'Patch' Birding 2019

We previously recorded Birds on the so-called, 'Patch', seen from the Footpath which runs up to the Thames from Crabtree Manorway North in Belvedere and thence downstream from the Thames Path, to just beyond Corinthian Manorway, in Erith.

It included the area, say 200 yards inland, running parallel to the River. Sadly though; almost all of the ground immediately inland from the River has been built on although it included the (fairly small) newly-landscaped Lake beside Church Manorway and the Footpath that runs between Church Manorway and Bronze Age Way where there is a short stretch of Ditch bordered by Reeds &c.

But we didn't bother this year.

That being said, we have decided that to give some focus to our Bird-Watching for the rest of the year and will record Birds seen on a modified version of the 'Patch': simply, anything seen from the Footpath which runs up to the Thames from Crabtree Manorway North in Belvedere and thence downstream from the Thames Path, to just beyond Corinthian Manorway, in Erith.

After starting during early-July, forty-five (45) Bird' Species were seen viz.

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Common Sandpiper
Cormorant 
Curlew
Dunlin
Dunnock
Egyptian Goose (a Family Group of Mama, Papa and Children) viz.

Feral Pigeon
Gadwall
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Egret
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen 
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Robin
Rock Pipit viz.

Ringed Plover

Shelduck
Starling
Stonechat viz.

Teal
and Wren

Stonechats and a Meadow Pipit on the Erith Marshes and Surrounding area

Five Stonechats and two Meadow Pipits.

A Christmas Day Bee

A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (confirmed on Facebook and one of at least six present) visits Gorse flowering on Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich):

The Sightings have been submitted to iRecord.

The local Navelworts are both Thriving and Spreading

Lichens and Mosses is Lesnes Abbey Park and on the Abbey' Ruins

Some Lichens and Mosses beside the Thames

Birds beside the Thames &c.

We walked along the Footpath which runs up to the Thames from Crabtree Manorway North in Belvedere, and thence downstream, to just beyond Corinthian Manorway, in Erith.

Bird' Species seen:

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Carrion Crow
Chiffchaff
Common Gull
Cormorant
Dunnock
Great Black-Backed Gull
House Sparrow
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Mallard
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Ringed Plover
Robin
Shelduck
Starling
and Teal

And a new Tug for us, Zeehond (Sea Hound?) viz.

We travel to the Mile End Road and thence to Victoria Park (the London Borough of Tower Hamlets) to look for Red-Crested Pochards (the London Borough of Tower Hamlets)

Bird Species seen:

Black-Headed Gull
Canada Goose viz.

Coot
Cormorant

Egyptian Goose viz.

Gadwall viz.

Great Crested Grebe viz.

Great Tit
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose viz.

Herring Gull
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan viz.

Pochard viz.

Red-Crested Pochard viz.

Shoveler
and Tufted Duck viz.

The Moon Tonight

Almost a Full Moon: the next Full Moon will occur tomorrow (12 December).

Mare Frigoris, Mare Imbrium, Mare Nubium, Mare Humorum, Mare Serenitatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Nectaris, Mare Fecunditatis, Mare Crisium and Oceanus Procellarum are all visible. Plus various Craters.

We Misjudge the Tide

Off to Woolwich (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) to look for Birds on the Thames' Foreshore in front of the former Royal Arsenal.  Alas, no Mud was visible. However, the Tide was going out: before we left, some Mud had been exposed and we saw four Teals, beaks in the Mud. No Godwits &c. alas.

Bird species seen:

Black-Headed Gull
Carrion Crow
Common Gull
Cormorant
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Tit viz.

Herring Gull
Magpie
Moorhen
Teal
and Wood Pigeon

We also noticed one of the Resident Grey Squirrels viz.

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Plus some Lichens and Mosses viz.

[pictures to be included]

The Moon Tonight

Mare Frigoris, Mare Imbrium, Mare Nubium, Mare Serenitatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Nectaris, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Crisium are all visible, of sorts. Plus various Craters including the distinctive Copernicus.

Dunlins, a Godwit and Lichens &c. in the Vicinity of Erith Pier