Recent Sightings of Snakes and Weasals

I've Re-printed below an email from Michael R detailing some recent sightings of interest:

David
I meant to tell you of two recent grass snake sightings. One reported to me by George last Thursday (I think) from a friend of his, seated on the bench in front of the small copse of trees/bushes at the NW gasometer end of Wild Marsh W and seeing one in the afternoon sun just beside the path. A very reliable witness, I'm assured, who knows his mammals and reptiles.

The other was by me last Saturday at ca.12.30; a vivid green snake basking on the bank of the Stonebridge Wood pond when I surprised it, or vice versa, and it slithered into the water with an elegant wriggle and wiggle. I suspect, given the spatial separation of half a mile, they were certainly not the same snake. Mine was an adult perhaps 2ft long, no more, but with brilliant markings on the head in the bright midday sun.

Also, in the preceding week, I saw my 3rd weasel of the year crossing the Pymmes Brook Bridge at S Lock. It took refuge in a bolt cavity under one of the two concrete beams lying between the roadway and palings either side of the bridge. When I peered down at ground level, the better to clock it, a flash of cherry blossom brown whizzed past my nose and undulated into the undergrowth beside PB embankment on the car park side.

The interesting aspect here is the number of weasel sightings by various people there have been in the past 12 months. I had had a zero record till this March, for instance, and now with three in 4 months I feel not so much favoured as encouraged that the mustelid population must be on the increase. Likewise I'd like to think with grass snakes.

Incidentally, you may already know that there have been a couple of reports on the pheasant family groups: both in WMW, one by a dog owner whose rottweiler flushed the adults with many poults, and the other who saw a hen pheasant with several young in the same central WMW area. These were three weeks ago, I seem to recall. Sorry for not being a true recorder!

Michael

More Gad News

A female Gadwall with 7 young was spotted yesterday by George on the Lea, just south of the Chalk Bridge. They may well be the offspring of the pair in the photo (see archive) taken by Pete Lambert in May.

DMC

More on the Common Rosefinch

I was lucky enough to go back with Ray and Jamie to where Ray had heard the Rosefinch singing (well heard, Ray!). We had good views of this 1st summer male singing out in the open on its favourite bush by Pymme's Brook at around 10.30am.
Unfortunately when I took this photo the bird had already disappeared back into the undergrowth and although it continued to sing it was difficult to see.

As the news spread, birders started arriving.

After I left, I heard that the Rosefinch flew across to the first main scrubby patch next to the road (south of the car park) and later flew back to the area it had originally been in, before flying back to the scrub by the road (around 4pm).

There are reports that it has been heard singing again this morning.

Not only is this a first for Tottenham Marshes, it is also a first for the Lea Valley.

Debbie

Common Rosefinch on Clendish Marsh!

Yesterday's Monthly Bird Survey resulted in Ray and Jamie coming across a Common Rosefinch in bushes on Clendish Marsh, 100 m south of the car park. It appeared to be first summer male.

After providing good views in the morning, it continued singing sporadically most of the afternoon hidden in ground level scrub. Around 40 birders arrived during the afternoon, but was still not showing up to the time I left around 3.00pm.

I will update if I get any more information on subsequent sightings.

DMC

Ye Gads!

A fine pair of gadwall seen today on the Lee just north of Green Bridge. Thanks to Pete Lambert for the picture.



DMC

Spotted Flycatcher

Pete Lambert sighted a Spotted Flycatcher this morning. It was in the trees edging the Pymmes Brook, just north of the bridge to Wild Marsh Triangle.

Seem to remenber one was seen on the marshes about the same time last year?

DMC

May Bird Survey

A quick round up of the May Bird Survey.

On the Warbler front. Large number of Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats, a good number of Chiff Chaffs, a few Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers and one Garden Warbler present on a bright, warm morning. Sadly, Willow Warblers not present in Stonebridge Wood this May, as compared to the 3 singing males there last year. However, the Cetti's Warbler is still singing near by the bridge to Wild Marsh Triangle.

Long-tailed Tits breeding succesfully, with 2 recently fledged family groups spotted and another feeding young on the nest.

A lone Lapwing, an uncommon marsh visitor, was sighted flying over Clendish Marsh.

Full results to follow in the near future.

DMC