Birds of Bexley – Draft March 2021 – Wildfowl to Auks Contents: not necessarily in final order or complete Introduction in draft Acknowledgements – to be completed About Bexley – some general information, size, population, possible geographical data, changes between GLC/GLA/KCC, habitats – to be completed Birdwatching, Birdwatchers and Bird Recording in Bexley – including RSPB/LNHS/LBR and possible Friends Groups – to be completed Map of major sites – to be obtained Glossary of major sites identified within this report (including location/access/any facilities) – in progress o River Thames Foreshore – Erith – Belvedere o Thamesmead including former Golf Centre and Ecological Study Area and foreshore o Southmere Lake/Park o Crossness Nature Reserve, foreshore and Southern Marsh o Crayford Marshes – including Landfill, Howbury, Jolly Farmers and foreshore o Thames Road Wetland o Lesnes Abbey Woods o Franks Park o East Wickham Open Space o Martens Grove o Hall Place North, South and Gardens o Crayford Rough o The Warren o Bexley Park Woods o Foots Cray Meadows including Five Arches and North Cray Wood o Upper College Farm including Kelsey’s Farm o Joyden’s Wood o Chalk Wood and Gatton’s Plantation including Honeydale Farm o Lamorbey Park including the Glade and Sidcup Golf Course o Danson Park including the Lake. o The Rivers Shuttle and Cray Species Accounts including – in progress Glossary of abbreviations (eg LBR/DRG) Status – resident/migrant/breeding, common/rare etc.. Systematic list Appendices: o Ringing Recoveries – information to hand o Escapes Index? to be completed Introduction (for reviewers of this draft at this time) The aim of this book is to take a snapshot of the status and occurrence of birds in the London Borough of Bexley primarily covering the 85 years from 1935 to 2020 based on records from the LNHS London Bird Reports (1935-2018), along with records supplied by individuals both to me or via the London Birders Wiki- forum where daily sightings are posted. Additionally there have been records posted via RSPB Bexley web- site plus my own personal observations. 1 If there are omissions it may be the record wasn’t submitted. I would welcome any significant additions for inclusion. It is hoped it will stimulate other observers to review what is published and to make corrections/additions where appropriate and equally to encourage future observers to submit all their records to allow an ongoing analysis of the status of birds in Bexley. It is also hoped that an awareness of the variety of birds seen around the Borough in the past will be the impetus for more observers to concentrate their birdwatching skills and time to more local patch watching and to those who are unaware of the richness of habitats and species in Bexley to protect, improve and enjoy them for future generations. I have also included historical references from the Birds of Thamesmead (Nigel Wheatley LBR 55 1990), and Birds of the Kentish Inner River Thames Marshes to 1990 (John F Burton LBR 81 2016) – both of these reports refer extensively to the works of R Ruegg: (1816-1881) and W J Davis (1857-1917). The Wheatley paper, in addition to historical (Ruegg:) references, covers the period 1968-end of March 1991 and Thamesmead refers to an area from Woolwich Bay through Crossness Sewage/Water Treatment Works and Belvedere Power Station and the adjacent stretch of the River Thames. Woolwich Bay held large numbers of wintering wildfowl until it was developed in the mid-1970s. The Thamesmead estate took over large parts of the marshes. A Bexley Library Archive Document “An Alphabetical List of the Birds of Bexley District as observed and noted by Thos.B Andrews and William A Carter for the ten year period from 1905 to the outbreak of the European War on August 1914 is also quoted. (not yet complete) The records relate to the current London Borough of Bexley boundaries. There are two areas that present some confusion as they cross boundaries. Joyden’s Wood - all records included as there is no way of knowing which area the record originates from. More recently Chalk Wood/Gattons Plantation are referenced. There are many references to Thamesmead – I will detail the development from the Thamesmead, Crossness and Erith Marshes in a glossary of sites. However, where a record has been identified as being within the Greenwich Boundary i.e. Tiprock and Galleons Reach or West Thamesmead Lake these have not been included. Otherwise I have included Thamesmead generally. I have also only included those records observed from the River Thames on the Bexley side and excluded those on the north side i.e. Barking Bay/Creek. Woodlands Farm, Bostall and Oxleas Woods and Ruxley Gravel Pits are not included as falling outside the London Borough of