Wednesday 23 May 2018

Beddington Farm - New Life in Abundance!


This is a great time of year at the Farm, where new life oozes from the various habitats on the Farmlands. It makes you forget about the landfill site and the incinerator that has been built adding a blot along the skyline.
An evening walk is always a good time to see the new arrivals to the site and with Egyptian Goose breeding for the first time what other species would take advantage of the conditions. I met Pete Alfrey and we made our way across Bedzed and Bikers field to check out 100 Acre. Our quarry was shorebirds that had been driven into the area by the previous evening’s storm.

A Common Sandpiper was the only find but this was likely to be the bird that was found on the south lake.
The first surprise was in the form of a single Shelduck chick which had both parents in close proximity to it. I wondered if the pair had used one of the boxes situated on the island. Whilst checking the numerous sludge beds Lapwing and Moorhen chicks that looked only days old were noted.


A walk through to the lakes saw a crèche of Canada Goose goslings at varying stages of growth fed along the side of the mound and the waters edge. Wow the site had really come to life! What a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours!
On a random note today I carried out my late visit for Oaks Park BBS square and found an interesting sentry overlooking the fields that are popular with dog walkers. There are not many walkers out at stupid o clock but I was surprised to add this species to the count bearing in mind there are no lakes in the vicinity!

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