We spend some time beside the Upper Bedon Stream where we encounter a Barking Dog, on the Holly Hill Open Space and on the Erith Marshes

A 'one cardigan day' with intermittant Sunshine and some Wind.

A day of three parts; we started out beside the Upper Bedon Stream (previously visited during late-March).

Things didn't start out too well when a large dog stood and barked at us. Being slightly uncertain about what to do next we were somewhat discouraged when the owner contemptuously said the dog didn't like us! Nor seemingly, did the owner think much of us. What to do? Anyway, he then told us, only slightly less contemptuously, that the dog wouldn't hurt us, so we decided to carry on. So thankfully, the morning wasn't ruined before it started.

And Yippee, our luck was in, spotting Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies viz.

Also a Small White Butterfly (no picture alas).

We were also pleased to see some flowering Bluebells (the Spanish variety we think), Hawthorn (coming into flower), Green Alkanet and Sweet Violet viz.

Also Common Field-Speedwell, Cow Parsley, Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill (we think), Gorse and (lots of) Lesser Celandine.

Moving onto the Holly Hill Open Space (just across Brook Street) for our first visit of 2016 we almost immediately chanced upon a Small White Butterfly visiting a Common Daisy viz.

We then came across some Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies visiting Spring Blossom viz.

Also some Peacock Butterflies (no pictures alas).

And another Small White Butterfly, this time visiting Purple Archangel (aka Red Dead-Nettle) viz.

The Gorse was flowering very prettily viz.

As was the prolific assumed Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill and a single flowering Yarrow viz.

Moving on to our third Port of Call, the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area) we first spotted a Hummingbird Fly (aka Bee Fly) viz.

We focused our Butterfly spotting activity on the (sheltered) Public Footpath that connects the Reserve to Belvedere Road where we saw Comma, Green-Veined White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White Butterflies viz.

Also a Brimstone Butterfly which whooshed past us without showing any sign of stopping so no picture.

And (i) another Hummingbird Fly (aka Bee Fly) viz.

And (ii) some Little Critters visiting a Dandelion viz.

After which, it was time to go home.

Butterflies, Butterflies, Everywhere

The forecast was for a Bright Sunny Day so we decided to make the most of it.

We started out by popping over to the Upper College Farm area.

Not much about in terms of Butterflies although we were perhaps a little early; arriving at around 9.30 am. But we did open our account for the year there with a Peacock Butterfly and this Comma Butterfly:

And we were super-pleased to find three patches of Coltsfoot viz.

One of the patches was quite large; the other two patches numbering just a handful of plants.  A lot of Ground-Ivy was also flowering.

Back at the car and with the Sun shining brightly, we decided to try our luck on the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area). And our luck was most certainly in.

An extensive patch of Red Dead-Nettle (aka Purple Archangel) close to the Thames attracted both Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies viz.

Also a Buff-Tailed or White-Tailed Bumblebee viz.

We spotted our first Green-Veined White Butterfly of the year, visiting Spring Blossom, in the small Wooded section of the Reserve viz.

Where we also noticed a Speckled Wood Butterfly.

On/beside the Public Footpath that connects the Reserve to Belvedere Road we noticed a few Small White Butterflies viz.

Also Brimstone, Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies viz.

Before leaving for home we ended our perambulations with a brief visit to the Southern Erith Marshes where we spotted both a Bee Fly and a Speckled Wood Butterfly visiting Spring Blossom viz.

And beside the Eastern Way we were particularly pleased to see some flowering Spotted Medick (it being a favourite of ours) viz.

Butterflies seen during March-2016

We were super-pleased to record a number of Butterfly species locally * during March-2016; namely:

Brimstone viz.

Comma viz.

Peacock viz.

Red Admiral viz.

Small Tortoiseshell viz.

Small White viz.

Speckled Wood viz.

* Butterflies were recorded on the East Wickham Open Space, on the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area), in the Garden at Home and beside the Upper Bedon Stream.

Sightings are reported to: Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), the Kent Branch of Butterfly Conservation and the London Butterfly Project.

Our first Butterflies for 2016 beside the Upper Bedon Stream

The Upper Bedon Stream is, we understand, Spring fed, and runs beside Streamway and then on to Brook Street, where it disappears underground, making its way, we assume, down to the Thames.

We opened our 2016 Butterfly account with a few Comma, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies viz.

We then moved on to the East Wickham Open Space for a first 2016 visit. We noticed single Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies; also some flowering Cowslips viz.