David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

WILDLIFE OF THE WANDLE CORRIDOR - AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, BIRDS, MAMMALS

                                                 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 Psittacula krameri (m)

                                            KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (m)

                                                       ROBIN Erithacus rubecula

                                            WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis (m)

                                                  BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla (m)

                                            CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita

                                 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata

                                 HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus (f)

                                                       SISKIN Carduelis spinus (m)

                                            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 African/Asian species which has spread 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 and Blackcaps 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.

• Siskins are commonly observed feeding on Alder in winter.

• 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

-> COPYRIGHT INFORMATION