Sunday 28th.October 2012

A really miserable week weather-wise gave very few opportunities to get out , and with work parties on the Common and hedgelaying both in full swing , even less opportunities presented themselves .Only saving grace was not getting soaked on either of the above . I did manage a short visit to Kelsey Park in Beckenham , and even though it is almost November , the two juvenile Grey

 Herons posted on my last visit , are still in their nest , waiting for the next meal to arrive . No sign of the Grey Wagtails this visit and the Mandarins were tucked away under their favourite overhanging bushes . The only other interest were two Egyptian Geese that were feeding on the lawns . The books



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

say that male and female are identical , but I'm reasonably sure that from their calls , this is the male , with the normal darkish neck and eye patch , 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but what I'm reasonably sure was the female of the pair , showed only a shadow of the dark eye patch and much lighter colouration on the neck and head . Of interest , had this been a juvenile , legs and bill would be yellowish grey .

Apart from those , the only other interest was a Grey Squirrel , one of many who try to 'mug' you for

food whilst you walk around the park , but this time , perhaps on a health kick , feeding on ripe Yew berries .
The weather seems to be ideal for fungi , but that doesn't mean that there are lots to see , especially around Hayes and Keston Commons , where I saw three 'oriental' people , hoovering up everything that they found , which reminds me to keep away from any Chinese take-aways . A few species managed to avoid their hands , and made it to the viewfinder .

Spotted Tough-Shank / Collybia maculata ,

Sulphur Tuft / Hypholoma fasciculare .

Earthstar / Geastrum triplex .

and the fruiting bodies of Green Wood-Cup / Chlorosplenium aeruginascens .
A visit to South Norwood Country Park in misty conditions was not very productive , but I did meet another birder who was there the day before , and had a Short-eared Owl appear out of the mist , chased by local Corvids , then disappear back into the mist again . Sadly , it wasn't around for my visit .
This morning I visited Hayes Farm , but apart from a few small Redwing flocks and my first Fieldfare of the Winter , albeit at a great distance in one of the horse fields . The Trout Fishery

produced nothing better than a pair of Little Grebe and a single , sad looking Mute Swan . Heading back towards the car I found a Green Woodpecker and three Mistle Thrush , and whilst watching them , heard Rose -ringed Parakeets squawking beyond the Trout Fishery . They and several of the

local Corvids were chasing a raptor , but in the gloom , I couldn't identify it . The chase disappeared

from view behind a large Oak , reappearing on the other side , where I got the closest shot . Even on the computer I couldn't get much detail , but decided it was a male Marsh Harrier , but as usual ,  stand to be corrected . It flew across the field that is used for boot sales , and landed in an Oak , which I hurried towards , only to see it chased off again by Corvids to the far corner , then into a private field beyond , where I lost sight of it . Still , a good record for LB Bromley . A single Skylark and a mixed Finch flock were found back near the car .
And finally ,  I found this very interesting article which answers the often asked question , ' what happens to the Painted Lady butterflies that migrate here in various numbers each year ?
No more perhaps or maybe , well worth a read .

www.butterfly-conservation.org/article/9/307/painted_lady_migration_secrets_revealed_.html

If the link doesn't work , it's the first time I've tried this , just go to Butterfly Conservation and click on 'News' .