Early Wildlife Sightings
Thank you to those who have seen and reported sightings in this unusually warm period: the Beast from the East has been followed by the Sweety from the South. Keep ‘em coming!
On Monday, 25 February Shelagh Akbulut saw a Little Egret in the trees whilst taking a morning stroll along the Malago at the back of Cotswold Road. Surely this must be a first for Bedminster?
Rob Webber spied a Painted Lady sunbathing and a Red Admiral flying through. He also saw two Small Tortoiseshells, one sunbathing one flying through. These butterflies are related and my guess is that they were trying to sleep out the winter and were awakened by the unusual warmth. More unusually perhaps, Rob also saw a brown butterfly, but was unable to identify the species because it was flying through. For good measure, Rob reports six Buzzards circling over Cumberland basin at 1.00pm.
Make the Malago Great Again
Shelagh’s sighting above and other reports indicate that even in its current sorry state, the Malago can surprise us. As the river flows through BS3, it is mere trickle of its former self, often bound in concrete and cluttered with urban rubbish, but still the creatures come. Many of the ideas from commercial developers for Bedminster Green are very controversial, but one thing that gets general consent is to enhance the river as a social and wildlife asset. Let’s hope it actually happens.
Meanwhile, community organisations do their bit. Not the least of these groups is Malago Greenway Bedminster with their berrymaze. They are looking for help with this on Saturday (2nd March between 9.30 and 1pm). They will be weeding and planting and undertaking general maintenance work. Join in, if the mood takes you.
And then there’s The Cut
Friends of the Avon New Cut (FrANC) will be doing a clear-up on Saturday, 9 March between Bedminster and Gaolferry Bridges on the Coronation Road side. They will meet from 9.50am at Bedminster Bridge and go on until about lunch time. Any help that you can offer, gratefully received.
Please pass this newsletter on to others and invite them to join the BS3 Wildlife Group.
Contact: benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk