Just another Day

But there is alas, no such thing, as 'Just Another Day'. That was never possible after 9 June 2010 when the 'Long Wait' began.

But invariably something 'Magical' happens each time we go out; the 9 June 2016 was no exception.

And Wow; as we were walking back to the Car after a Long, Long Trek across the Crossness Nature Reserve and the Surrounding area, a Large Skipper Butterfly (our second sighting of the day) seemingly appeared out of nowhere, settled on a Red Clover just in front of us for long enough for us to manage a few pictures before seemingly disappearing into thin air!

Thank You ...

Of Orchids

During July-2015 we chanced upon a known population of Pyramidal Orchids flowering in the Crayford Rough area viz.

They were the first Orchids we had ever seen locally; not that we had actually seen many Orchids anywhere before.

And today, following a trip to the Dump (Thames Road), we visited the nearby Thames Road Wetland. We were aware that a Bee Orchid had recently been seen there; and Yippee, we were super-fortunate enough to come across it viz.

We were surprised to see how tall the Plant was, being under the impression that Bee Orchids grew to a height of just a few inches and were probably super-difficult to see.

Of Small Heath Butterflies, Yellow Vetchling (again), Crosswort and Sundry Other Things

We visited the Upper College Farm area in the hopes of seeing some Small Heath Butterflies and Wow, were not disappointed viz.

We reckoned on seeing at least twenty individuals; the first we have ever seen in the Bexley area. And to be honest, almost anywhere!

Also seen: Green-Veined White, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-Tip and Small White Butterflies.

Also a rather pretty Speckled Wood Butterfly viz.

And we were also super-pleased to come across a few populations of both Crosswort and Yellow Vetchling (again) viz.

Both are on the Kent Rare Plant Register. and populations of both may be found in the vicinity of Grid Reference: TQ 48762 72991 or thereabouts.

Other Plants seen included:

Germander Speedwell viz.

Grass Vetchling (super-pretty) viz.

Ground-Ivy viz.

and Spotted Medick (very common but very pretty flowers) viz.

We visit the White Hill Reserve (Shoreham, Kent)

Another Day; another Outing beyond the confines of the London Borough of Bexley.

Our first ever visit and certainly not our last; the Reserve is easily accessible viz. walk up the Bridle Way (a fairly gentle slope for a couple of hundred yards or so) that may be found opposite the Entrance to Shoreham Station (located on the A225)  and turn right onto the Reserve.

Butterflies and Moths seen included:

Brimstone
Burnet Companion (Moth) viz.

Dingy Skipper viz.

Green Hairstreak viz.

Grizzled Skipper viz.

Large White
Speckled Yellow (Moth) viz.

Plants seen included:

Bugle
Common Milkwort viz.

Cowslip
Crosswort viz.

Germander Speedwell viz.

Horseshoe Vetch viz.

Salad Burnet

Wow; we find (lots) more Yellow Vetchling

As mentioned in 'Of Yellow Vetchling', dated 19 May 2016, during early-May we came across a population of Plants, numbering in the hundreds, in the Crayford Rough area (Grid Reference TQ 51081 74497 or thereabouts).

And earlier today, we came across a few hundred more plants, again in the Crayford Rough are, a hundred yards or so away (Grid Reference TQ 51033 74225 or thereabouts) viz.

of which just a few are flowering viz.

We will be reporting the 2016 records to the Kent Botanical Recording Group (KBRG).

Of Yellow Vetchling

Yellow Vetchling is on the Kent Rare Plant Register.

During early-May, we became aware of a single Plant which is now flowering beside the Footpath that runs from Church Manorway to the Thames Path (Grid Reference TQ 50765 79637 or thereabouts) viz.

Shortly afterwards, we came across a population of Plants numbering in the 100's in the Crayford Rough area (Grid Reference TQ 51081 74497 or thereabouts) *; although not flowering when seen viz.

Some of the Plants may be glimpsed in the following picture (close to the stones, boulders &c.) although the majority are growing slightly out of the picture:

And today we came across a few Plants flowering beside the Footpath that runs up from Norman Road North to the Thames Path (Grid Reference TQ 49727 80519 or thereabouts) viz.

We will be reporting the 2016 records to the Kent Botanical Recording Group (KBRG).

* We understand that a nearby area and part of the Crayford Rough area will probably be built on. Although it is our understanding that planning permission has not yet been granted we have to assume it will go ahead. Hopefully the population of Yellow Vetchling will not be destroyed.

Of Duke of Burgundy and Small Blue Butterflies &c. on the South Downs

Straying away from home territory for the second time in a few days (having previously visited Hutchinson's Bank in the London Borough of Croydon) we made the fairly long journey to Springhead Hill (West Sussex) on the South Downs viz.

to attend a Special Event sponsored by Butterfly Conservation.

The primary objective was to see our first ever Duke of Burgundy Butterfly and this was happily achieved viz.

We had however expected the Duke to be quite a large Butterfly (implied to us at least by the name) and were surprised to find the aristocratically named Butterfly to be quite small; although certainly not as small as the Small Blue Butterfly which we saw (also our first ever) viz.

Also, a Mint Moth visiting a Cowslip viz.

Wild Flowers &c. seen during our visit included:

Cowslip (being, as we understand it, the main Food-Plant of the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly)
Crosswort viz.

and Common Milkwort viz.

Of Dingy Skipper Butterflies, Glanville Fritillary Caterpillars and Wild Flowers

Straying away from home territory, we attended a Butterfly Walk, kindly organised by the Surrey Branch of Butterfly Conservation, around the Hutchinson's Bank Nature Reserve (in the London Borough of Croydon):

The unsettled weather alas, put paid to our seeing many Butterflies, although we were super-pleased to see our first ever Dingy Skipper Butterflies viz.

And we were super-fortunate to both see and photograph a Glanville Fritillary Caterpillar viz.

We also noticed a couple of Orange-Tip Butterflies and a single Red Admiral Butterfly.

Although the Butterfly sightings were limited it didn't matter too much since we had two objectives in mind for this, our first visit to the Reserve. To see Butterflies, Wild Flowers &c., obviously, but perhaps just as importantly, to understand the lay-out of the Reserve for future visits. And this we most certainly accomplished.

We shall be returning fairly soon in the hopes of seeing Butterflies including Glanville Fritillaries, Grizzled Skippers and Small Blues (all new to us). Also to visit the nearby Chapel Bank Nature Reserve (home to nationally scarce Mat-Fescue Grass, Orchids &c.).

Wild Flowers &c. seen during our visit included:

Bugle viz.

Common Bird's-Foot-Trefoil viz.

False Brome viz.

Germander Speedwell viz.

Horseshoe Vetch
Kidney Vetch viz.

Salad Burnet viz.

Wayfaring-Tree viz.

and Wild Strawberry