Didimendum1's photostream  

A bright almost summery day. I think this is an Elder Tree (Sambucus niger). The lichens are looking in particularly tip-top order; very healthy.

Hopefully I haven't missed anyone. We are beside the Thames close to the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, Belvedere. I think it's wonderful the way the different species, birds big (Shelducks here) and small (Dunlins here) and those in-between, despite the occasional misunderstanding, actually get on well together.

'The Thames supports thousands of ducks, wading birds and gulls in autumn and winter. Over a thousand Teal can be seen feeding on the mud at low tide, alongside waders such as Dunlin, Redshank and Godwits. Black-headed Gulls and ducks such as Gadwall and Shoveler congregate around the Outfall from the Crossness Sewage Works, where nutrients in the treated effluent attract small fish and invertebrates. In summer, shoals of larger fish, especially Grey Mullet, can be seen in the water by the outfall. The fish provide food for birds such as Herons, Cormorants and Terns.'

See ... www.belvederegreenlinks.org.uk/index.php?cID=115 ...

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Top 'Portant: I understand that the government may include options for a new airport in the Thames Estuary in a draft policy framework for UK aviation. According to the Kent Wildlife Trust, 'the Thames and Medway estuaries are extremely rich in wildlife and are internationally important for nature conservation. An airport here, whether coastal or offshore, will be catastrophic for wildlife communities. The impact on breeding, feeding and migratory birds will be huge, but there is also a wider community that includes wildflowers, bees, water voles and brown hares. Offshore, there are important habitats for fish and seals.'

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Shelduck 'is a big, colourful duck, bigger than a mallard but smaller than a goose. Both sexes have a dark green head and neck, a chestnut belly stripe and a red bill.' The species is on the Amber List*.

See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/shelduck/index.... ...

* See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx ... for explanations of Red, Amber and Green List criteria

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The tide was coming in; birds identified by/in the water during the visit: Teals, Gadwalls, a Shoveler, a Curlew, Shelducks (see above), Coots, Mallards, Moorhens, a Grey Heron, Lapwings, Redshanks, Black-Tailed Godwits, Dunlins, Black-Headed Gulls and Cormorants. There were also a few Wigeons grazing on Erith Marshes (in addition to more Shovelers, Gadwalls &c.).

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'The Thames supports thousands of ducks, wading birds and gulls in autumn and winter. Over a thousand Teal can be seen feeding on the mud at low tide, alongside waders such as Dunlin, Redshank and Godwits. Black-headed Gulls and ducks such as Gadwall and Shoveler congregate around the Outfall from the Crossness Sewage Works, where nutrients in the treated effluent attract small fish and invertebrates. In summer, shoals of larger fish, especially Grey Mullet, can be seen in the water by the outfall. The fish provide food for birds such as Herons, Cormorants and Terns.'

See ... www.belvederegreenlinks.org.uk/index.php?cID=115 ...