We walk down to the Lesnes Abbey Ruins

[i] Wild Flower' Species seen whilst en-route to Bostall Heath included:

Four-Leaved Allseed
Ivy-Leaved Speedwell
Jersey Cudweed
Red Dead-Nettle
Shining Crane's-Bill
and Spotted Medick

[ii] Wild Flower' Species seen on Bostall Heath and beside Brampton Road included:

Buck's-Horn Plantain
Cock's-Foot
Cow Parsley
Gorse
Green Alkanet
Honesty
Lesser Celandine
Red Dead-Nettle
Ribwort Plantain
Sheep's Sorrel
Sowbread
Stinking Iris
Sweet Violet
and Vetch sp.

[ii] Wild Flower' Species seen beside Woolwich Road included:

Common Chickweed
Four-Leaved Allseed (beside the Entrance to Heath View Drive)
Ivy-Leaved Speedwell
Lesser Celandine
Musk Stork's-Bill
Red Dead-Nettle
and Springbeauty viz.

[iv] Wild Flower' Species seen beside New Road and in Lesnes Abbey Woods included:

Bluebell
Common Water-Starwort
Dog's Mercury
Garlic Mustard
Greater Stitchwort
Lesser Celandine
Lords-and-Ladies
Sweet Violet
Wild Daffodil
Wood Anemone
and Wood Sage

and [v] Wild Flower' Species seen in Lesnes Abbey Park/on the Abbey' Ruins included:

Alexanders
Biting Stonecrop
Black Medick
Black Spleenwort
Common Field-Speedwell
Henbit Dead-Nettle
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Lesser Celandine
Maidenhair Spleenwort
Red Dead-Nettle
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Wall-Rue
White Stonecrop
Wild Clary
and Yarrow

Some Wild Flowers seen whilst on 'Fridge Duties

Whilst out on 'Fridge Duties we noticed Wild Flower' Species including:

Annual Meadow-Grass
Annual Mercury
Black Medick 
Cleavers
Common Chickweed
Common Field-Speedwell
Common Stork's-Bill
Common Whitlow-Grass
Cornsalad sp. viz.

Four-Leaved Allseed
Green Alkanet
Groundsel
Hairy Bittercress
Henbit Dead-Nettle viz.

Herb Robert
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Lesser Swinecress
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Petty Spurge
Purple-Leaved Procumbent Yellow-Sorrel
Red Valerian 
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage (and flowering to boot) viz.

Shepherd's-Purse viz.

Shining Crane's-Bill
Sow-Thistle
Sweet Violet
Wavy Bittercress
and Yellow Corydalis

The Update to the Kent Rare Plant Register for Q and R (dated February-2020)

The Update makes mention of the Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus) and the Marsh Dock (Rumex palustris) we found growing in close proximity on the former Thamesmead Golf Course during August-2016.

We will be revisiting the former Golf Course in the hopes of finding either or both again: although we haven't seen either since and the Golf Course is becoming seriously overgrown.

We shall also look for Marsh Dock on the Crossness Nature Reserve and the Erith, Southern Marsh: where we have previously seen it growing:

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No longer a 'Trainee Novice Botanist': Thank Goodness

Phew: Common Sense has prevailed.

If one is a Botanist, of any Shade, Colour, Variety &c., one has Responsibilities.

We do not want Responsibilities. We do not want to go Botanising. We Simply want to Enjoy Ourselves: as we always have done.

So we will just carry on Looking for Wild Flowers. And on occasion, find some unusual Plants viz. the Glassworts found ten or so days ago.

But we will carry on using the Latin Names for Plants: that will be sensible.

Phew again: the 'We want to be a Botanist Conceit' has, Thankfully, been Nipped in the Bud'.

We take a Quick Turn in Lesnes Abbey Woods looking for flowering Wood Anemones

And we found some viz.

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Alexanders (including some in the Park)
Bluebell
Dog's Mercury
Greater Stitchwort
Lesser Celandine (including some in the Park)
Lords-and-Ladies
Wild Daffodil
Wild Garlic (in the Park but probably initially planted)
Wood Anemone
and Wood Sorrel

To the Poplar Dock Marina and the East India Dock Basin

To the Poplar Dock Marina in search, primarily, of Wild Flowers: afterwards Home, via the nearby East India Dock Basin.

