Wandle Fortnight 9th September - Sunday 24th September 2017 Events Taking Place in Capability Brown’s Wimbledon Park Wednesday 13th September at 10.00am-1pm. a. A short talk on Horse Close Wood by Dave Dawson. b. Meet by Wimbledon Park Road entrance. c. Volunteers to carry out tree weeding, with a refreshment break. Thursday 14th September at [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 20th July 2017:- The Canada Goose moulting flock of 110 birds maintains the high numbers of recent years. There was a record July count of 85 Coots. The second highest was 80 in July 2014 in the lead up to the massive growth of Hornwort. Perhaps we’re heading for [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 16th June 2017:- The 90 Canada Geese and 90 Greylags were leaving the grasslands for the lake in the early morning. The Canada Goose number reflects both the slow increase in numbers over the last 30 years and the seasonal pattern: in June they move back from scattered breeding [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 29th May 2017:- Still no sign of any elvers in the brook. After a period of very low flow, the recent rain has the brook flowing well. Flowering there are Hemlock Water-dropwort, Watercress and Yellow-flag Iris. This year there is a co-ordinated study of goose breeding in the Wandle [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 15th May 2017:- With bird breeding in full swing there was little song, but some early breeding species were singing between breeding attempts: Robin, Great Tit, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon. A few migrants were still singing: Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Two seed-eating residents that breed late were also singing: Chaffinch [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 12th April 2017:- A few of the Mute Swans are defending territory, an uphill struggle as they are greatly outnumbered by the 35 odd sub-adult birds. Less song was heard as many birds were busy with nesting. The Wild Cherries in Horse Close Wood were in flower. Hawthorns had [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 25th March 2017:- Many resident bird species were in song: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Wren and Stock Dove. Stock Doves have increased greatly in the park since their return as a breeding species in 2004. They are rather [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 8th March 2017:- Catkins falling from the alders in the kids play area. Unusually, 12 Mute swans on the golf course grass near the club house. They don’t usually come out of the water except to badger bird feeders on the dam path.
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 15th February 2017:- Many resident birds were in full song: Blue and Great tits, Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Robins, Song thrushes, Stock doves, Woodpigeons and Wrens. The 35 Robins were the third highest February count in the last 30 years. The 7 Song thrushes were the highest February number [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 27th January 2017:- Much of the lake was covered in thin ice, but it could be that more significant freezing elsewhere brought in the 21 Shovellers seen on the lake, the highest January count since 2012. However, the 9 Gadwall on the lake seems to continue the great recent [...]