Bexley. I am aware that some observers who maintain a “Bexley list” will possibly have reported birds seen on sites outside Bexley boundary (Bob Dunn/University Way/Dartford Marshes/Rainham/Barking) I cannot be the judge of that and have had to include in the site as reported to the local recorder. In the text I have referred to some large sites generically – e.g. Danson Park includes the lake, park and woodland; Foots Cray Meadows includes North Cray Wood, Five Arches and the river Cray; Lamorbey Park includes The Glade; Upper College Farm includes Kelsey’s Farm on the west side of the Cray. Do you consider this satisfactory as long as an explanation is included in the glossary of sites? For the purposes of this first draft I have followed the systematic order of the Birds of London (Andrew Self – 2014) for ease of cross referencing. However I am aware the London Bird Club have since adopted the British Ornithological Union (BOU) 9th Edition order. I would welcome views on which should be adopted – although it might be tedious for me, my own view is to now change to the recognised BOU order so as to ease cross referencing with annual reports and potentially any future Birds of London. It is probably worth noting that in the most recent (c20) years there are a higher number of records, most notably from the Thames Marshes. I would suggest there are a number of reasons for this – social media/on- line wiki forum have enabled a greater number of sightings to be shared. This in turn has generated more observers into the field and with regards to Crossness, the designation and management as a nature reserve has attracted more bird watchers. 2 It remains the case that most observations/records are generated by a very small number of active birdwatchers. I would be interested to know if, as a result of reading any of this data, there is any more specific information you would like on any specific entry – not that I guarantee I’ll have the answer. In an earlier draft I gave a large number of detailed records with full dates applied to them. In this edition I have reduced the number of actual dates, often referring only to a month. Where I have given actual dates it is usually for rare or very rare records or where comparisons might benefit today’s reader – e.g. early arrival/late departure dates for migratory species. The number of specific dates is still considerable – do you think these could be reduced to months only or removed/reduced altogether? Do you have a view on this – suggestions welcomed? I would welcome your views of the following: How would you like to see each species listed? All in black print or the main species and/or Latin name in a different colour – as in this draft? Both main and Latin species in bold the Latin in italics only In the main body of text for each species that the location be highlighted in bold lettering (as is the case (mostly) in this draft) and/or underlined, or a different colour? Or, none of these. I would anticipate only the major sites (see list under Contents) be in bold if that is the decision. Irregular street/place sightings would not be highlighted. Text style (use of capitals, hyphens, numerals, dates etc.) follow the notes for Contributors to London Bird Report. Species Accounts: LNHS current Status and Breeding Definitions Very Rare Occurred less than 5 times in total Rare Occurred 5-25 times in total Scarce Occurred more than 25 times in total – not seen annually Uncommon Annual, seen at some sites in small numbers Locally Common Annual occurs in reasonable numbers - restricted to certain areas Common Annual, seen many sites in reasonable numbers Very Common Annual seen in good numbers at almost all sites Resident Present all year round Winter visitor Present in winter months and on passage Summer Visitor Present in breeding season and on passage Passage migrant Mainly seen on passage Partial migrant Some resident, some migratory Visitor Occasional visitor Vagrant Accidental visitor LBR = London Bird Report, LNHS = London Natural History Society, DRG = Dartford Ringing Group. I have not, within the species list, included individual names/initials of observers but will make reference to journals and individuals in the Acknowledgements/Bibliography Mute Swan Cygnus olor Locally common breeding resident. Commonly seen on most areas of large open water and on the River Thames. It was not unusual for large numbers on the River Thames on the Thamesmead-Crossness section up to the late 1970s, peaking 377 in January 1973 and a non-breeding flock peaking 262 June 1973. In the 1980s numbers declined to 60-80. By the early 2000s numbers barely reached double figures. 3 Southmere Lake is home to a large number with 79 (64 adults/15 juveniles) June 2017 being largest count.