Butterflies and more East End sites

Site 73: Hutchinsons Bank, May 27th

I wasn't originally going to include this site as my primary reason for visiting was for butterflies but have now decided I'll add it anyway as I did make a bird list and it is in Greater London. I met John & Janet at Canada Water and we took the Overground to West Croydon then the tram to New Addington. The reserve is signposted from the tram station with the entrance being just to the left of the recycling station.

This was our third visit here and this one was specifically timed for Glanville Fritillary which had started flying this week. We didn't have to go far until we encountered a group of people photographing one on the track. It showed the upperside of its wings nicely so that was a good start.

Glanville Fritillary

We carried on eastwards, hearing a couple of Bullfinch, my first ones this year and a few singing warblers although it was getting a bit hot and late in the season for much song.

Pheasant

We crossed over the road to Chapel Bank, mainly because that's where we had Marsh Tit last year but there was no sign of any and hardly any butterflies as the Dukes had finished flying this year, We returned to the main meadows and found several more Glanvilles including one that showed off its stunning underside.

Glanville Fritillary

There were other butterflies out as well but not many 'common' ones except Brimstone which was super abundant.

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Small Blue

Site 74: Belhus Woods Country Park, June 8th

This site straddles the border of Greater London and Essex but as some of it is in London I'm still counting it. To reach it I took the 287 bus to Rainham Tesco then the 372 to St Pauls Close in Aveley. It's then a mile's walk up the Romford Road. The top end of this walk goes through Belhus Chase which then leads into the CP. The Chase is wholly in Essex so I didn't count this as a separate site although I did record a singing Yellowhammer here.

Once in the park, I started at the visitor centre and did a large clockwise loop, taking in the conservation area where there's a lake, then out towards the M25, past some more lakes and finishing back where I started. As well as the lakes, there's a lot of flower meadows, scrub and both deciduous and coniferous woods.

Footbridge over the M25

I recorded a total of 41 species which seemed like a good total as most birds have settled down to breed now. I'd only visited the site briefly once before, on a bird race many years ago when we dashed in to tick off Ruddy Duck and dashed off again.

Canada Geese escorting their creche from one lake to another

Site 75: Parsloes Park, June 10th

This park is just a ten minute walk for me and lies just north of the C2C/District Line between Becontree and Dagenham Heathway. It's a relatively large town park and it's nice to see that the council haven't mowed it to death. There's some nice grass meadows, scattered trees and a lake in the southwest corner.

There's a community hub being built in the centre of the park

I didn't know what birds to expect as there were no visits recorded on eBird but I ended up seeing 32 species which is pretty good. There may have been more on the lake but weirdly there aren't any reasonable viewpoints as trees grow all around the lake and there's only a couple of narrow views so I didn't even see any Mallard.

Juvenile Blue Tit being fed

Canada Geese and goslings

Young Egyptian Geese

Greylag Geese

Magpie

Ring-necked Parakeet

I exited out the of the southwest corner onto Gale Street and walked south a little way to the next site.

Site 76: Castle Green, June 10th

This is a much smaller park, with mown and unmown grassy areas, trees but no water. I walked anti-clockwise to the far end, then beside the A13 where there's an exit by the school back on Gale Street. It was just under a mile from start to finish and I only recorded 13 species. It doesn't have a lot to offer to be honest so I might not revisit the site. It really needs proper landscaping and a good bit of tree-planting along the A13.

Southern edge beside the A13

Wooden statues of local sporting heroes

Starling

In and around Dagenham

With the spring migration tailing off, I've had time to visit some more local places.

Site 70, Beckton Creekside, May 10th

I last visited this site a few years ago looking for an Iceland Gull which I failed to see. It's very underwatched probably because it's off the beaten track and not easy to get to. Last time I walked from Barking station and it was a very convoluted route to get there. This time I took the 173 bus and alighted at the North Circular stop on the A13 and walked down to Jenkyns Lane and it was only two minutes to the entrance.

This bit of the area is called the Northern Lagoon which is a bit of a misnomer as there is no lagoon. It's a narrow track which eventually comes out alongside Barking Creek. The area is also known as Barking Creekside and Creekside, Barking to add to the confusion!

The main track to the Thames goes along the edge of Beckton Sewage Works but between the track and the creek is a Thames Water nature reserve and I went round here first to explore. 

Northern path - full of wildflowers

the nature reserve

Looking towards the sewage works

There were plenty of warblers singing away in the bushes and reeds.

Chiffchaff

I rejoined the main track at the end of the reserve and carried on walking down to the Thames. The tide was low so there was plenty of exposed mud for Shelduck, gulls and a few Oystercatchers.

Shelduck

Exposed mud by the Thames

I then walked straight back along the main track. Once back on Jenkyns Lane I walked under the A13 and then up the steps to the bus stop. It's a good little area which deserves more coverage and I plan to add it to my list of local sites that I'll be visiting regularly.

Site 71: Goresbrook Park, May 22nd

This is my closest park in Dagenham and is just a couple of minutes walk away. It's an odd shaped park with some 'corners' separated from the main park by roads. The Goresbrook runs through the main park with tarmac paths running either side of it.

On this occasion I did a circuit of the main park and also the northern most corner. Although it's mostly mown grass there are some mature trees and wilder areas, especially along parts of the brook.

The Goresbrook

The park contains mostly common birds as it is hemmed in on all sides by housing but the brook does add some variety.

Carrion Crow

Juvenile Starling (left bird) waiting to be fed

Woodpigeon

Site 72: Bretons Farm, June 4th

This site is in the Beam Valley and lies on the east side of the river. I had inadvertently crossed over to it while exploring Beam Valley Country Park without realising so I decided to visit it again and explore it fully. I accessed the site from the country park by crossing the footbridge but it can also be accessed off the Rainham Road which runs down the east side of the site.

Footbridge over the Beam leading to Bretons

There's a network of paths both tarmac and grass across the site which consists of meadows, woodland and a lake. I decided to explore the southern area around the lake.

Despite it now being summer, there were still a lot of birds singing in the sunshine, possibly because most recent mornings have been rather grey. Near the lake I heard a female Cuckoo bubbling, clearly a supporter of the local football team.

Chiffchaff

There were a lot of waterbirds on the lake, mostly with families while other birds were breeding on the island.

Canada Geese and a creche of goslings

Greylag Geese and goslings

Little Egret

I exited at the southern end onto Fontayne Avenue and walked back along Dagenham Road. My visit was the first one recorded on eBird so this is another under-watched site that I'll be visiting regularly.