[i] the Poplar Dock Marina and Surrounding area (Grid Ref: TQ3880):

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Common Field-Speedwell
Cow Parsley
Creeping Thistle
Green Alkanet
Hart's-Tongue Fern
Jersey Cudweed
Parsley-Piert viz.

Pearlwort sp. viz.

Purple Toadflax
Red Dead-Nettle
Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Stinking Iris
Stonecrop sp. (to be identified) viz.

and Yarrow

We will need to return later in the year to hopefully see the Spotted Spurge.

[ii] the East India Dock Basin and Surrounding area (Grid Refs: TQ3880 and TQ3980):

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Black Medick (flowering on a small grassed area beside Blackwall Way and the A1261) viz.

Common Chickweed
Common Mallow
Cow Parsley
Greater Celandine
Jersey Cudweed (beside East India DLR Station area) viz.

Red Dead-Nettle
Small-Flowered Crane's-Bill (on a small grassed area beside Blackwall Way and the A1261)
Spurge sp. (to be identified)
Sticky Mouse-Ear (on a small grassed area beside Blackwall Way and the A1261) viz.

Stinking Iris
Sun Spurge
and Yarrow

Beside the Thames Between Blackfriars and Tower Bridges

Up to London for a Lunch Appointment in the City of London.

We arrived early so we could walk beside the Thames towards Tower Bridge.

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Broom viz.

Buddleia
Groundsel
Hart's-Tongue Fern viz.

Hemlock Water-Dropwort viz.

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Mexican Fleabane
Pelllitory-of-the-Wall
Red Dead-Nettle
Sow-Thistle
and a Stonecrop sp. viz.

A couple of Southeastern Trains at Waterloo East

Up to town for a Meeting of the East Africa Study Circle (with Storm Dennis on his way) via Waterloo East; time for some Train-Spotting.

[i] No. 375816 leaving Waterloo East en-route to Charing Cross viz.

and [ii] No. 375603 approaching Waterloo East en-route to Hastings viz.

Bird and Wild Flower' Species seen on the Thames Foreshore &c.

We walked from Erith (the Riverside Gardens) upstream to the Waste Incinerator: and thence down Norman Road North and back Home.

Bird' Species seen:

Black-Headed Gull
Collared Dove
Cormorant
Curlew
Gadwall
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet
Long-Tailed Tit
Mallard
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Shelduck
Starling
and Teal

Wild Flower' Species seen on the Thames Foreshore included:

English Scurvy-Grass viz.

Hemlock Water-Dropwort
See Aster
Sea Beet
and Sea Purslane

Come July we will look for the Frog Rush (and others) growing on the Crossness Nature Reserve

Kent Botany 2019 makes mention that Frog Rush (Juncus ranarius) has been found in the West Paddock of the Crossness Nature Reserve. We will be going during mid/late-July to look: so as to avoid disturbing Ground Nesting Birds.

A Grid Reference of: TQ 4939 8048 has been provided.

It's a first Record for Vice County 16 (West Kent).

Additionally, we will look out for Borrer's Saltmarsh-Grass (Puccinellia fasciculata) which is also mentioned in Kent Botany 2019.

Also the aquatic Mare's-Tail (Hippuris vulgaris) which we saw during a 2018' Walk.

Marsh Yellow-Cress (Rorippa palustris), Blue-Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) and Lesser Sea-Spurry (Spergularia marina) are all identified as growing in the West Paddock.

And perhaps we might find Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum) and Trifid Bur-Marigold (Bidens tripartita): both of which we have recorded in the small, often flooded area, in the Norman Road Field.

We go down to Bexley to look at the Victorian Post Box (a Penfold Original)

A Sunny but Windy day. We had intended to go to the Post Box, via Hall Place, where we were going to look for Bees but shortly after arriving at Hall Place, the Clouds rolled in and we thought it might Rain. So we abandoned that idea and started walking towards Bexley and the Post Box.

