We won't be bothering with the so-called, Bird Watching 'Patch', this Year.

We won't be bothering with the so-called, 'Patch', this year. It was Fun to focus our Bird Watching there for three years but it's now time to move on.

The so-called, '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.

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. The 'Patch' 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.

During 2016, we Recorded 74 Species on the 'Patch' (an Exceptional Total we think: for us at least) viz.

Bar-Tailed Godwit
Black Redstart
Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit

Buzzard
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow

Cetti's Warbler
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff 
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Common Sandpiper
Common Scoter
Common Tern
Common Whitethroat
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunlin
Dunnock
Egyptian Goose
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Jay
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Marsh Harrier
Meadow Pipit
Mediterranean Gull
Moorhen

Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Peregrine Falcon
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Redwing
Reed Warbler
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Rock Pipit
Sand Martin
Shelduck
Siskin
Song Thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Teal
Wood Pigeon
Wheatear
Wigeon
Wren

and Yellow-Legged Gull

During 2017, we Recorded 60 Species on the 'Patch' viz.

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose 
Carrion Crow
Cetti's Warbler (heard only)
Chaffinch 
Chiffchaff 
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Common Sandpiper
Common Whitethroat
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunlin
Dunnock
Gadwall 
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Jay
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Mediterranean Gull
Moorhen
Oystercatcher
Peregrine Falcon
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Redwing
Reed Warbler 
Ringed Plover
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Robin
Rock Pipit
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Shelduck
Shoveler
Starling
Stonechat
Teal
Wheatear
Wood Pigeon
Wren
Yellow-Legged Gull

and during 2018, we Recorded 55 Species on the 'Patch' viz.

Avocet
Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Common Sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew

Dunlin
Dunnock
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Moorhen

Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Redwing
Ring-Necked Parakeet

Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Rock Pipit
Shelduck
Starling
Stonechat
Swallow
Teal
Wood Pigeon
Yellow-Legged Gull

Bird' Sightings on the 'Patch'

The so-called, 'Patch', runs 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.

It includes 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. The 'Patch' includes 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.

During 2016, we Recorded 74 Species on the 'Patch' (an Exceptional Total we think: for us at least).

During 2017, we Recorded 60 Species on the 'Patch'.

During 2018, we Recorded 55 Species on the 'Patch' viz.

Avocet
Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Common Sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew

Dunlin
Dunnock
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Moorhen

Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Redwing
Ring-Necked Parakeet

Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon (accepted for the 'Patchwork Challenge')
Rock Pipit
Shelduck
Starling
Stonechat
Swallow
Teal
Wood Pigeon
Yellow-Legged Gull

Hoverfly' Recording

We started collecting Hoverfly' Records during Early-June 2018, if albeit in a somewhat half-hearted manner.

With 2018 now ended, we must ask ourselves: 'Did we make Progress?'

And the Reply must be, 'Yes: of sorts at least'.

We remain indebted to the UK Hoverfly Recording Scheme for assistance with Identifying the Hoverflies although a time must come when their Goodwill and Patience will Run Out.

Our 2018' Records, for what they are, have been Submitted to the UK Hoverfly Recording Scheme.

Our Data Set shows we have Records for approaching 920 Hoverflies.

The Records are dominated by Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis sp., Eupeodes sp., Helophilus sp., Myathropa florea, Sphaerophoria sp., and Syrphus sp. 

Representing slightly Excess of 90% or so of the Hoverflies Recorded.

And we do of course see many more Hoverflies than we have Records for, so the foregoing must simply be regarded as a General Guide to Sightings.

Identified Species of Hoverfly:

Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Chrysotoxum festivum
Dasysyrphus altostratus
Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalinus sepulchralis
Eristalis arbustorum
Eristalis intricaria
Eristalis nemorum
Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis tenax
Eupeodes corolla
Eupeodes latifasciatus
Eupeodes luniger
Helophilus hybridus
Helophilus pendulus
Helophilus trivittatus
Meliscaeva auricollis
Merodon equestrian
Myathropa florea
Platycheirus scutatus agg.
Scaeva pyrastri
Sphaerophoria scripta
Syritta pipiens
Syrphus ribesii
Syrphus torvus
Volucella inanis
Volucella zonaria
Xanthogramma pedissequum s.s.

