Recording can become a Burden

We needed a Break from Recording Butterflies viz. worrying about whether a Butterfly is say an Essex or Small Skipper &c. and then counting them. We overcome this particular problem by seeing lots of 'Unidentified small Skippers' but it can become very Burdensome.

So we spent a day in the Garden (at Home) where in addition to seeing Bees, Hoverflies &c. we did actually see some Butterflies. But that's all they were: Butterflies.

We have been busy in the Garden this Year, introducing new Plants &c. with a view to attracting Wildlife. With the Benefit of Hindsight we are aware of a number of Mistakes and these will be Rectified, God Willing, next Year.

But we are seeing Bees, Butterflies, Hoverflies &c. (although in fairly Small Numbers since there just don't seem to be the Numbers of Insects now that there used to be) viz.

And we mustn't forget the Birds viz.

We see Butterflies on the New Allotment but for how much longer?

Our initial Plan was to see if we could arrange a couple of visits to the local Allotments to see which Butterflies we could find. Instead: we ended up with an overgrown Allotment.

Progress is being made in clearing it.

And we are seeing Butterflies although if truth be told, in small numbers. Most of the Allotments are under Full Cultivation except for a handful in very close proximity to ours which is where we are finding the Butterflies. Indeed: we watched Brown Argus and Common Blue Butterflies whooshing and swooshing together on one of the Footpaths beside our own Allotment. So we don't need to traipse around the whole Allotments area.

It has however, become apparent that if all Allotments are under Full Cultivation, then the only Butterflies will probably be those just passing through. So 'tis no Bad Thing to have one or two Overgrown Allotments: if only Partially. If not, and from what we have seen, when covered with Cloches, Fruit Cages &c., Allotment areas can be pretty sterile places.

We intend to plant Wild Flowers &c. and also keep a Small Patch properly Wild viz. Nettles &c. Sadly, it could prove an Oasis in the Middle of a Desert.

Perhaps at least two Full Plots on every Allotment Site might be Managed for Wildlife? We doubt this would be acceptable to some Allotment Holders but if properly Arranged it might gain General Acceptance? Any approach to the Council will of course, have to be carefully thought out.

Butterfly Species seen to date (21 June 2018) are:

Brimstone
Brown Argus viz.

Comma
Common Blue viz.

Green-Veined White
Holly Blue
Large Skipper viz.

Meadow Brown viz.

Painted Lady viz.

Peacock
Red Admiral
Small Heath (really surprised to see this) viz.

Small Skipper viz.

Small Tortoiseshell viz.

Small White 
and Speckled Wood

The Small Heath Butterfly in the London Borough of Bexley

For reasons unbeknownst, we tend to think of the Small Heath Butterfly as being found in the Countryside. We didn't really expect to see them locally, except in just one or perhaps two locations.

But already this year we have seen Small Heath Butterflies at a number of local (London Borough of Bexley) Sites viz.

(on the) Crayford Marshes and Surrounding area viz.

(on the) Allotments off Cumberland Drive viz.

(on) Foots Cray Meadows viz.

(on the) Holly Hill Open Space viz.

(beside the) Upper Bedon Stream viz.

(on the) Upper College Farm viz.

And most recently, on Bostall Heath (in the Royal Borough of Grenwich).

Indeed: we are now finding ourselves thinking, 'Oh, that's just another Small Heath Butterfly'!

Back to Bostall Heath

After wandering firstly beside the Upper Bedon Stream where we were pleased to record a Small Heath Butterfly viz.

our first on the Site and then on to Holly Hill Open Space, where we saw a further four Small Heath Butterflies and our first Meadow Brown butterflies of 2018, we decided to take a toddle round Bostall Heath (in the neighbouring Royal Borough of Greenwich).

Butterflies seen included our first Painted Lady Butterfly of 2018 viz.

more Meadow Brown Butterflies and a Large Skipper Butterfly viz.

Plant-Wise, the Most Interesting find was of two Common Broomrape Plants (the first we have ever seen) viz.

Most Interesting? By way of Explanation, two Common Broomrape Plants were Recorded as growing on a Grass Verge in the Bostall Heath area during June-2012. And during June-2018 there are still two Common Broomrape Plants growing on a Grass Verge (we assume the same one) in the Bostall Heath area!

Other previously Recorded Plants seen included Hare's-Foot Clover viz.

and Hedge Woundwort viz.

We were also pleased to find a small Patch of (previously Un-Recorded) Hop Trefoil viz.

The Gardens (at Home) are 'Works in Progress'

For reasons beyond our Control, the Gardens (at Home) were neglected for a number of Years. We have however, since Mid-2017, felt able to take the Bull by the Horns and are Working to make them Wildlife Friendly by introducing a number of new Plants, including Cultivated and Wild Flowers.

Progress is Slow but Sure with Bees, Beetles, Bugs, Butterflies, Damselflies (we are particularly pleased with these), Hoverflies, a Ladybird (sadly, just a single Individual so far), Moths &c. being seen during the past few days viz.

 

Footnote: the Foxgloves are Self-Seeded: (other Self-Seeded Plants in the Gardens include Common Dog-Violet, Common Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Feverfew, Green Alkanet, Selfheal and Spear Thistle).

Bladder Campion, Hop Trefoil and Orange Hawkweed viz.

were grown from Seeds, collected from Plants, growing in the Wild.