The following animal species have been recorded in the grounds of

        St. George's Hospital, London. 

                            BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY Ischnura elegans

• This common damselfly probably breeds in the Lambert Water Garden pond. The female (shown) has several different colour forms. It is highly likely that other still-water dragonfly species will locate and use this delightful pond for breeding purposes. Banded Demoiselles and Large Red Damselflies have both been recorded at this pond during 2004.

                              FIELD GRASSHOPPER Chorthippus brunneus

• Field Grasshoppers favour warm, bare patches of ground. Their cryptic coloration makes them rather hard to spot.

                             CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY Colias croceus

• Two examples of this lovely migrant were seen on Buddleia during the substantial invasion of 1983.

                                    POPLAR HAWK MOTH Laothoe populi

• This large species, the commonest native British hawk moth, breeds on poplar trees. Some of the larger poplars at St. George's were felled some years ago to make way for site development. A splendid example of this species and two closely related LIME HAWK MOTHS Mimas tiliae have been found in the Hospital corridors.

                                             COMMON TOAD Bufo bufo

                                    COMMON FROG Rana temporaria

• Common Toads and Common Frogs both regularly breed in the Hospital ponds. Their tadpoles are vulnerable to predation by ornamental Koi Carp and Grey Herons (see below). These birds have bred very successfully in the locality during recent years and some individuals have become particularly bold, evading a number of increasingly desperate attempts to prevent them from reaching the Hospital ponds and eating the fish.

                                        GREY HERON Ardea cinerea

                                        MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos

• Mallard have occasionally managed to breed on the Lambert Water Garden pond despite considerable disturbance from humans. Very few ducklings have survived.

                                          KESTREL Falco tinnunculus

• Kestrels have probably bred at St. George's for over a quarter of a century. Some of the the 'Nightingale' wards were demolished during 2004. Fortunately the kestrels appear not to have been too disturbed and they have taken to roosting on the adjacent buildings.

                                        SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus

• Sparrowhawks are not infrequently to be seen circling high above the Hospital. The female is much larger than the male (shown) and prey up to the size of a feral pigeon may be taken, sometimes from the Hospital grounds. Sparrowhawks have made a very good recovery following the DDT-induced population crash of the 1950's.

                                     GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea

• Both Pied and Grey Wagtails are fairly frequent visitors to the Hospital grounds. The Lambert Water Garden is particularly popular with the rarer Grey Wagtail - unfortunately there have been several fatalities following collisions with window panes.

                        SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

• A single Sedge Warbler has been noted in one of the Hospital quadrangles. This bird was presumed to have been passing through on migration as it was well away from its typical habitat.

                                BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros

• One of the most notable sightings at St. George's was a rare Black Redstart which appeared twice within a three day period.

                                           REDWING Turdus iliacus

• During cold winters Fieldfares and Redwings (collectively known as 'winter thrushes') may visit the Hospital grounds to feast on the substantial berry crop provided by the ornamental Cotoneaster and Pyracantha bushes. The more eagle-eyed viewers may just notice the red-brick hue of Lanesborough Wing in the background.

                                        BLACKBIRD Turdus merula

• Another beneficiary of the winter berry bounty is the omnipresent Blackbird.

                                    HEDGEHOG Erinaceus europaeus

• Formerly a very common species in south west London, the Hedgehog appears to have significantly declined in numbers during recent years. This may probably be attributed to too many hot, dry summers which have restricted this animal's food supply and to the use of slug pellets and it may be no coincidence that Song Thrush numbers have also dropped significantly during the same period.

                                            RED FOX Vulpes vulpes

• In contrast, Red Foxes thrive in an urban environment. They usually breed in the grounds of St. George's each year, although mortality is high with numerous road deaths just outside the Hospital boundaries. A high proportion of cubs have succumbed to sarcoptic mange during the past few years. Thankfully there has been less evidence of the effects of this unpleasant disease recently.

• All photographs and text on this page are the intellectual copyright of David Element and no part of this page may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the photographer.

HARLEQUIN LADYBIRDS

• A potentially very damaging alien ladybird species, the Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis arrived in the UK in July 2004. This beetle has now been recorded at various sites in the South East including the grounds of St. George's (first record 26/10/05) - see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4348881.stm for an associated news report (Tuesday 15th March 2005). A substantial population of larvae and pupae has since been found (on walls or fences underneath Sycamore or Lime trees) on High Street Collier's Wood and the adults have still been found emerging even after the cold snap in mid November. This insect is predatory on the same prey items (aphids, etc.) as the native ladybird species, but unfortunately also on those useful insects which naturally control garden and crop pests themselves, namely lacewings, hoverfly larvae and other ladybirds. Once it has run out of invertebrate prey the ladybird turns its attention to fruit crops, particularly pears, and these are damaged when the ladybird is disturbed and reflex-bleeds onto the surface of the fruit. If Harlequin Ladybirds become numerous (and they most certainly will) then the natural balance between these predator and prey species could be irreparably damaged. As they probably have at least three reproductive cycles per year this may be predicted as inevitable. For further instructions and information about the biology of this beetle see: http://www.harlequin-survey.org and for identification photographs see: http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm and: http://www.david.element.ukgateway.net/beetles16ladybirds5.htm.

• Paul Mabbott, London Ladybird Recorder, has posted survey information about the current status of this species in London on the following webpage: http://www.ladybird-survey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/harlequin.htm

• Note that only a small proportion of the reported sightings have been genuine, so these illustrations and those of our other native species should be examined closely before any records are submitted!

• Another alien species was seen on 13/10/06 when a pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets Psitticula krameri flew over the grounds. This small parrot has been breeding in local parks for several years and it may be easily recognised by its bright green colour, very long tail, very fast flight and piercing call. For an illustration see: Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals.

     LINKS...

-> David Element's Wildlife Web Pages Home Page

-> http://www.arkive.org/

-> Flowers at St. George's Hospital

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Insects

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals

-> http://www.st-georges.org.uk/

-> 2tin (Tooting) Environment Page:

         http://pages.britishlibrary.net/tooting/environ.html

-> London Wildlife Trust: http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/

-> Surrey Wildlife Trust: http://www.surreywildlifetrust.co.uk/

-> Butterfly Conservation: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/

-> London Ladybird Survey: http://www.ladybird-survey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/         CONTACT PAUL MABBOTT, LONDON LADYBIRD RECORDER, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION