Birds: Our 2023 'Year' List

Our 2023 Species' Year List (including where first seen):

Avocet (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Bar-Tailed Godwit (Thames' Foreshore, Thamesmead)

Barn Owl (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Blackbird (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Black-Headed Gull (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Black-Tailed Godwit (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Blue Tit (Garden, at Home)

Buzzard (over the Crossness Nature Reserve)

Canada Goose (Southmere Lake)

Carrion Crow (Grounds of St John the Baptist, Erith)

Cetti's Warbler (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Chiffchaff (beside the Thames Path, Belvedere)

Common Gull (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Common Sandpiper (beside the Outfall, the Crossness Sewage Works) viz.

Common Snipe (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Coot (Southmere Lake)

Curlew (Thames Foreshore, Belvedere) viz.

Dunlin (Thames' Foreshore, Thamesmead) viz.

Dunnock (beside the Thames Path, Belvedere)

Egyptian Goose (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Feral Pigeon (Garden, at Home)  

Gadwall (Southmere Lake)

Garganey (Thames' Foreshore, Belvedere) viz.

Goldfinch (Quadrant area) 

Great Black-Backed Gull (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Great Crested Grebe (Southmere Lake)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (beside Corinthian Manorway)

Great Tit (beside the Thames Path, Thamesmead)

Green Woodpecker (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Grey Heron (Heronry, off Templar Drive, Thamesmead) viz.

Greylag Goose (the Crossness Nature Reserve)

Grey Wagtail (the Pool beside Church Manorway, Erith) viz.

Herring Gull (Green Park)

House Marten (Greenhithe, Kent)

House Sparrow (Garden, at Home)

Jackdaw (Betsham, Kent) viz.

Kestrel (the Crossness Nature Reserve) viz.

Lapwing (Southern Erith Marsh)

Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Thames' Foreshore, Belvedere)

Linnet (beside the Thames Path, Erith) viz.

Little Grebe (Southmere Lake) viz.

Long-Tailed Tit (Heronry, off Templar Drive, Thamesmead) 

Magpie (Grounds of St John the Baptist, Erith)

Mallard (Thames' Foreshore, Erith) viz.

Marsh Harrier (over the Crossness Nature Reserve)

Mediterranean Gull (Thames' Foreshore, Erith) viz.

Mistile Thrush (Grounds at Hall Place)

Moorhen (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Mute Swan (Southmere Lake)

Oystercatcher (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Peregrine Falcon (on the side of the Waste Incinerator, Belvedere) viz.

Pied Wagtail (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Pochard (Southmere Lake) viz.

Redshank (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)\

Redstart (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Red-Legged Partridge (Betsham, Kent) viz.

Redwing (beside Corinthian Manorway)

Reed Bunting (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Reed Warbler (in the reeds beside the Pool in Church Manorway)

Ring-Necked Parakeet (beside the Thames Path, Erith)

Ringed Plover (Thames' Foreshore, Belvedere) viz.

Robin (beside New Road)

Rock Pipit (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Ruddy Shelduck (Thames' Forsehore, Thamesmead)

Ruff (beside the Outfall, the Crossness Sewage Works) viz.

Sand Martin (Southwold, Suffolk)

Shelduck (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Shoveler (the Outfall, the Crossness Sewage Works)

Song Thrush (beside Corinthian Manorway)

Starling (Southmere Park)

Stonechat (the Crossness Nature Reserve) viz.

Swallow (Betsham, Kent) viz.

Teal (Thames' Foreshore, Erith)

Tufted Duck (Southmere Lake)

Wheatear (Crossness Nature Reserve)

Wigeon (the Outfall, the Crossness Sewage Works)

Wood Pigeon (Garden, at Home)

and Wren (South Kensington Underground Railway Station)

Our First Butterfly Sightings in the London Borough of Bexley: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

Our First Sightings are Identified for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 viz.

