Of Butterflies and other Things including a seemingly Homicidal Oystercatcher

Waking up, we were greeted by a Blue Sky. Hopeful of a Sunny Day we decided to go Butterfly Hunting on the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area). And Warm and Sunny it was; almost a 'No Cardigan Day'!

We first spotted a white Butterfly in the West Paddock area of the Reserve and decided to climb over a Gate to get a better view. With our knees we should have known better! After finally getting ourselves over the gate the Butterfly annoyingly moved off so remained unidentified.

Climbing back over the Gate we got temporarily stuck; thankfully no-one else was around! Not something we shall try again in a hurry.

We then walked up to the River, close by to which we saw a Brimstone Butterfly which luckily settled viz.

Walking back down through the Reserve we spotted a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly visiting a Cherry Plum viz.

Whilst we were engaged with the Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly another Brimstone Butterfly whooshed by.

Walking down to the Public Footpath that connects the Reserve to Belvedere Road we spotted a couple of Peacock Butterflies viz.

And on the Footpath itself we spotted a Comma Butterfly viz.

Possibly the same Butterfly seen few days earlier viz. see the item dated 17 March.

We then moved on to look around the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist in Erith, with the hopes of seeing some flowering Early Dog-Violets and were not disappointed viz.

The Three-Cornered Garlic/Leeks and Spring Starflowers were looking very pretty viz.

As was a Lesser Celandine and one of the last remaining flowering' Snowdrops viz.

Shortly afterwards we were lucky enough to find a Peacock Butterfly visiting one of the many Primroses that brighten up the Church' Grounds at this time of year viz.

By way of finishing the day we took a short bicycle ride down the Thames Path. Returning briefly to the section of the Crossness Nature Reserve where we had earlier seen and photographed the first Brimstone Butterfly, we found another Peacock Butterfly viz.

We also spotted another unidentified white Butterfly.

Beside the Thames Path we spotted an almost flowering Cowslip, what we take to be the white form of the Sweet Violet and were also pleased to see that the White Ramping-Fumitory is still flowering very prettily viz.

We also found a second Lesser Celandine plant.

After all of which it was time to do a spot of shopping and go home.

Postscript: down on the Thames' Foreshore we spotted an Oystercatcher seemingly preparing to take a lunge at an unsuspecting Ringed Plover viz.

Thankfully appearances were deceptive and the Oystercatcher quietly passed the Ringed Plover by. Phew.