Wildlife Circus

Pied wagtail Juvenile grey wagtail (note short tail) The Filter Beds are full of bird activity at the moment, particularly from those aerial species that feast on insects. This is a bumper year for mayflies and you may have seen them on the pavements around the town centre, or if you live near the river finding that they come to grief on windows.  Wagtails, martins and swifts and even the occasional swallow, can be seen hoovering up the biomass of insects generated from the water bodies. This includes thousands of damselflies and if you look carefully you can see them perching on stands of grasses.

Twenty (predominantly) University staff and students gathered to participate in a campus bat walk. This is the first walk at Seething Wells and the last of the campi' to be investigated for bats. We started with a discussion of the historic buildings v. the new accommodation blocks and the merits of the Chelsea and Lambeth coalstores as potential roost sites (left to right above). At twenty minutes after sunset the first bat appeared at the back of the site where there is an strong vegetated corridor with mature horse chestnut and lime trees. This was a common pipistrelle but was later followed by soprano pipistrelles. Social calls between the two species were heard on the bat detection equipment, which had been supplied to the participants. The photos (above) indicate why it is that the campus retains its bat interest. The boundary vegetation is mature, generates and retains insects, acts as a light shield against streetlights, and offers protective cover as well as providing a ...

At first sight the expanse of water below the Portsmouth Road can look empty, but  look carefully for any of the several pairs of little grebe or 'dabchick' hiding in the vegetation.  Often you will just catch them upending or see the remaining ring of water after one of their lengthy dives, from where it seems they may never emerge.  Last week a member of the Surbiton and District Birdwatching Society noted that one of the pairs had two chicks. Unfortunately, today there was only one being fed by its parent. Look out for the aerial summer visitors such as swift and sand martins, the former arrived last week, and the local numbers should build up over the next few days. Whenever there is a change of traffic lights and a temporary respite in traffic noise, whitethroat can be heard singing from the stands of Spanish broom (now beginning to flower) and other scrubby areas. The more robust ox-eye daisies have begun blooming, although most of the banks have...

Barge tunnel entrance Last night the sky clouded over sufficiently to prevent the temperature descending too quickly, so we took a skiff along the River Thames to monitor the bat activity.  Unfortunately, there did not appear to be any Daubenton's bats using the Barge Tunnel roost and there was little other early bat activity along Barge Walk. However about fifty minutes after sunset the river came alive and as it grew dark several bats overflew the bank so we had superb views of foraging common and soprano pipistrelle bat. There was a brief pass of a Natterer's bat followed a few minutes later by a passing Daubenton's bat but no great activity until we got to the R. Mole where the bats detectors started going berserk! Nathusius' pipistrelle featured briefly but no 'big' bats (noctules or Leisler's bats) indicating their maternity roosts may not yet have formed. On the return we had limited foraging evidence of some  Myotis bat spe...

Just visible, the masts of the A raters sailing on the Thames April, and raised water levels have consolidated, which has influenced the range of species visiting the filter beds, although winter-visiting gadwall have now left for their breeding territories. The water quality is constantly improving and it is possible to view submerging tufted ducks looking for molluscs and aquatic insects as well as  seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic plants. There has been a small posse of tufties present all this year, the male a smart black and white and the female a dull brown. Red-crested pochards There are  new arrivals to FB. 4, and these two red-crested pochards were displaying yesterday (showing an intention to breed). This is a plant feeder and dives for stems, roots and seeds of aquatic vegetation. In his display, the male passed these items to the female and it is useful to see that the FB's can now provide the range of food that these ducks seek....

WOW a blue flash across the Filter Beds this afternoon turned out to be a kingfisher. It was making shallow dives into the water so may have been taking insects.   About 60% of food items are fish, but kingfishers also catch aquatic insects such as larvae or water beetles and in winter, crustaceans, including freshwater shrimps. Perhaps they also take amphibian larvae,  especially when the Thames is still in spate. The bird remained for twenty five minutes on the same branch before I had to deliver my car from evil and also watch a burglar being arrested along the Portsmouth Road. Kingfishers have been seen on the site only twice in the past. During the Inspectors site visit (2002) a kingfisher flew over the filter beds making an easily recognised high-pitched piping whistle. However, it is the time of year and length of stay, which makes this siting interesting as it could be a breeding record. It cannot breed in the drainage holes (where sand martins have...

Well, the right decision was issued today and this is what they said... Feb, 2014  see here for the  Surrey Comet  article The Inspector wrote: "The benefits that would be delivered by the proposal are considerable, however they must be weighed against the substantial harm to the metropolitan open land and character and appearance of the area. Whilst the proposal would not harm the setting of the listed buildings in the locality, I attach significant weight to the harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area." Kingston Council leader Liz Green said: "I'm delighted that the council decision has been upheld. "We can now, working with the Friends of Seething Wells, work on the plan of what should happen to the site. I’m really pleased the Planning Inspectorate has listened to the arguments put forth. I think that’s absolutely the right decision." The full 24 page decision can be seen here  Inspectors decision See ...

London Bat Group had a stall at the Seething Festival this year, which generated a lot of interest. This video of the  Procession  has a few snatches of Biggles the flying bat . This year he was being fed sock midges by lots of children The LBG stall was attended by Matt and Su and there were at least 4 varieties of bat biscuits from ginger to chocolate chip.  

Little grebe watching reflection Current bird highlights at the Filter beds are the early courtship displays of the little grebes or 'dabchick'. This is one of several pairs, which have returned to Seething Wells, now that water levels have increased. The male was seen 'feeding' the female today and the two birds were preening together on the dip slope, when one of the birds started watching his reflection. Lapwing This winter there are just short of 30 lapwing in the flock (when all are present). This one has found a way of keeping it's feet warm!

Female pochard Filter Beds Since the site visit (11.12.13) there has been no security presence at Seething Wells. With no-one driving around the Filter Beds every half hour, the site returns to 'normal'. The lack of disturbance has led to a welcome return of the swans and ducks normally expected  during the winter. This includes 4 swan, 34 tufted duck, ten gadwall and a female pochard, as well as good numbers of coot and moorhen. This morning there were six little grebe distributed between the beds and three lapwing on the dividing wall between FB's 5 and 6. Now that the tree screen has lost its leaves the door on the north east elevation appears to be open and fresh graffiti has appeared on the blue paintwork.

See the link here for the appellants closing statement: http://www.friendsofseethingwells.org/

Security guard on the wall between FB's Driving back to the coal wharf 11am The site visit was scheduled for 11am on a cold foggy morning. there were approximately ten attendees including three from the Friends of Seething Wells as well as the planning consultant and  landscape architect for the developers Hydro/ Cascina. At 10.55a.m the security guard drove his car down the slope and onto the platform between FB's 1 & 2. He got out of his car making sure that all the lapwings flew away. He got back in his car and returned to the coal wharf (which was our meeting point). Simon and Howard at the rear of our party Foggy wetland We walked back along the filter beds and were shown some yellow marks on the pillars along the Portsmouth Road which are supposed to depict the heights of the apartments or the tops of the photovoltaic panels. We heard the eerie call of a lapwing through the fog, which could be seen flying from the wall at FB 5. Yellow m...

Project model indicating 'nature reserve' Yesterday was the final day of the Inquiry at Surrey County Hall. There is a good write up here  http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news The summing up by the QC said that this is a case of the 'Emperor's New Clothes, the naked truth (about the proposal) is more mundane. This is a development of 64 homes, marina, car parking etc with ANCILLARY provision of open space, with what is LEFT after that provision'. He stated that the appellants failed to analyse the reasons for the site designations and all previous Inspectors rulings (UDP, Inquiry etc) had been ignored. Whilst public access is an aspiration for this site the QC asked 'why should the site be sacrificed on an altar to provide this benefit' it is desirable not required and not sufficient to compromise the MOL policy designation.  He clarified the council's position on ecology (not contested by the council in this Inquiry) who said that it wa...

