Yippee: the Andrena florea (Bryony Mining Bees) are back in the Garden (at Home)

 Seen during 2019, 2020 and now 2021 viz.

A couple of Clovers

Knotted Clover: seen growing close to the Reflexed Stonecrop (not yet flowering) beside the Upper Bedon Stream viz.

and Clustered Clover: seen growing on the Holly Hill Open Space, including beside Brook Street viz.

The Moon ~ 20 May 2021

We caught the Moon just before the Clouds hid it from sight. We have finally identified the Montes Apenninus Mountain Range (see arrow), with the Eratosthenes Impact Crater at the Western End and the large Copernicus Impact Crater coming into view nearby to the West. 

We initially thought the large Crater above both (the one that has just come into view) might be the Plato Impact Crater but we now think that might be over to the East at the top-end of the Montes Apenninus. The Montes Caucasus are visible running Northwards above the Montes Apenninus.

Some Wild Flowers in the Cemetery of Our lady of the Angels Capuchin Franciscan Friary (Erith)

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Barren Strawberry
Black Medick viz.

Bluebell

Bristly Oxtongue

Bush Vetch

Common Field-Speedwell

Common Mouse-Ear
Common Vetch

Field Wood-Rush

Germander Speedwell

Greater Stitchwort

Green Alkanet

Groundsel

Herb Robert

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

Neapolitan Garlic viz.

Sow-Thistle

Spotted Medick

White Stonecrop viz.

Wood Anemone

Wood Avens

and Yarrow

We visit Woolwich Common (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

 Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Bird's-Foot (TQ4279 7750) viz.

Black Horehound

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Bulbous Buttercup

Common Chickweed

Common Field-Speedwell

Common Mallow

Common Ragwort

Common Vetch 

Cow Parsley

Creeping Thistle

Cut-Leaved Crane's-Bill

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Green Alkanet

Hairy Tare

Hedge Mustard

Hoary Cress

Mugwort

Oxeye Daisy

Red Dead-Nettle

Ribwort Plantain

Sheep's-Sorrel

Spotted Medick

White Dead-Nettle

Wintercress

and Yarrow

There were quite few Crane Flies out and about including a couple of pairs viz.

Both apparently Tipula vernalis. The eyes of the second pair don't appear to be green but we are assured that all four Crane Flies are Tipula vernalis: a grassland species. The Sightings will be submitted to iRecord.

Walking back to Woolwich we passed by the Ruins of the Garrison Church of St George (the Royal Artillery). The Church was badly damaged during World War II. The Victoria Cross Memorial (centre-piece George and the Dragon) identifies Members of the Royal Artillery decorated in Conflicts from the Crimean War to the middle of World War II.

Before arriving on the Common, we visited the Charlton Cemetery: Wild Flower' Species seen there included:

Bird's-Foot Trefoil

Black Medick

Bulbous Buttercup

Caucasian Stonecrop

Common Ragwort

Cow Parsley

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Field Wood-Rush

Germander Speedwell

Green Alkanet

Groundsel

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

Oxeye Daisy

Pearlwort

Red Valerian

Reflexed Stonecrop

Ribwort Plantain

Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill

Sow-Thistle

White Stonecrop

Wood Avens

and Yarrow

We also noted this 'white-thallus' Lichen on the Wall in Cemetery Road. we are hoping to discuss it during this evenings Meeting:

New Zealand Pigmyweed and Watercress in/beside the Upper Bedon Stream

The New Zealand Pigmyweed growing in the Upper Bedon Stream seems to be thriving. We are looking forward to seeing it flower:

That being said, it is a non-native invasive plant and since 2014 it has been an offence to plant or otherwise cause this species to grow in the wild. It forms dense mats (certainly the case here) and can apparently impede drainage, causing flooding. And it displaces other native aquatic plants.  

We understand the Upper Bedon Stream was previously renowned for its Watercress. In recent years however, it seems to have been absent but it is now making a comeback viz.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Nothing to do with local Wildlife &c. of course but super-interesting to hear during a London Natural History Society, Zoom' Talk, that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon might actually have been located in the Assyrian City of Ninevah (and not Babylon). Didn't know that...

Wild Flowers in the Grounds of St James, North Cray

En-route to Foots Cray Meadows to recce for a scheduled Butterfly Walk, we looked around the Church' Grounds.

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Barren Strawberry viz.

Bluebell

Bulbous Buttercup

Cow Parsley

Cuckooflower viz.

Daisy

Dandelion

Field Wood-Rush

Germander Speedwell viz.

