Our First Butterfly' Sightings in the London Borough of Bexley ~ 2016 and 2017

Sightings are as at 31 July 2017 and are updated when/as appropriate.

The Pictures are of 2017 Sightings:

Brimstone ~ first identified last year on 17 March 2016 and first identified this year on 11 March 2017

Brown Argus ~ first identified last year on 24 May 2016 and first identified this year on 10 May 2017

Clouded Yellow ~ first identified last year on 17 August 2016 and first identified this year on 31 july 2017

Comma ~ first identified last year on 17 March 2016 and first identified this year on 11 March 2017

Common Blue ~ first identified last year on 22 May 2016 and first identified this year on 2 May 2017

Essex Skipper ~ first identified last year on 25 June 2016  and first identified this year on 16 June 2017

Gatekeeper ~ first identified last year on 6 July 2016 and first identified this year on 30 June 2017

Green Hairstreak ~ first identified last year on 3 May 2016 and first identified this year on 6 April 2017

Green-Veined White ~ first identified last year on 2 April 2016 and first identified this year on 27 March 2017

Holly Blue ~ first identified last year on 4 May 2016 and first identified this year 8 April 2017

Large Skipper ~ first identified last year on 8 June 2016 and first identified this year on 1 June 2017

Large White ~ first identified last year on 30 April 2016 and first identified this year on 10 July 2017 in the Garden at Home (we had previously seen promising Candidates whooshing past but have lacked the Confidence to formally Identify any as Large Whites)

Marbled White ~ first identified last year on 17 July 2016 and first identified this year on 16 June 2017 (on the Holly Hill Open Space where we saw a single Marbled White Butterfly during 2015)

Meadow Brown ~ first identified last year on 18 June 2016 and first identified this year on 7 June 2017

Orange-Tip ~ first identified last year on 12 April 2016 and first identified this year on 28 March 2017

Painted Lady ~ first identified last year on 5 June 2016 and first identified this year on 20 May 2017

Peacock ~ first identified last year on 30 March 2016 and first identified this year on 9 March 2017

Purple Hairstreak ~ first identified last year on 18 July 2016 ~ not yet seen during 2017

Red Admiral ~ first identified last year on 28 March 2016 and first identified this year on 28 February 2017

Ringlet ~ first identified last year on 24 June 2016 and first identified this year on 14 June 2017

Silver-Washed Fritillary ~ first identified last year on 23 July 2016 ~ not yet seen during 2017

Small Copper ~ first identified last year on 4 June 2016 and first identified this year on 10 May 2017

Small Heath ~ first identified last year on 26 May 2016 and first identified this year in the Upper College Farm area on 20 May 2017 (also seen on the Crayford Marshes and for the first time during 2017, in the Crayford Rough area, on the Southern Erith Marsh and the Holly Hill Open Space),

Small Skipper ~ first identified last year on 24 June 2016 and first identified this year on 10 June 2017

Small Tortoiseshell ~ first identified last year on 28 January 2016 and and first identified this year on 11 March 2017

Small White ~ first identified last year on 25 March 2016 and first identified this year on 11 March 2017

Speckled Wood ~ first identified last year on 6 March 2016 and first identified this year on 28 March 2017

White Admiral ~ first identified last year on 21 July 2016 and first identified this year on 24 June 2017

White Letter Hairstreak ~ not seen last year (2016) ~ not yet seen during 2017

Out and About on a Sunday Afternoon

The so-called, Norman Road Field, located between Norman Road North and the Crossness Nature Reserve (with Entrances via both) is a favourite of ours where we look forward to seeing Stonechats during the Colder Months. Also (hopefully) Wheaters and Whinchats as they pass through during the Spring and Autumn periods. And we see Butterflies &c. during the Warmer Months.

Indeed: we wondered if we might see a early-returning Stonechat today but it was not to be.

Despite a somewhat Cloudy and Breezy Afternoon with the ever-present possibility of a Shower of Rain (or worse), we passed a very pleasant couple of Hours wandering around there.

Due to the recent Rains the Water Level in the Pool is quite High: however, we did notice a Little Egret at the Pool's Edge.

And we saw lots of Critters &c., including in no Particular Order:

A Meadow Grasshopper we think:

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Hiding amongst the Common Ragwort was this single Common Fleabane (the first we have ever seen here and which really pleased us):

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We think this is Common Sorrel; and very Pretty it looks too growing in a Big Puddle:

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And last but not least, two Fairy-Like Critters, seeming Travelling Companions viz.

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A Footnote: although it's nice to be able to identify Critters, Plants &c. there are times when it's just nice to see them and share their World!

Yippee: the Ringed Plovers are back (well, some at least)

One of the first Bird' Species we saw when we started looking for Birds during late-2010 were the Ringed Plovers that have set up Home beside the Thames in the Belvedere area (flying Inland at High Tide). They are still there and we secretly refer to them as, 'our Ringed Plovers'!

As mentioned, at High Tide, the Birds fly Inland to an unknown destination. We used to wonder how they knew about the State of the Tides so they could time their arrival on the Foreshore to coincide with the appearance of the Mud. It all became clear one day when we noticed a party of Plovers fly out over the River: it being High Tide still they returned to the place from whence they came. We found it slightly disappointing.

It had been a while since we had seen a Ringed Plover (they go off to raise Families during late-Spring and Summer) so we thought we might toddle along to see if there were any about.

And Yippee: there were at least four distant Ringed Plovers and surprisingly, since it seems somewhat early for them, three distant Dunlins, beside the River today viz.

Out and About on a Saturday Morning

Having purchased some 'Tasty Sticks' for the Girl (Bella the Cat), we made our way to the Lake, beside Church Manorway.

The inevitable Rain was forecast to start early-Afternoon. In the event, it started at around 12.00 o'clock: a Light Drizzle at first by which time we, without an Umbrella, were safely back by the Car.

We are always hoping to see something new in/beside the Lake although no such luck today with just three Moorhens and a Little Grebe showing themselves: but we ain't complaining.

The Lake is looking rather pretty with lots of Water Plants showing above the Surface viz.

We decided to wander along to the Footpath leading up to the Thames Path: then up to the Thames Path.

Plants &c. seen beside Church Manorway included:

Common Knapweed viz.

Black Horehound (being visited by a Bee-Type Critter) viz.

Red Clover (being visited by a Bee-Type Critter) viz.

Water Plantain growing in the Roadside' Ditch was flowering profusely: the Amphibious Bistort, much less so.

Buddleia being visited by a Brimstone Butterfly viz.

Greater Knapweed viz.

and Yarrow viz.

Despite some recent Council' Strimming we were hopeful of finding some Butterflies beside the Footpath leading up to the Thames Path and were not disappointed viz.

Butterflies seen: a Comma, Common Blues, Gatekeepers, a Speckled Wood and some unidentified White Butterflies.

We were also pleased to see a Jersey Tiger Moth viz.

Plants &c. seen beside the Footpath included:

Common Bird's-Foot-Trefoil viz.

a Spear Thistle viz.

and Red Campion viz.

Below the Sea Wall beside the Thames Path we noticed a Wild Carrot with the prominent purple flower clearly visible viz.

The Sea Asters and Sea Plantains are still flowering (although 'just' in the case of the Sea Plantains) and there were a few Small White Butterflies about viz.