FYI: In January this year, councillors unanimously rejected Hydro's scheme for the Filter Beds. This coming Monday , the developer’s Appeal against this decision starts and will run all week. Those of you who wrote in to the Council, objecting to the scheme, will have received letters from the Council explaining what's going on. Something this letter didn't point out is that The Friends of Seething Wells are a full party on this Appeal. We're very proud to be representing the strong community opposition and we've been putting in many hours preparing our evidence and our witnesses. Although we're confident and optimistic, it would also really demonstrate the strength of local support to the Appeal Inspector if as many local people as possible attended the Hearing. The appeal is being heard at Surrey County Hall, Penryn Road, Kingston, KT1 2EA (it's opposite Kingston Uni on Penryn Road). It starts at 10.00am on Monday with the Inspectors’ opening ...

The date of the Seething Wells Public Inquiry has been set as the 25th of November and will last for 5 days. Here is the link to the information on the council's website Proof of Evidence Ecology A. Fure Appeal documents

Talcum pommes Kay Galbraith In the continuing saga regarding the security measures at Seething Wells, I  have had a number of approaches from members of the public, wondering why the site has recently become so precious that it warrants 24 hour security. A web search reveals that it could be due to the remnant stocks of talcum powder, which used to be mined at the site. There are a number of references to the white stone of Seething that lay ‘undere the surface of the soil’ by the banks of the River Thames   see  Talcum Powder mine at Seething Wells However others have sent in photos of  commodities upon the land, which may be in serious need of scrumping prevention, such as the large numbers of apples Security Inspector, Kay Galbraith Is this  over zealous security inspector suspicious that his car may not be all that it seems, or could he be listening to Leifi through the medium of Fiat. A prize will be awarded by the year end to the ...

Security Guard at the Filter Beds At last the developers have bestowed some of vast their resources on Seething Wells. Have they cut the chalk grassland and removed the encroaching ash, sycamore and other invasives? Have they painted the railings? Or was it the urgent works to the roof of the Building of Townscape Merit? No instead they have installed a Security Firm. Meanwhile they have produced their Statement of Case. The Hydro case is broader than the case submitted by RBK and includes ecology, heritage, leisure and other issues. A much narrower approach has been taken by the council conceding all the wider issues in the Statement of Common Ground. The council agree there would be no adverse impact on ecology and that the marina would not be detrimental to other river users. In their Statement, Hydro assert that the site is deteriorating and that vegetation is growing in the filter beds..... so they employ security to guard it. September, 2013

The company behind the Surbiton filter beds housing scheme has been hit with a legal claim forbidding it from developing the land, in a dispute over a “floating homes” patent, which has become a floating farce. A claim against Hydro Properties and managing director Philip Wallis has been issued by NGM Sustainable Developments, seeking an injunction preventing Hydro or its affiliates from building floating home developments. NGM also wants several agreements with Hydro rescinded, including an irrevocable licence of the patent for floating and can-float homes. read more  http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/10615884.Legal_row_over_floating_homes_patent_ see also:  http://ngmdevelopments.wordpress.com/

The Appeal has now been validated by the Planning Inspectorate with a start date of 9 July and it appears as a Public Inquiry. Statements and comments may have a deadline but no date as yet for the hearing. see  http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2197943&coid=67733

Severed Railings I am informed that agents acting for Hydro are among the readers of this blog. How jolly cordial. So what I was wondering is: how long was it  going to be, before any responsibility was taken for managing the site, as the critical mass of our citizens are duty bound to make sure our own land is in a good state of repair. Not just a state. Presently, an impression is imparted, that the developers couldn't care less, which will be of great interest to the planning inspector at the forthcoming Inquiry, especially if he or she has to hire a machete to undertake a site visit.  Buddleja wig on the small pumping station Previous blogs have reported on our council's wisdom as to how bad it needs to be before enforcement action is taken. The dangerously severed railings above aren't sufficiently bad, so how about..... Our be-buddleja'd 'Building of Townscape Merit'? Ash pushing over the bundary wall Nope. Ok, wel...