Green Alkanet

Ground Ivy

Lesser Celandine

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Primrose

Red Dead-Nettle

Ribwort Plantain

Sweet Violet

and Wood Anemone

Bibio Species Flies

We have submitted Sightings on Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) and in Foots Cray Meadows to iRecord:

Crane Fly Records!

[i] Tipula vernalis! Seen on the Holly Hill Open Space and on Bostall Heath:

Distinctive green/turquoise eyes and a few seen.

and [ii] Nephrotoma appendiculata viz. the thick dark stripe along the top of the abdomen (similar in appearance to Nephrotoma flavescens) and (just the single individual) seen in Foots Cray Meadows:

Identified Sightings have been submitted to iRecord.

We take a turn around Lesnes Abbey Woods and Lesnes Abbey Park

With a change in the weather in prospect, we are hoping the Butterfly Season might finally get underway: we are seeing a few but it's still very quiet, Butterfly-Wise. So we were pleased to see this Green-Veined White Butterfly in Lesnes Abbey Park:

And we saw a Crane Fly, our first in the Park this year viz.

Wild Flower Species seen in Lesnes Abbey Woods and Lesnes Abbey Park included:

Alexanders

Black Spleenwort (on the Abbey Ruins)

Bluebell

Brooklime

Bulbous Buttercup viz.

Common Ragwort

Common Vetch viz.

Creeping Thistle

Foxglove

Garlic Mustard

Germander Speedwell viz.

Greater Plantain

Greater Stitchwort

Ground-Ivy

Hairy Tare viz.

Hedgerow Crane's-Bill

Hedge Mustard

Herb Robert

Hogweed

Ivy-Leaved Speedwell

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax (on the Abbey Ruins) viz.

Lesser Celandine

Lords-and-Ladies

Maidenhair Spleenwort (on the Abbey Ruins)

Meadow Vetchling

Nipplewort

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Red Campion

Red Dead-Nettle

Soapwort

Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (on the Abbey Ruins) viz.

Wall-Rue (on the Abbey Ruins)

Wall Speedwell (on the Abbey Ruins)

White Dead-Nettle

White Stonecrop

Wild Garlic

Wood Anemone

Wood Melick

Wood Sorrel viz.

Yellow Archangel viz.

and Yellow Pimpernel viz.

Footnote: we have been hoping to see some Ducklings in the Pine Pond in Lesnes Abbey Woods. So far alas, nothing doing. The only Birds present were a single Moorhen and this Mallard:

Wild Flowers beside the Upper Bedon Stream

Included:

Brooklime

Bulbous Buttercup

Charlock

Common Vetch viz.

Cow Parsley

Creeping Buttercup

Creeping Thistle

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Green Alkanet

Iris (Yellow)

Lesser Celandine

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

New Zealand Pigmyweed (assumed: we are waiting to see it flower)

Red Dead-Nettle

Reflexed Stonecrop

Sheep's Sorrel

Spear Thistle

Spotted Medick

Watercress

White Dead-Nettle

and Yarrow

Butterfly Species seen: Brimstone, Comma, Green-Veined White, Holly Blue (our first for 2021), Orange-Tip, Peacock and Small White... 

To Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) in search of Something: or perhaps, Anything

We have sort of given up on Butterflies for the time being so were super-surprised to see our first Small Copper Butterfly of the year viz.

Also seen: a Green-Veined White Butterfly, a Small White Butterfly and a Speckled Wood Butterfly.

A few Bibio-Type Flies were seen close to where the Balkan Spurge grows viz.

There were a few Green Longhorn Moths flying around and resting on, the Balkan Spurge viz.

Crane Fly numbers seem be increasing: the Crane Fly' Season finally seems to be underway viz.

Hoverflies present included this (female) Myathropa florea on Hawthorn:

Wild Flower Species seen included:

Balkan Spurge

Bluebell

Buck's-Horn Plantain viz.

Bulbous Buttercup

Bush Vetch viz.

Caper Spurge viz.

Cleavers

Common Chickweed

Common Field-Speedwell

Common Ragwort

Common Vetch viz.

Coral Spurge

Creeping Thistle

Dandelion

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Gorse

Green Alkanet

Groundsel

Hawk's-Beard species

Hedge Mustard

Herb Robert viz.

Garlic Mustard

Lesser Celandine

Oxford Ragwort

Red Dead-Nettle

Ribwort Plantain

Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill

Sheep's Sorrel

Sow-Thistle species

Spotted Medick

Sticky Mouse-Ear

Sweet Violet

White Dead-Nettle

Wild Garlic viz.

Wintercress

Wood Anemone 

and Wood Sage

And: we think this might be a Crab Apple: