Spring came Early

A Super-Sunny and Warm Day; very Spring-Like if not almost Summery!

Not long now until Spring.

Arriving in the Norman Road Field on the little of what remains of the Erith Marshes, we almost immediately spotted a couple of Stonechats.

Annoyingly, and for reasons best known to themselves, the current crop of Birds Over-Wintering on the Erith Marshes are inclined to keep their distance viz.

unlike during previous years when it has been possible to get quite close to them. We also chanced upon a couple of Reed Buntings and a handful of Goldfinches.

Up by the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works there were, as is usual at this time of year, Ducks Galore viz. Gadwalls, Mallards, Shelducks, Shovelers, Teals and Wigeons beside or swimming in the Thames:

A White-Haired Cormorant viz.

reminded us of the Verse:

'You are old, Father William,' the young man said,
'And your hair it has turned very white' &c.

The ever-present Moorhens were also very much in evidence viz.

There were a number of Waders present viz. Black-Tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, Dunlins, Lapwings, Redshanks and Snipes:

And a Grey Wagtail was pottering about too viz.

A Footnote: just before setting off for home we noticed, Tahilla, passing by, heading downstream. We wondered if it was the Dunkirk Small Ship of the same name but on further investigation cannot be sure either way:

Yippee: we see some Reed Buntings in the Greenwich Peninsula area (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

We travelled by Bus up to the Greenwich Peninsula with vague hopes of seeing one of the Caspian Gulls which we understand frequent the area beside the Thames.

On arrival our attention was initially attracted by aircraft, including this BA CityFlyer, Embraer ERJ-190SR aircraft, flying into the nearby London City Airport:

We didn't subsequently see the hoped for Caspian Gull although we saw lots of other Gulls, including a ringed Herring Gull (Ring No. V9FT) viz.

But Wow: before boarding a Thames Clipper to take us back to Woolwich on the first leg of the Homeward Journey, we unexpectedly chanced upon a Small Party of Reed Buntings busying themselves in the Phragmites that grow beside the River viz.

Which more than made up for not seeing a Caspian Gull. Truth to tell, we hadn't really expected to see one anyway. But perhaps more importantly, we are generally able to identify Reed Buntings; we need help with Caspian Gulls.

Birds seen included: a Coot, Common Gulls, Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Mallards, a Moorhen and the Reed Buntings.

After which, we voyaged to Woolwich, courtesy of a Thames Clipper viz.

A Footnote: whilst waiting for the Clipper we watched the Cable Cars criss-crossing the River viz.

Although we are not really brave enough to travel in a Cable Car (not very good with heights) we understand, without wishing to be controversial, that they come to ground on the other side of the River in the Middle of Nowhere!

Another Footnote: looking across the River towards, as we understand it, West Silvertown, we saw the (laid-up) Tug, Suncrest. And behind the Tug, we noticed the Rotting Carcass of the former floating Public House/Restaurant, the London Regalia viz.

Formerly moored at Swan Pier, located on the North Bank of the Thames between London Bridge and the Cannon Street Railway Station Bridge, the London Regalia apparently shut up Shop during 2011 or thereabouts, after which it was towed to West Silvertown.

We enjoy an Outing to Woolwich (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

We traipsed along to Woolwich in the hopes of seeing some of the Great Crested Grebes that inhabit the Thames there.

And Yippee: our luck was in. We were in for a Great Surprise, seeing far more Birds than we had expected to see, as we walked alongside the River from the section beside the old Woolwich Arsenal viz.

which is now being turned into a vast (and doubtless, super-expensive) Communal Housing Area (Big Boxes filled with lots of Little Boxes), downstream towards the Thamesmead area.

Birds seen included:

Black-Tailed Godwits
Canada Geese
Common Gulls (sixty plus)
Common Sandpipers (three)
Gadwalls
Great Crested Grebes
a Grey Wagtail
Lapwings
Mallards
a Pied Wagtail
Redshanks
a Ring-Necked Parakeet
and Teals (circa a hundred)

A Footnote: whilst there we saw number of aircraft taking off from the nearby London City Airport,  including this CityJet BAE 146 / Avro RJ aircraft:

We have gotten going with the 'Patchwork Challenge 2017'

During 2016, the 'Patch' ran alongside the Thames from where the Footpath runs up to the Thames Path from Crabtree Manorway North in Belvedere, downstream, to just beyond Corinthian Manorway, in Erith.

We included the area, say 200 yards inland, running parallel to the River, which allowed us to spend some time in the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, Erith. Sadly though; almost all of the ground immediately inland from the River has been built on. We also included the Footpath running up from Crabtree Manorway North with a Ditch bordered by Reeds, Brambles &c. running alongside.

We did consider extending the 'Patch' this year to include the section of River running alongside the Thames Path upstream to the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works but decided to stick to the 2016 'Patch' * (see below). Extending the 'Patch' might have mean't seeing a few more Birds but we enjoyed our Outings during 2016 and seeing a few more Birds isn't particularly important for us. So, no change for 2017. And we are again nominally participating in the Inland South Minileague.

We have set ourselves a Target of 60 Bird' Species for 2017. We managed 74 Bird' Species during 2016 but are inclined to think this was Exceptional; at least by our Standards.

That being said, we were told a couple of months or so ago that we should see at least 120 Bird' Species on the 'Patch'! It seems a lot but…

With so many distractions viz. Butterflies, Lichens, Little Critters, Wild Flowers &c. we will probably be spending less time on the 'Patch' this year; hence the proposed and to our minds realistic Target of 60 Bird' Species for 2017.

A 'Proper Bird Person' will of course see many more Birds than we do. We used to reckon to see about 70% of the Birds that a 'Proper Bird Person' will see during an Outing; we are now of the opinion we rather Over-Estimated our Abilities so now reckon on 65% in lieu of 70%!

But truth to tell, there is no need to be a 'Proper Bird Person' to participate in the Patchwork Challenge. And there is no need to see lots of Birds. We don't. The most important thing, to our minds at least, is to feel Comfortable and not Overwhelmed; which we generally feel very Comfortable.

And anyway: as mentioned, we are easily sidetracked by Butterflies, Lichens, Little Critters, Wild Flowers &c.

On New Year's Day we walked along the Footpath leading up from Crabtree Manorway North to the Thames Path (seeing some House Sparrows) and whilst glancing downstream towards the 'Patch' turned left to walk upstream towards the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works.  In addition to the House Sparrows, we noticed a Common Sandpiper, a couple of Gadwalls, a Grey Heron and a Rock Pipit.

And today (2 January) we walked the full 'Patch' (although we didn't visit the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist) adding the following Bird' Species to our Tally:

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Common Gull
Cormorant
Curlew 
Dunlin 
Dunnock
Great Black-Backed Gull
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet 
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Shelduck
Starling
Teal
Wood Pigeon
Wren

As a result of which we are 50% or so of the way towards our Target! There is of course, a long, long way to go. We shall provide an update at the end of the Month; and monthly thereafter.

* We have belatedly extended the Patch to include the newly-landscaped Lake beside Church Manorway viz.

and the Footpath that runs between Church Manorway and Bronze Age Way where there is a short stretch of Ditch bordered by Reeds &c. running alongside.