for the first time in September 2016. This year Peter Alfrey saw another three in the latter part of August, on the permitted footpath alongside the North Lake.

108

Small Red-eye Damselflies Dragonflies The first dragonflies of the year were Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperors, both of which were seen in mid and late June. Black-tailed Skimmers were still present at the end of August; and (like last year) were the most abundant species, with up to 20 recorded in a visit. The skimmers were present on both lakes, as were the Emperors, the maximum number for the latter being nine. Small numbers of Common Darters were recorded in late August and early October, on and around both lakes. A Red-veined Darter was seen and photographed by Peter Alfrey on 6 July on the mound. This year saw exceptional numbers of this species visiting parts of England.

Red-veined Darter (Peter Alfrey) 109

At least 15 Migrant Hawkers were seen on 22 August; and, as usual, this species was present into October.

Migrant Hawker (Czech Conroy)

Common Name

Status at Beddington

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Damselflies Large Red Damselfly

Common

A

Willow Emerald

1 seen 2016

Common Blue Damselfly

Common

A,B

B

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Common

A,B

B

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Common

B

st

B (3, PA) A

Dragonflies Migrant Hawker

Common

Emperor Dragonfly

Common

B A,B

110

A

Black-tailed Skimmer

Common

Common Darter

Common

Red-veined Darter

Vagrant

A,B

B B

A

6th (PA)

Notes 1. Records for each month have been split into two halves, 'A' representing the first half and 'B' the second half. An 'A' or 'B' represents at least one sighting in that half month. 2. The date of the sighting is given where it is the first sighting of the year or when the species is scarce or vagrant. 3. All of the sightings were by Czech Conroy and/or Peter Alfrey.

111

OTHER WILDLIFE Photo gallery of other interesting wildlife reported

Common Hedgehog (Peter Alfrey). In a good year for this species there were up to seven individuals recorded on summer evenings.

Great Burnet growing on the Southern Mound again this year, pictured here with a Six-spot Burnet moth (Nick Gardner) 112

Forest Bug (Peter Alfrey) A first for the Farmlands.

Ivy Bee (Peter Alfrey)

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THE MAMMALS OF BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS by Czech Conroy and Peter Alfrey Beddington Farmlands (BF) comprises a mosaic of habitats, including grasslands, lakes, sludge beds, hedgerows and scrub. These habitats support a variety of mammals. However, apart from bat species, whose status has been systematically studied by MKA Ecology for several years and by BFBG members previously, there haven't been any studies of the status of mammals at Beddington Farmlands, nor any live trapping. Hence our knowledge of this subject is very patchy: records mainly comprise casual sightings of live mammals, and sightings and/or photographs of dead ones. In this paper we synthesize the limited information available, with particular reference to the last 20 years. Table 1 Species of Chiroptera (Bats) Recorded at Beddington Farmlands Common name

Scientific name

Likely status

Reference/source

Common Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Common

MKA Ecology, Annual Ecology Reports

Soprano Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus pygmaeus

Common


Nathusius' pipistrelle

Pipistrellus nathusii

Recorded in 2002, 2008, 2013, 2014 & 2016

MKA Ecology, Annual Ecology Reports and DA Coleman

Brown Longeared Bat

Plecotus auritus


Noctule*

Nyctalus noctula

Recorded once, in 2015. Very likely to be under recorded given limited use of echo location. Improved detectors are increasing records for this species. Large decline in sightings and numbers (50 in 1996). Decline corresponds to rise in Ring-necked parakeets which may outcompete for roost holes in trees

Leisler’s Bat*

Nyctalus leisleri

Recorded between 2008 and 2014. Brief population rise that appeared to correlate to decline in Noctule. It may be that this building-dwelling bat was more successful than the tree-dwelling Noctule


Daubenton’s Bat

Myotis daubentonii

Regular. Nearly always present feeding on main and southern lake, occasionally at 100 acre.


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Serotine*

Eptesicus serotinus

Large decline in sightings and numbers (20 in 1997). Not recorded all years, but present in 2017


* Numbers of records of larger bat species (i.e.Noctule, Leisler’s, Serotine and unidentified Nyctalus species) have been declining

Eight species of bats have been recorded (see Table 1), and there has been conclusive evidence of the presence of 17 other species of mammals (see Table 2), which means that the total number of mammal species recorded is 25. Of the 17 non-bat species recorded 10 are almost certainly currently resident. Table 2 Other Mammal Species Recorded at Beddington Farmlands Common name

Scientific name

Likely status

Reference/source

Apodemus

Resident. Status unknown, but could be common. Often found in nest boxes.

DA Coleman, pers. comm.