Brimstone: 7 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 26 March 2018 ~ 23 February 2019 ~ 11 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021 ~ 15 March 2022 ~ 23 March 2023

Brown Argus: 4 June 2015 ~ 24 May 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 18 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 7 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021 ~ 18 May 2022 ~ 27 May 2023

Clouded Yellow: 18 July 2015 ~ 17 August 2016 ~ 31 July 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ 7 September 2019 ~ 3 August 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ not seen during 2022

Comma: 9 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 14 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021 ~ 10 March 2022 ~ 3 April 2023

Common Blue: 11 May 2015 ~ 22 May 2016 ~ 2 May 2017 ~ 22 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 5 June 2021 ~ 18 May 2022 ~ 27 May 2023

Essex Skipper: 25 June 2015 ~ 25 June 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 (we had previously seen an Essex Skipper beside The Ridgeway in the Plumstead area, the Royal Borough of Greenwich, on 30 May 2020: confirmed as the first sighting, submitted to Butterfly Conservation, of the species in the United Kingdom during 2020)  ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 18 June 2022 ~ 9 June 2023 viz.

Gatekeeper: 3 July 2015 ~ 6 July 2016 ~ 30 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 6 July 2019 ~ 11 July 2020 ~ 16 July 2021 ~ 2 July 2022

Green Hairstreak: 28 April 2015 ~ 3 May 2016 ~ 6 April 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 19 April 2019 ~ 26 April 2020 ~ 19 April 2021 ~ 26 May 2022 ~ 2 June 2023

Green-Veined White: 30 March 2015 ~ 2 April 2016 ~ 27 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 5 April 2020 ~ 4 April 2021 ~ 25 March 2022 ~ 3 April 2023 ... confirmed as the first sighting, submitted to Butterfly Conservation, of the species in the United Kingdom during 2023 ... viz.

Holly Blue: 22 April 2015 ~ 4 May 2016 ~ 8 April 2017 ~ 22 April 2018 ~ 14 April 2019 ~ 16 April 2020 ~ 7 May 2021 ~ 18 April 2022 ~ 25 April 2023 viz. 

Large Skipper: 5 June 2015 ~ 8 June 2016 ~ 1 June 2017 ~ 2 June 2018 ~ 2 June 2019 ~ 26 May 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ 2 June 2022 ~ 21 June 2023

Large White: 1 May 2015 ~ 30 April 2016 ~ 10 July 2017 ~ 4 April 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 19 April 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ 20 June 2022 ~ 4 June 2023

Long-Tailed Blue: not seen during 2015 ~ not seen during 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ 29 October 2018 (a one off probably) ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021

Marbled White: 24 June 2015 ~ 17 July 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 15 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022 ~ 17 June 2023 viz.

Meadow Brown: 18 June 2015 ~ 18 June 2016 ~ 7 June 2017 ~ 8 June 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 ~ 15 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022 ~ 21 June 2023

Orange-Tip: 7 April 2015 ~ 12 April 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 4 April 2021 ~ 26 March 2022 ~ 7 April 2023

Painted Lady: 7 June 2015 ~ 5 June 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 24 June 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 23 April 2021 ~ 17 May 2022 ~ 7 April 2023 viz.

Peacock: 30 March 2015 ~ 30 March 2016 ~ 9 March 2017 ~ 21 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 26 February 2021  ~ 15 March 2022 ~ 23 March 2023 viz. 

Purple Hairstreak: 5 August 2015 ~ 18 July 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ 1 July 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ not seen during 2022

Red Admiral: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 March 2016 ~ 28 February 2017 ~ 19 May 2018 ~ 19 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 22 June 2021 ~ 19 March 2022 ~ 2 June 2023

Ringlet: 25 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 14 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 20 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 18 June 2022 ~ 28 June 2023

Silver-Washed Fritillary: not seen during 2015 ~ 23 July 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ not seen during 2022

Small Copper: 4 May 2015 ~ 4 June 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 21 April 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 7 June 2021 ~ 18 May 2022 ~ 9 June 2023

Small Heath: not seen during 2015 ~ 26 May 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 9 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021 ~ 29 May 2022 ~ 9 June 2023 viz.

Small Skipper: 16 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 10 June 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 9 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022 ~ 17 June 2023

Small Tortoiseshell: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 January 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 22 March 2018 ~ 22 February 2019 ~ 21 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021 ~ 8 March 2022 ~ 4 April 2023 viz.

Small White: 7 April 2015 ~ 25 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 5 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 26 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021 ~ 9 February 2022 ~ 15 February 2023 ... confirmed as the first sighting, submitted to Butterfly Conservation, of the species in the United Kingdom during 2023... viz.

Speckled Wood: 9 April 2015 ~ 6 March 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 9 April 2020 ~ 9 April 2021 ~ 21 March 2022 ~ 3 April 2023

White Admiral: not seen during 2015 ~ 21 July 2016 ~ 24 June 2017 ~ 23 June 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ not seen during 2022

White Letter Hairstreak: 22 July 2015 ~ not seen during 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ not seen during 2022

 

We had hopes it might be straightforward to determine

whether these are Rosa canina or Rosa rugosa (seen on the Erith Southern Marsh).  It's not, so we need to think again:

A Wild Flower Walk in the City of London and Beyond

After watching at St Mary Abchurch we decided to do a Wild Flower Walk bead the Thames, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge: mainly because we were hoping the see the Hemlock Water Dropwort, that grows just downstream of the old Billingsgate Fish Market, in flower; which we did.

In the event, we joined the Thames Path behind St Magnus-the-Martyr and left the Path upon arriving at the Tower of London, when we turned to walk up to the Trinity Garden (the LB of Tower Hamlets) and thence to the Tower Gateway' DLR Station.

We saw fifty or so species, including:

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Common Bramble

Common Mallow

Common Mouse-Ear

Creeping Buttercup

Dock sp. (unidentified)

Groundsel

Hemlock Water Dropwort viz.

Herb Robert

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax

Jersey Cudweed

Knotted Clover viz.

Lesser Trefoil

Lesser Swinecress

Pearlwort

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Pineapleweed

Red Dead-Nettle

Spotted Medick

Spotted Spurge (in front of the old Fish Market) viz.

Spring Beauty viz.

Water Bent

and White Clover 

Some more Forget-me-Nots

We have a bit of a thing about Forget-me-Nots at the moment: finding some beside the Footpath running between Church Manorway (Erith) and the Thames Path viz.

and then some on the Thames ' Foreshore as we walked along the Thames Path towards Erith viz.

Changing Forget-me-Nots in the (old) Erith Cemetery

 The ones with the (tiny) yellow and blue flowers. The first time we have knowingly seen them:

Also seen; although we were really looking just for the Forget-me-Nots: 

Black Medick

Common Mouse-Ear

Common Stork's Bill

Daisy 

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Field Wood-Rush

Germander Speedwell

Meadow Foxtail

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

and Sheep's-Sorrel

Where have all the Insects gone?

It was pretty much apparent last year that insect numbers seem to be falling. And this year? During a visit yesterday to the New Woolwich Cemetery via the East Wickham Open Space, we saw hardly any Insects! In the East Wickham Open Space we saw a few Craneflies, including these possible Nephrotoma Flavescens:

but precious little else. 

And it was the same in the Cemetery and surrounding area although we did see a trio of Hoverflies viz.

.

Wild Flowers seen in the new Woolwich Cemetery included:

Meadow Buttercup

Sow-Thistle

Common Field-Speedwell

Dandelion

Groundsel

Black Medick

Common Stork's-Bill

Sheep's-Sorrel

White Stonecrop

Ribwort Plantain

Common Ragwort

White Comfrey

Common Fumitory

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Annual Meadow Grass

Cleavers

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill 

Meadow Foxtail

Forget-me-Not (probably Early)

Common Vetch

Grape Hyacinth

Cock's-Foot

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

and Green Alkanet

We also spotted a seemingly thriving population of Spring Beauty in a corner of the nearby Old Woolwich Cemetery viz.