A Mini Safari on Boxing Day

A turn around Bostall Heath/Woods (in the Royal Borough of Greenwich) in search of Lichens and Mosses:

A Mini Safari on Christmas Day

With a pressing Engagement requiring our attendance during the early-afternoon, we only had time for a Mini-Safari.

A lack of Sunshine likely precluded the possibility of us finding any Hoverflies, so Lichens and Mosses were our Prey viz.

Of Bees, Birds, Hoverflies, Common Fumitory and Tugs on Christmas Eve

'Twas the Day before Christmas.

The Sun was Shining so we popped over to the Allotments in search of Hoverflies. Annoyingly, Clouds then hid the Sun and there was absolutely nothing to be seen, Bee, Fly or Hoverfly.

So: down to the Thames in the Erith area. By now, the Sun was Shining again. A lot of Mud was still exposed so whilst we waited for the Incoming Tide to bring the Birds in closer, we stood beside some flowering Hebes in The Riverside Gardens, hoping to see a Bee, a Hoverfly: anything really. And we were lucky enough to see a Bee (a possible White-Tailed Bumblebee) viz.

Then back to the River. Birds present on the Foreshore included: Black-Headed Gulls, Black-Tailed Godwits, Mallards, Moorhens, Redshanks, Shelducks, Teals and these Little Guys (viz. a Pied Wagtail and a Rock Pipit):

With the Sun still Shining we hurried back to the Allotments: hopeful of a Hoverfly or two. In the Event, we saw five viz;

[i] Ersitalis tenax (two of 'em):

[ii] Episyrphus balteatus (two of 'em):

and [iii], a single Meliscaeva auricollis.

Last but not least, in addition to the Charlock, we were pleased to see that the Common Fumitory is still flowering viz.

Footnote: all quiet on the River, Shipping-Wise, but we did see four Tugs moored together viz.

Namely, GPS Illyria, GPS Ionia, GPS Cambria and GPS Anglia…

Some Lichens &c. on Winn's Common, Plumstead (the RB of Greenwich)

Grid Reference: TQ4578.

And of course, lots of Xanthoria parietina.

Some Lichens &c. in the West Heath Recreation Ground

Grid Reference: TQ4777.

Some of the Lichens &c. seen on a Group of Stones in a Children's Play Area during a first visit:

Lichens &c. in and around the Grounds of 'The Parish and Ancient Church of St Nicholas, Plumstead, Serving Plumstead Since 960 AD' (the RB of Greenwich)

Grid Reference: TQ4578...

Some Lichens beside the Upper Bedon Stream

We went in Search of Hoverflies and Lichens beside the Upper Bedon Stream.

Not many Lichens were immediately apparent although we did find three/four trees with Xanthoria parietina and Physcia adscendens (and/or Physcia tenella) viz.

Oh: and we also saw a handful of Hoverflies, namely, Episyrphus balteatus and Eupeodes sp.

Footnote: walking up Brook Street on the way Home via Belvedere Village, we noticed additional Lichens viz.

The above Lichens are kindly identified as Physicia caesia (which apparently has much more conspicuous pale patches/flecks/maculae on the lobes and is more silvery grey than Phaeophyscia oericularis). We are told it isn't always easy to separate P. caesia and P. oericularis.

All Lichens were seeen within Grid References: TQ4977 and TQ4978

Some Lichens seen on Trees in Lesnes Abbey Woods

Whilst walking to the Woods we noticed some Lichens growing on a Concrete Post close to the Entrance to the Woods in the Woolwich Road viz.

being Candelariella aurelia (the yellow ones) and Calopiaca oasis (the orange ones).