Rodentia (Rodents) Wood Mouse

sylvaticus

28/12/11 P Alfrey's blog

House Mouse

Mus musculus

Resident Seen near hide, 08/07/12

P Alfrey's blog

Brown/Common Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Resident Common

Casual sightings

Grey Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Resident Common along hedgerows, esp. Beddington Park edge and main lake area

Casual sightings

Bank Vole

Myodes glareolus

Status unknown, but could be resident. Only one record - seen on island in Northern Lake in 2008

Beddington Farmlands Bird And Wildlife Report 2008

Field Vole

Microtus agrestis

Resident Thought to be a key prey item of Kestrels and Barn owls. (In the winter of 1970/71, there was a huge population explosion, which supported 10 Short-eared Owls and 30 Kestrels.)

Bones found in Barn owl pellets near BF, 01/12/ 2016

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Insectivora (Insectivores) Common Shrew

Sorex araneus

Resident. Status unknown, but could be common. Dead animal found in 1996 and 2002

Bones found in Barn owl pellets near BF, 2016. DA Coleman, pers. comm.

Pygmy Shrew

Sorex minutus

Status unknown One found dead in 2010


Eurasian Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Resident. Recorded intermittently since 1997 (DAC). Several recorded in one night in 2017. Found mainly on meadow grassland, but also landfill area, phase 1 and 100 acre.

Numerous casual sightings on bat surveys; and in 2017 by observers looking for Barn owls (PA and Tomos Brangwyn)

European Mole

Talpa europaea

Resident Mole hills seen

in 1981, and again within the last 5 years in 100 acre Lagomorpha (Rabbits and hares) Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Resident. Colonised farm Casual sightings in 1980s from Mitcham Common. Frequently seen close to NW boundary e.g. at Mitigation Scrape. A species that will need to be encouraged in acid grassland areas.

Carnivora (Carnivores) Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Resident. Abundant at Casual sightings height of landfill. Still common. Sometimes several seen during daylight hours. 4-5 earths present at any one time (1-2 at 100 acre, 1 in phase 1, 1 in works area and 1 SE corner). In

Badger

Meles meles

May/June 2012 there were at least 3 families with cubs (Conroy, 2012) Circumstantial evidence

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Beddington Farmlands Bird and

(hair) in 2007/8.

Wildlife Report 2015

Dead animal found parkside in 2013


Stoat

Mustela erminea

Vagrant 1 record, 16/03/15

"

Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Visitor It was seen every year but one from 1999 to 2005 inclusive. May have been resident in 2005 when there were 5 sightings. Not seen since then.

"

Artiodactyla (even toed ungulates) Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Rare visitor 1 found dead by Wandle relief channel, March 2001. 1 adult (f) seen, 17/07/09. 1 skeleton found by South Lake, 27/08/13

Skeleton photographed by CC

Muntjac

Muntiacus reevesi

Vagrant One record of 3 Muntjac on 07/01/05 in the copse by the rifle range

Beddington Farmlands Bird and Wildlife Report

As far as we know there has not been any trapping of small mammals at Beddington. It is possible therefore that one or more additional species is present: Table 3 lists two possibilities. A programme of live trapping would be desirable to ascertain:   

whether either of the species in Table 3 is present, whether Bank voles and Pygmy shrews are currently present, and what the relative abundance of other small mammals is.

Table 3 Other Possible Species Yellow-necked Mouse

Apodemus flavicollis

No definitive records: Mitcham Common but recorded on Mitcham Management Plan Common

Water Shrew

Neomys

No records: but recorded

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Mitcham Common

fodiens

on Mitcham Common

Management Plan

Acknowledgements We are grateful to Derek Coleman and Marcus Kohler for their comments and for supplying additional information.

References Beddington Farmlands Bird And Wildlife Reports, BFBG Beddington Bat Activity Survey Report 2011, MKA Ecology Limited, May 2012 MKA Ecology, Annual Ecology Reports, 2013-2017

The Mustelids of Beddington Farmlands, Derek Coleman: in Beddington Farmlands Bird And Wildlife Report 2015 Number 26 Beddington Fox Diaries, June 2012, Czech Conroy Peter Alfrey's blog. http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/ Mitcham Common Management Plan 2007-2012, Mitcham Common Conservators

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2016 REPORT ERRATUM In the Paradise Lost article there is a comment that planning permission was granted to Viridor for the Beddington Farmlands restoration project. Permission was actually granted to Thames Water and Viridor subsequently took on the project as a leaseholder.

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Site Maps

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Most recent restoration map (Viridor, Restoration Management Plan)

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Simplified Map of the Beddington Farmlands recording area (Helen Cavilla)

2017 Google Earth View of Beddington Farmlands 124

Beddington Farmlands within the Wandle Valley Regional Park

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Stormy skies over Beddington (Peter Alfrey) Top image is Ex-Hurricane Ophelia that brought in Sahara Dust across the region.

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