Beckton Sewage Works

 

Early April



It seems the Ravens have disappeared, after starting to build a nest on one of the big pylons in March, I haven’t seen either bird since. However, it is a good sign that they are expanding their range and hopefully they will succeed elsewhere.

Its looking good again for the Kestrels, the box has been in situ since 2018 and has been used every year since, it makes this their 6th year. They had bred in the pipe beforehand and were in danger of getting steamed from the overflow, hence the nest box.

She is becoming tied to the nest box and usual egg laying is usually late April, however as with peregrine laying nowadays and global warming, it could well be earlier.

Recently I am only seeing one of the Common Buzzards, they lay mid-April so it could be that it is just the male that is viewable, and she is sticking close to the nest, wherever it may be. For a big Raptor, they can be surprisingly elusive, I like to think I know where all the suitable trees are and all the old corvid nests, at the moment I haven’t got a clue where she is.

Migrants have started to arrive, on Good Friday returning Willow/Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap were all heard, good to know summer is on its way.

No Common Terns as yet showing on the Thames, just a matter of days I suspect before they start appearing at the Outfall, surprisingly no Sand Martins either over the Sewage Works. The little Martins have a small breeding colony, in the banks further up the Creek, they forage regularly over the Works.

Ring Necked Parakeets have again appeared in numbers, around 40 odd, the annual invasion timed perfectly with budding tree leave’s/fruit. Around 3 pairs breed on site of this invasive bird, which is very detrimental to our native species, even the Green Woodpeckers have disappeared from site which may be linked to them.