Of Bee Orchids &c.

Before going Shopping, we decided to pop down to the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, Erith, to see if we could find any flowering Ivy Broomrape, go up to the River and then on to the nearby Lake beside Church Manorway to see how the five Mallard Ducklings were faring (Yippee: they were OK).

In the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist we were Super-Encouraged to see that the Grass &c. hadn't seemingly been Mown/Strimmed for a while so we were hopeful of seeing Something. Although anything really.

Flowering Species seen included:

Bee Orchid (Wow: very much a Something and very Unexpected ~ there were at least thirteen Plants ~ hopefully they will be allowed to flower and drop seeds ~ we have asked the Church if they might be spared so can hope) viz.

Bird's-Foot-Trefoil
Biting Stonecrop viz.

(assumed) Common Dog Violet
Creeping Cinquefoil
Germander Speedwell
Ivy Broomrape (since these aren't noticeably growing on Ivy we wondered whether they are Ivy Broomrape but have to assume they are) viz.

Orange Hawkweed (aka for reasons unknown, Fox & Cubs) viz.

Red Clover
and White Clover

Up beside the River a Painted Lady Butterfly fluttered around for a while and beside the River some Gulls were hanging around on the Mud, doing nothing in particular viz.

Below the Sea Wall, Sea Milkwort was just about flowering viz.

Sea Plantain and a single Sea Aster were also flowering.

Moving on to the nearby Lake beside Church Manorway we were relieved to see the five Mallard Ducklings were safe and sound. They seem to be very independent characters and are forever diving below the surface of the water. Whilst we were there, a male Mallard flew in and joined them viz.

Presumably Papa since no-one seemed unduly concerned?

The Reed Warblers were singing most merrily and a couple of Canada Geese were paying a visit viz.

There seem to be at least three Cootlets: they were being attended to most diligently by their Parents viz.

And we think there is also a Moorhen Family. Dare we hope for a Little Grebe family? Why not.

It was also nice to see a somewhat distant Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly viz.

Flower-Wise, the Purple Loosestrife growing beside the Lake was coming into flower viz.

Also flowering beside the Lake and the Footpath leading up to Bronze Age Way were:

Black Horehound
Bramble (and very pleasing to see a visiting Small White Butterfly) viz.

Celery-Leaved Buttercup
Common Knapweed
Common Mallow viz.

Common Spike-Rush
Creeping Thistle
Goat's-Rue viz.

Red Campion viz.

Scarlet Pimpernel (not seen there before) viz.

Selfheal viz.

Spear Thistle viz.

(assumed) Welted Thistle
Wild Mignonette
and Yarrow viz.

We were also pleased to see the Annual Beard-Grass (in the Kent Rare Plant Register) again viz.

We are planning to collect Seed.

The visit once again showing that there is no need to travel too far to enjoy oneself.