Beckton - December 15th

 

With only 9 days left now to the arrival of 2025, I am on 98 species for the year, I have surpassed the 2023 total of 95 so have improved there, however unless 2 newbies appear on my last visit next week, it could be the total for 2024,as you know I always try to reach “the ton”.

As per previous, it’s not too bad for a small urban site with around 2 visits per month, with more visits, I could no doubt challenge my best total achieved in 2019 0f 109 for the Sewage Works and Outfall.


The mudflats held around 14 Black Tailed Godwit, 70 Redshank and a good number of Ducks as well dominated by Teal, but also numbers of Shelduck, Shoveler and Gadwall present.

The usual Common Buzzards were seen along with the usual Kestrel pairing, Pied/Grey Wagtails and Chiffchaff were all present sitewide also in good numbers.


Unusual sight of the morning will go down to an immature Mute Swan that tagged onto 6 Egyptian Geese and then landed very clumsily on the grass sward with them. The Egyptians are quite agile/mobile and don't require a run up as such to get airborne, the Swan however needs a good and longish run up, preferably on water to get airborne.

Immediate thoughts were to get it in the air to clear the sea wall and back onto the Thames.

Knowing their mobility limitations, the concern then was predation by Foxes if it stayed overnight on the green sward. If pushing it along to get it aloft didn't work, I was going to catch it and put it onto the Thames.

Herding it towards the westerly wind, so it was facing in the right direction for uplift, I then chased it as fast as my 67 old little legs would go, thankfully it worked a treat, it gained lift and height from the wind and it cleared the sea wall and flew out onto the Thames, a good result.

                                                                           Airborne!

                                                              Not the brightest Swan