Successful Bird Walk at Barking Riverside

Last Saturday 13th November London Wildlife Trust ran a bird walk at Barking Riverside's Thames foreshore. A total of 28 people showed up to learn about the birds they could see here foraging on the mudflats.The weather held out and although it was cold we managed to spot 27 different species of birds (listed below), not only on the mudflats, but across the Thames at Crossness and in the scrubby habitats inland of the foreshore.

Cormorant                               about 30 on jetty and at Crossness

Grey heron                              3 at Crossness

Shelduck                                 25+

Teal                                         15+

Ringed plover                          2+ at Crossness

Lapwing                                   30+ at Crossness

Dunlin                                      5+ at Crossness

Black-tailed godwit                  19,   10+ more at Crossness

Curlew                                     1

Redshank                                6, 20+ at Crossness

Black-headed gull                   large numbers (300+) Most at Crossness

Herring gull                              30+ Most at Crossness

Lesser black-backed gull        30+ Most at Crossness

Great black-backed gull         40+ Most at Crossness

Feral pigeon                            1

Skylark                                    4+

Meadow pipit                           5+

Pied wagtail                             2

Wren                                       1

Robin                                       1

Stonechat                                1

Blackbird                                 1

Great tit                                   2

Magpie                                    2+

Carrion crow                           10+

Starling                                    40+

Linnet                                      40+

Bird Sightings from ...Barking Riverside's Birders

Birds spotted at Barking Riverside on 30th October ...

 

3 Curlew - 1 of these was at the Outfall

71 Shelduck

Water Rail - calling

1-2 Rock Pipits

9 Redshank

Green Woodpecker

Fieldfare flying over

A pair Sparrowhawks

36 Teal

14 Skylark

Around 80 Linnet

8 Meadow Pipit

Good count of Reed Bunting numbering 16 birds.

Bird Walk at Barking Riverside

On Saturday November 13^th, London Wildlife Trust will be leading a guided walk across the riverfront at Barking Riverside to witness spectacular numbers of birds feeding on the Thames mudflats.

The Thames is an important place for wildlife, especially for birds at Barking Riverside.  At low tide, the birds flock to the site as over 200m² of mud is exposed, revealing lots of delicious bugs to feed off. November is a particularly good time to visit each year as migratory birds “stop off” on their way to their winter home.

The Barking riverfront forms part of the Barking Riverside new housing development. The riverfront, has open public access, so anybody can visit any time, however the bird walk on 13^th November will provide a fantastic opportunity to get to know the site with a guide and learn more about the birds that you can find here. The walk starts at 10.30am at Barking Riverside Ltd Marketing Suite, off Renwick Road. Please contact the Barking Riverside Conservation Officer to book or find out more information on fbarker@wildlondon.org.uk or 07971 077 095. To find out more about the Barking Riverside’s wildlife see http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/Projects/BarkingRiversideConservationProject/tabid/618/language/en-US/Default.aspx and sign up to http://barkingriversideconservation.blogspot.com/

Priority species "brown-banded carder bee" spotted on Barking Riverside's green roofs

The brown-banded carder bee (a priority species) has been seen foraging on the wildflowers on the experimental green roofs at Barking Riverside. These green roofs form part of an University of East London experiment to measure the rate of water attenuation of green roofs compared with a normal roof. The green roofs have also been seeded with wildlfowers with the aim of improving the biodiversity value...and they seem to have done the job! BRL aims that at least 50% of the new buildings in the development are fitted with biodiverse green roofs.

See Dusty Gedge's blog for more information on the sighting.
http://dustygedge.co.uk/roadblog/2010/10/first-record-of-brown-carder-bee-on-a-green-roof/

New Barking Riverside Conservation Ranger!

I have just started working for London Wildlife Trust (LWT) as the new Conservation Ranger at Barking Riverside. Barking Riverside will see the development of 180ha into 10,000 new homes, community facitilies and open space.

LWT is working in partnership with Barking Riverside Ltd to help protect the sensitive ecological habitats and species as well as contributing to the creation and enhancement of the permanent wildlife habitats on site.

We also hope to raise public awareness of the site as a place for wildlife through organising events and volunteering activities.

Watch this space for more information on events and volunteering activities. If you have any questions or please contact me. Francesca Barker, fbarker@wildlondon.org.uk