Appendix - Wildlife 2000

(Click for a review of the wildlife during, 2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007)

Birds

BIRDS IN WANSTEAD PARK - 2000

The year 2000 proved a good season for records of breeding - both successful and unsuccessful. Two pairs of Little Grebes have reared young on the Henronry Pond, and Grey Wagtails successfully bred near the Ornamental Waters. The Kingfishers made a comeback after one was tragically killed by vandals; their nest hole was blocked by a drinks can with one adult and eggs still inside. The remaining partner re-mated and successfully reared a brood in the same nest site. Unfortunately a nest of young Wrens - almost ready to leave - was destroyed when repair work to the banks of the Ornamental Waters was started - way too early in my estimation. The Swans in the Park were unsuccessful; the pair on the Ornamental Waters hatched three cygnets which disappeared within days. The reason is unknown but predators, possibly even Mink, may have been the cause.

Only one Swift at low level was seen on 26th July, though in the evening a few were flying very high - a change from a week or so earlier they were all around the houses. Swifts are now the commonest of our hirundines, with very few House Martins compared to a few years ago.

September saw the arrival of our usual number of Shoveler (about a dozen pairs). These had almost disappeared by October to be replaced by a higher than usual number of Gadwall. In November we saw a large number of Goldcrests, as well as large mixed flocks of Tits; Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long Tailed (the latter being the more predominant species). In late November large flocks of Chaffinches were moving around the Park.

Unfortunately I have to end on a sadder note. On Saturday 18 November it was reported that a Swan, on the Shoulder of Mutton Pond, was looking a bit off colour. A call was made to the Swan Sanctuary, who promptly removed it and took it to the sanctuary in Egham where unfortunately it died later that evening. The Swan had received a large wound to its side, and the Sanctuary came to the verdict that this was caused as a result of a flying accident.

As well as the more common species other sightings have included Tawny Owl, Mandarin Duck, Ruddy Duck, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Stock Dove, Ring-Neck Parakeet and Cockatiel. Common Sandpiper, Whinchat and Wheatear were seen on Wanstead Flats. Jackdaws continue to increase in the area; five were seen flying over the Heronry Pond on 21 June. These are local birds - now a common sight or sound hereabouts. They could often be heard by Alexandra Lake during July.

Pete Saunders - November 2000

A Canada/Bar-headed Goose hybrid was present on Alexandra Lake during 2000 (PF) photo

Plants

Daffodils Narcissus spp. were in flower on Lincoln Island by 7th April (photo)

Spring Beauty  Claytonia perfoliata : Sewage Works site near the stables, 6th May 2000 (PF) (photo)

Our local population of Bee Orchids were beginning to flower on 20th June, but only a few plants were found this year. The grasses in which they grow were very long this year, and may have made it difficult to spot the orchids without trampling. Similarly, a few weeks later, the flowers had gone.

The population of Grass Vetchling in the Sewage Works site put on a wonderful show, with plants covering a wide area.

The Harebells in Wanstead Park survived the Aldersbrook Day and fires this year, but the display was not very good because of the weather conditions. (photo)

The Dark Mulleins Verbascum nigrum in the Sewage Works narrowly escaped a fire in late August - only surviving because a trackway across the stretch of rough grass in which they live acted as a fire-break! (photo from 1999 )

A look on September 12 at Angell's Pond, which is the round pond without much water at the junction of Capel Road and Woodford Road, Forest Gate, revealed a few plants of local interest. One of these was Parrot's-feather Myriophyllum aquaticum (photo), which was identified for me by Ken Adams from a photograph. He says it is getting everywhere! A similarly invasive plant was New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii (not actually introduced by pigmies from New Zealand, but - like Parrot's-feather - used as an ornamental aquarium plant). Another was Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia which I've only found locally before as one patch by the side of the River Roding, and the last was a few clumps of Flowering Rush Butomus umbellatus.

Broad or Common Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata was found in the Grove, Wanstead Park on 21 October (PF) photo

Mistletoe Viscum album was found in a tree near Rabbits/Aldersbrook Road in the City of London Cemetery during a Wren Group walk on 29 October. (photo)

During the Autumn, Practical Work tasks on the first Sunday of a few months was undertaken by Geoff Bosher alone, clearing the edge of the main track from Warren Road to the keepers cottages. This was to enhance the population of Wood Anemones Anemone nemerosa that grow along here. A few hours was spent by Geoff and by Pete Saunders on Lincoln Island in the Ornamental Water cutting back Bramble to expose the site of the Daffodils that have grown here for so long.

Other Wildlife

Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were plentiful by the Roding in the sewage works in early to mid June

Common Darter Dragonflies were seen frequently around Heronry Pond - mainly females in mid June - and by Alexandra Lake on 26 July.

Purple Hairstreaks were seen in Capel Road by the oak trees on Wanstead Flats in mid June.

Clouded Yellows were seen on Wanstead Flats, on the south side of the Heronry Pond on 25th June, and near the Shoulder of Mutton Pond on 22nd August and in the vicinity of the Sewage Works on 9th, 10th and 13th of September (photo)

Painted Lady in the Sewage Work and Red Admiral near The Temple in mid June.

Many Meadow Browns and Small or Essex Skippers on Wanstead Flats; Large and Small Whites, Speckled Wood and Common Blues in nearby gardens (26 July).

Noctule bats (at least two) hawking along the edge of Wanstead Flats by Capel Road at 9.30pm on 26 July.

Butterflies seen in August include Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Large White, Small White, Common Blue and Red Admiral and a Clouded Yellow. The most obvious day-flying moth was Silver-Y..