The Wild Flower Society', Winter Plant Hunt 2020/21

We will be having a go at the Winter Plant Hunt (for Plants in flower) which kicks off on 1 December 2020 and runs to the end of February 2021: during which time we might hopefully have seen a native Bluebell flowering locally in Lesnes Abbey Woods or on Bostall Heath. 

And as Spring gets going on 1 March, we will, God Willing, be thinking of Butterflies, Hairy-Footed Flower-Bees &c. again.

Footnote: somehow, the Winter Heliotropes, growing beside the Footpath running between Norman Road North and the Thames Path, have again evaded the attentions of the Council Strimmers, so we will hopefully be able to include Winter Heliotrope in our List of flowering Plants viz.

We keep our eyes focused on the Ground: but not for Lichens

It's been a while since we looked for Wild Flowers, so as we walked to/from the local Shops (not very far) we kept our eyes focused on the Ground (ignoring Lichens this time): spotting:

Annual Meadow-Grass (having just become aware of the existence of Early Meadow-Grass, we shall be keeping our eyes peeled: the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland', Distribution Map, shows it has been seen locally)

Annual Mercury

Common Chickweed

Fat Hen

Groundsel

Henbit Dead-Nettle

Jersey Cudweed

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Sow-Thistle

and Sweet Violet

Hoverfly Records 2020

Our Hoverfly Recording is way down on previous Years: currently standing at three hundred and thirty (330) or so Records.

But better than nothing we suppose. We will submit the Records to the UK Hoverfly Recording Scheme at Year-End.

That being said, we added five (5) Records today: including this (male) Eristalis tenax seen on the (Variegated) Ivy growing beside the Allotments:

Some Lichens on Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

We think these might all be Cladonia sp. viz. 

Some Lichens in Lesnes Abbey Park

A Seal on the Thames' Mud

There was just a single Seal on the Thames' Mud, close to the former Thamesmead Golf Course/Driving Range viz.

A Clouded Yellow Butterfly

We first saw a Common Blue Butterfly beside the Thames Path close to the Waste Incinerator. Then a Red Admiral Butterfly beside the Thames Path, close to the former Thamesmead Golf Course/Driving Range and finally, a Clouded Yellow Butterfly close to where we saw the Common Blue Butterfly:

Some Lichens beside the Thames Path in the Thamesmead area

Now we are booked to learn about Lichens with the British Lichen Society, we are hopeful that over the course of time, God Willing, we will be able to put more Names to Faces. It's gonna be a bit of a slog though.

Lichens seen growing beside the Thames Path in the Thamesmead area include:

Pretty Clouds

We had been cleaning out the Pond when we looked up and saw that the Clouds were looking rather pretty this morning viz.

A 'Mackeral Sky'? If it is, we understand a Mackeral Sky is composed of Cirrocumulous Clouds which are small, high clumps of Cloud, containing Ice Crystals.

Our first Rock Pipit of the Winter

We peeped over the Sea-Wall and there she/he was viz.

We had Bicycled from Woolwich: other Birds seen included:

A Small White Butterfly

A lovely Bright and Sunny Day.

We were really surprised  this Character: beside the Thames Path, close to the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works:

There's not much going on at the London City Airport

It was very quiet during the time we were in the Woolwich area: the only aircraft flying in or out was this Netjets Europe', Cessna 680A Citation Latitude aircraft, Registration No. CS-LTB, on approach to the Airport:
 

The Black-Tailed Godwits are back

Back again: there were a few hundred Black-Tailed Godwits beside the Thames in the Erith area:

Lichens with a 'Pink Tinge'

We found what we think to be Physcia tenella with a Pink Tinge, growing on a Tree in the 'Local Monad' viz. 

The White Ramping-Fumitory growing beside the Thames Path has spread onto the Crossness Nature Reserve

 We found a small Population growing beside the Footpath that leads down to the Protected Area:

Not too far from the main Population growing beside the Thames Path by the Waste Incinerator. 

Some Lichens growing on the Sea Wall beside the Thames close to the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works

Just a few of the Lichens: