David
Element
Wildlife
Photography
and Digital
Video Images
WILDLIFE
OF THE WANDLE CORRIDOR - AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, BIRDS, MAMMALS

SMOOTH
NEWT Triturus vulgaris
TADPOLE

COMMON TOAD Bufo bufo
(f)

COMMON
FROG Rana temporaria

RED-EARED TERRAPIN Trachemys
scripta elegans

SLOW-WORM Anguis
fragilis (m)

GREY
HERON Ardea cinerea

LITTLE
EGRET Egretta garzetta

MUTE
SWAN Cygnus olor (m)

MALLARD
Anas platyrhynchos (m)

TUFTED
DUCK Aythya fuligula (m)

KESTREL
Falco tinnunculus

MOORHEN
Gallinula chloropus

BLACK-HEADED
GULL Larus ridibundus

ROSE-RINGED
PARAKEET Psitticula krameri
(f)

ROBIN
Erithacus rubecula

WHITETHROAT
Sylvia communis (m)

CHIFFCHAFF
Phylloscopus collybita

SPOTTED
FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata

HOUSE
SPARROW Passer domesticus
(f)

BRAMBLING
Fringilla montifringilla (m)

GOLDFINCH Carduelis
carduelis

HEDGEHOG
Erinaceus europaeus (f)

RED
FOX Vulpes vulpes (f)

WOOD
MOUSE Apodemus sylvaticus

BROWN
RAT Rattus norvegicus
- The above series of photographs
illustrates just some of the higher animals which may be
found along the Wandle Corridor. Birds are well
represented along the River and this page shows a
fraction of the possible species which might be
encountered during a walk along the Wandle.
- All of the species shown are
naturally occurring with the exceptions of the Red-eared
Terrapin, an American import which would have
been released into the River following the Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtle fad and the Rose-ringed
Parakeet, an Asian species which has spread
fairly rapidly since its artificial release some years
ago. The impact of the former has been damaging and that
of the latter will doubtless become more apparent once
the population has peaked. The deliberate release of
non-native animals almost invariably has a deleterious
effect on other indigenous species sharing the same
habitat (e.g. American Mink, Coypu, American Bullfrog,
Grey Squirrel) and even the redistribution of native
species into new habitats requires a thorough evaluation
by appropriately qualified conservation bodies as there
may be hidden dangers, e.g. the introduction of diseases
or an altered gene pool. Under certain circumstances
re-release programmes have been very successful, as with
the re-introduction of the Red Kite. Even the familar Brown
Rat is an import from abroad, albeit a very long
time ago. This species may be seen at very close quarters
along the banks of the Wandle and a population persists
despite regular warfarin poisoning.
- Little Egrets
have spread their range northwards from the Continent
recently and this bird has now become established as a
breeding species in the UK. This striking white heron
first appeared on the Wandle as an occasional visitor in
about 2003 and it is most likely to be noticed during the
Spring months. Hopefully this species will follow the
example of the Grey Heron and establish
a nesting population in the area.
- Chiffchaffs are
becoming much more frequent along the Wandle Corridor
during the winter months in response to the warmer winter
climate.
- The Spotted Flycatcher
used to regularly breed along the River (and may still do
so in places). However,this delightful bird has undergone
a considerable decline during recent years. This is
believed to be a consequence of the hazards of migration
rather than any change in habitat, etc. in the UK.
- The Brambling is
not a common sighting in the area. This sub-adult male
spent about four hours feeding on Cherry blossom before
moving on.
- The numbers of Hedgehogs
in the area seems to have dropped dramatically during
recent years. The reasons for this decline may be linked
to a reduction in available food (slugs, snails and
earthworms) during recent hot, dry summers, too many
barriers presented by garden fences which reach ground
level, exposure to too many slug pellets or other poisons
or incompatability with the increased Fox population.
There is evidence that these animals have declined
generally as there are nowhere near as many road
casualties as there used to be.
© David
Element.
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LINKS...
-> Wildlife
of the Wandle Corridor - Insects
-> David Element's
Wildlife Web Pages Home Page
-> Chalk
Downland Insects
-> Heathland
Insects
-> 2tin (Tooting)
Environment Page:
http://pages.britishlibrary.net/tooting/environ.html
-> London Wildlife Trust: http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/
-> Surrey Wildlife Trust: http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/surrey/
-> 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
->http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0421_030421_londonriver.html
->http://www.curator.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/aboutus.htg/trial.htg/wandletrail.htm
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