We have gotten going with the 'Patchwork Challenge 2017'

During 2016, the '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.

We included the area, say 200 yards inland, running parallel to the River, which allowed us to spend some time in the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, Erith. Sadly though; almost all of the ground immediately inland from the River has been built on. We also included the Footpath running up from Crabtree Manorway North with a Ditch bordered by Reeds, Brambles &c. running alongside.

We did consider extending the 'Patch' this year to include the section of River running alongside the Thames Path upstream to the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works but decided to stick to the 2016 'Patch' * (see below). Extending the 'Patch' might have mean't seeing a few more Birds but we enjoyed our Outings during 2016 and seeing a few more Birds isn't particularly important for us. So, no change for 2017. And we are again nominally participating in the Inland South Minileague.

We have set ourselves a Target of 60 Bird' Species for 2017. We managed 74 Bird' Species during 2016 but are inclined to think this was Exceptional; at least by our Standards.

That being said, we were told a couple of months or so ago that we should see at least 120 Bird' Species on the 'Patch'! It seems a lot but…

With so many distractions viz. Butterflies, Lichens, Little Critters, Wild Flowers &c. we will probably be spending less time on the 'Patch' this year; hence the proposed and to our minds realistic Target of 60 Bird' Species for 2017.

A 'Proper Bird Person' will of course see many more Birds than we do. We used to reckon to see about 70% of the Birds that a 'Proper Bird Person' will see during an Outing; we are now of the opinion we rather Over-Estimated our Abilities so now reckon on 65% in lieu of 70%!

But truth to tell, there is no need to be a 'Proper Bird Person' to participate in the Patchwork Challenge. And there is no need to see lots of Birds. We don't. The most important thing, to our minds at least, is to feel Comfortable and not Overwhelmed; which we generally feel very Comfortable.

And anyway: as mentioned, we are easily sidetracked by Butterflies, Lichens, Little Critters, Wild Flowers &c.

On New Year's Day we walked along the Footpath leading up from Crabtree Manorway North to the Thames Path (seeing some House Sparrows) and whilst glancing downstream towards the 'Patch' turned left to walk upstream towards the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works.  In addition to the House Sparrows, we noticed a Common Sandpiper, a couple of Gadwalls, a Grey Heron and a Rock Pipit.

And today (2 January) we walked the full 'Patch' (although we didn't visit the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist) adding the following Bird' Species to our Tally:

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Common Gull
Cormorant
Curlew 
Dunlin 
Dunnock
Great Black-Backed Gull
Lapwing
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Linnet 
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Robin
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Shelduck
Starling
Teal
Wood Pigeon
Wren

As a result of which we are 50% or so of the way towards our Target! There is of course, a long, long way to go. We shall provide an update at the end of the Month; and monthly thereafter.

* We have belatedly extended the Patch to include the newly-landscaped Lake beside Church Manorway viz.

and the Footpath that runs between Church Manorway and Bronze Age Way where there is a short stretch of Ditch bordered by Reeds &c. running alongside.

The 'Patchwork Challenge 2016'

Nominally participating in the Inland South Minileague, we finished the Year with a total of 74 Bird' Species seen on the 'Patch'.

The '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.

We included the area, say 200 yards inland, running parallel to the River, which allowed us to spend some time in the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, Erith. Sadly though; almost all of the ground immediately inland from the River has been built on. We also included the Footpath running up from Crabtree Manorway North with a Ditch bordered by Reeds, Brambles &c. running alongside.

The full list of Species seen is as follows:

Bar-Tailed Godwit viz.

Black Redstart viz.

Black-Headed Gull viz.

Black-Tailed Godwit viz.

Blackbird
Blue Tit viz.

Buzzard
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow

Cetti's Warbler
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff viz.

Collared Dove viz.

Common Gull viz.

Common Sandpiper viz.

Common Scoter
Common Tern viz.

Common Whitethroat
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew viz.

Dunlin viz.

Dunnock
Egyptian Goose viz.

Gadwall viz.

Goldcrest viz.

Goldfinch viz.

Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Grey Heron viz.

Grey Wagtail viz.

Herring Gull
House Sparrow viz.

Jay
Kingfisher viz.

Lapwing viz.

Lesser Black-Backed Gull viz.

Linnet viz.

Little Grebe
Little Egret viz.

Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard viz.

Marsh Harrier
Meadow Pipit viz.

Mediterranean Gull viz.

Moorhen

Mute Swan viz.

Oystercatcher viz.

Peregrine Falcon
Pied Wagtail viz.

Redshank viz.

Redwing
Reed Warbler
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Ringed Plover viz.

Robin viz.

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Rock Pipit viz.

Sand Martin
Shelduck viz.

Siskin
Song Thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling viz.

Teal viz.

Wood Pigeon
Wheatear
Wigeon viz.

Wren

and Yellow-Legged Gull viz.

We are super-pleased with the total. And it could have been even higher since we are fairly sure we saw both a Shoveler and a Greylag Goose but not being 100% sure on Identification (they were somewhat distant) we couldn't include them. But since our initial target was 50 Bird' Species we have every reason to feel more than satisfied with the total.

That being said, it is super-important for us to acknowledge that a 'Proper Bird Person' would see many more Birds. We used to reckon to see about 70% of the Birds that a 'Proper Bird Person' will see during an Outing; we are now of the opinion we rather Over-Estimated our Abilities so now reckon on 65% in lieu of 70%!

It was pretty much, Seventh-Heaven, on the 'Patch' today

We arrived a little later than we would have ideally liked; the Incoming Tide was fairly well advanced and we missed the dear Ringed Plovers who had departed for their Inland, High Tide Refuge.

But while walking up the Footpath leading from Crabtree Manorway North to the Thames Path we looked up and spied a Buzzard flying and circling high above us. Our first of the Year!

So we are now up to 74 Bird Species on the 'Patch' for the 'Patchwork Challenge 2016'. Our most recent Sightings have been:

Great Tit (Number 70)
Kingfisher (Number 71) viz. (you have to look super-closely but it is there)
Common Sandpiper (Number 72)
Wigeon (Number 73) viz.
and today's Buzzard (Number 74).

We are also 99% certain that we spotted a Shoveler swimming/feeding mid-stream in the Thames but it was a pretty dreary day and annoyingly the Duck was just too far distant for us to be absolutely certain as to its identity.

But enough of that. We didn't see many Bird Species today; but that is par for the Course. Truth to tell, we reckon to see about 70% of the Birds that a 'proper bird person' will see during an Outing although sometimes it seems far less than that; perhaps down to 30%!

But there were two distant Peregrine Falcons resting on the side of the nearby Waste Incinerator and of course, the aforesaid Buzzard.

And (six) Dunlins, (three) Black-Tailed Godwits, a few Lapwings and some Black-Headed Gulls both charmed us and kept us fully entertained.

Other Birds seen: Canada Geese (flying Upstream), Cormorants, a Dunnock, House Sparrows, a Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mallards, a Redshank and Teals.

And with a Sunny Day to boot; we were Content. Perfectly Content.

A Footnote: it was very quiet Shipping-Wise although we made a first sighting of the Research and Survey Vessel, Solent Guardian viz.