But Wow: after crossing the A2 (Road) we noticed Steps leading down to a Footpath running beside the A2. And beside the Steps we noticed three Navelwort Plants viz.

Grid Reference: TQ499741 or thereabouts. Wow: the second time we have found Navelwort locally: the first time, during 2017, in the Erith area (and mentioned in Kent Botany 2017). Navelwort is on the Kent Rare Plant Register.

The new Sightings have been submitted to the Kent Botanical Recording Group.

Plant' Species seen on the way to the Bus Stop whilst en-route to Bexleyheath included:

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Green Alkanet
Henbit Dead-Nettle
Jersey Cudweed
Lesser Swine-Cress
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Sweet Violet
and Water Bent

Thereafter:

[i] Monad TQ5074: Plant' Species seen included:

Buck's-Horn Plantain
Common Field-Speedwell
Common Mallow
Common Ragwort
Green Alkanet
Henbit Dead-Nettle
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Red Dead-Nettle
and Yarrow

[ii] Monad TQ4974: Plant' Species seen included:

Buck's-Horn Plantain
Common Field-Speedwell
Feverfew
Grape Hyacinth
Lesser Celandine
Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum)
Navelwort
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Purple Toadflax
Sowbread
and Yarrow

[iii] Monad TQ4973: Plant' Species seen included:

Common Mallow
Cow Parsley
Four-Leaved Allseed
Green Alkanet
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Lesser Celandine
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Red Dead-Nettle
Red Valerian
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Sweet Violet
and Trailing Bellflower

Oh: and the Post Box:

Three Monads to be checked for Wild Flowers

A couple of years ago we were asked to check three Monads for Wild Flowers viz.

TQ4774 (which includes part of Danson Park)
TQ4775 (which includes part of Danson Park)
and TQ4776

We made a half-hearted start and think we will give them a proper go this year.

We buy a Knapsack in Bexleyheath and then walk Home

After purchasing a Knapsack in Bexleyheath we decided to walk Home, via Russell Park (alas, something of a Desert).

Wild Flowers seen included:

Annual Meadow-Grass
Annual Mercury
Buck's-Horn Plantain
Cleavers
Common Bramble
Common Chickweed
Common Mallow
Common Nettle

Common Whitlow-Grass viz.

Daisy
Dandelion
Green Alkanet
Groundsel
Henbit Dead-Nettle
Herb Robert
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax viz.

Lesser Swine-Cress
Jersey Cudweed
Mexican Fleabane
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Petty Spurge
Purple-Leaved Procumbent Yellow-Sorrel 
Red Dead-Nettle
Red Valerian
Ribwort Plantain
Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Shepherd's-Purse
Shining Crane's-Bill viz.

Sow-Thistle
Spear Thistle
Sun Spurge
Sweet Violet
Water Bent
and Wavy Bittercress

We look for Birds in Lesnes Abbey Woods and Lesnes Abbey Park

We decided to see if there were any Wild Daffodils flowering so entered the Woods via New Road and walked down to Lesnes Abbey Park and the Abbey' Ruins.

No sign of a Nuthatch: Sadly, it has been many years since we have seen a Nuthatch in the Woods. But we did see our first Great Spotted Woodpecker of 2020, in the Woods: and our first Long-Tailed Tit of 2020, in the Park.

Bird' Species seen:

Blackbird
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Jay
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Moorhen
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Robin
Starling
and Wood Pigeon

And Yes: some Wild Daffodils are flowering viz.

Out of Borough' Excursions during 2020

We are planning on taking Excursions to the following:

Blackheath/Vanbrugh Pits: for Butterflies (possibly including Marbled Whites) and Wild Flowers (including Bur Marigold and Marsh Cudweed)

Chislehurst: for Butterflies and Wild Flowers

Hutchinson's Bank: for Butterflies (including Glanville Fritillaries and Small Blues) and Wild Flowers

Jubilee Park (via Petts Wood): for Butterflies and Wild Flowers

Ladywell Fields: for Bees, Butterflies, Hoverflies and Wild Flowers

Scadbury Park: for Butterflies and Wild Flowers

Sheerness: for Wild Flowers and possibly Birds

Southend-on-Sea: for Birds and Wild Flowers

White Hill Reserve/ Fackenden Down Reserve: for Butterflies and Wild Flowers

With possible Sunday visits, by Car, to Leysdown-on-Sea/Shellness and Oare Marshes. 

We have agreed to run the Butterfly Transect in Lesnes Abbey Park/Woods

In addition to looking for Butterflies, we will be able to keep an eye on the Wild Flowers!

And we will maintain a Wild Flower List. Hopefully we will re-find the Yellow Pimpernel, last seen a few years ago.

Wild Flower' Species seen so far during 2020 include

Alexanders
Biting Stonecrop
Black Medick
Black Spleenwort
Common Chickweed
Common Field-Speedwell
Greater Stitchwort
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Lesser Celandine
Lords-and-Ladies (both Arum Maculatum and Arum Italicum)
Maidenhair Spleenwort
Red Campion
Red Dead-Nettle
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Wall-Rue
White Dead-Nettle
White Stonecrop
Wild Clary
Wild Daffodil (assumed)
and Yarrow

We will be running the Transect every two weeks, probably starting some time in March.

With regard to Butterflies, in addition to Lesnes Abbey Park/Woods, we will be focusing our attention during 2020 on Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich), (the) East Wickham Open Space, the Holly Hilly Open Space and beside the Upper Bedon Stream.

Hoverflies 2020

Hoverfly' Species seen during 2020:

Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalis tenax
Meliscaeva auricollis

Down to Lesnes Abbey Park/Woods via Bostall Heath

We walked to Bostall Heath: then took the Bus down to Lesnes Abbey Park/Woods.

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Alexanders
Annual Meadow-Grass
Annual Mercury
Balkan Spurge
Biting Stonecrop
Bittercress
Black Medick
Buck's-Horn Plantain
Cleavers
Cock's-Foot
Common Bramble
Common Chickweed
Common Field-Speedwell
Common Nettle
Common Whitlowgrass
Coral Spurge
Cow Parsley
Creeping Thistle
Daisy
Dandelion
Gorse
Greater Stitchwort
Green Alkanet
Groundsel
Henbit Dead-Nettle
Herb Robert
Honesty
Ivy-Leaved Toadflax
Jersey Cudweed
Lesser Celandine
Lesser Swinecress
Lords-and-Ladies (both Arum Maculatum and Arum Italicum) viz.

Maidenhair Spleenwort
Nipplewort
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Petty Spurge
Purple Toadflax
Ribwort Plantain
Red Campion
Red Dead-Nettle
Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Shepherd's-Purse
Shining Crane's-Bill
Small-Flowered Crane's-Bill
Sow-Thistle
Spotted Medick
Sweet Violet
Vetch (not sure of Species viz. Bush or Common)
Wall-Rue
White Dead-Nettle
White Stonecrop
Wild Clary
Wild Daffodil
Wood Sage
and Yarrow

To Greenwich Park (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) in search of Rosy-Billed Pochards

And we found three: a male Bird and two female Birds, including these Guys:

Bird' Species seen:

Black-Headed Gull
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Egyptian Goose
Jackdaw viz.

Mallard
(Common) Pochard viz.

Red-Crested Pochard viz.

Robin
Rosy-Billed Pochard
Tufted Duck
and Wood Pigeon

We also managed to see a few Bees: all assumed Buff-Tailed Bumblebees viz.

The sighting has been submitted to iRecord.

'Kent Botany 2019'

The Ivy Broomrape, first seen growing beside the Upper Bedon Stream during July-2019 viz.

has merited a mention in 'Kent Botany 2019'.

Previous mentions:

White Ramping-Fumitory in Kent Botany 2015

Jersey Cudweed, Golden Dock and Marsh Dock in Kent Botany 2016

Common Purslane, Jersey Cudweed, Navelwort, Spanish Stonecrop and Spotted Spurge in Kent Botany 2017