Wow: Spanish Stonecrop (Sedum hispanicum). A Super-Pleasant Surprise

We had been wondering about the Low-Growing and Pretty, Sedum/Stonecrop Type-Plant seemingly thriving amongst the Moss and Dirt beside the Public Footpath that runs between Norman Road North and the Thames Path (TQ 497 805 or thereabouts) viz.

On a Whim, we grabbed the Bull by the Horns and sought Help with the Identification.

We submitted some Pictures to Geoffrey Kitchener, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, Recorder for Vice-Counties 15 (East Kent) and 16 (West Kent), who suggested it might be Spanish Stonecrop (Sedum hispanicum). He in turn sought the assistance of Ray Stephenson of the Sedum Society and the Identification was Super-Kindly Confirmed. A Million thanks to them Both.

This might be the First Record of this Plant for Vice-County 16.

So: really, Wow! And Yippee.

Some Pictures [i] taken during the past few Days viz.

and [ii] taken last Summer viz.

A Footnote: as mentioned above, it is growing amongst the Moss and Dirt beside the Footpath, somewhat Inhospitable Ground viz.

We are Gonna Go in Search of Orchids this Year

We don't know much, if anything really, about Orchids but then again, we don't know too much about Wild Flowers in General.

Our Searches will necessitate us travelling slightly further afield than we usually do; the only Orchids we have seen locally being a single Bee Orchid (in the Thames Road Wetland area) viz.

and Pyramidal Orchids viz.

in the Crayford Rough area (we just hope that some will survive a new Development that will eat up much of the area where they are found).

The only other Orchid we have seen is the Spotted Orchid (in the White Hill Reserve, Shoreham, Kent) viz.

We are setting ourselves a Target of ten Orchid Species this Year; nothing hopefully, too demanding.

Spring came Early

A Super-Sunny and Warm Day; very Spring-Like if not almost Summery!

Not long now until Spring.

Arriving in the Norman Road Field on the little of what remains of the Erith Marshes, we almost immediately spotted a couple of Stonechats.

Annoyingly, and for reasons best known to themselves, the current crop of Birds Over-Wintering on the Erith Marshes are inclined to keep their distance viz.

unlike during previous years when it has been possible to get quite close to them. We also chanced upon a couple of Reed Buntings and a handful of Goldfinches.

Up by the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works there were, as is usual at this time of year, Ducks Galore viz. Gadwalls, Mallards, Shelducks, Shovelers, Teals and Wigeons beside or swimming in the Thames:

A White-Haired Cormorant viz.

reminded us of the Verse:

'You are old, Father William,' the young man said,
'And your hair it has turned very white' &c.

The ever-present Moorhens were also very much in evidence viz.

There were a number of Waders present viz. Black-Tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, Dunlins, Lapwings, Redshanks and Snipes:

And a Grey Wagtail was pottering about too viz.

A Footnote: just before setting off for home we noticed, Tahilla, passing by, heading downstream. We wondered if it was the Dunkirk Small Ship of the same name but on further investigation cannot be sure either way:

Yippee: we see some Reed Buntings in the Greenwich Peninsula area (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

We travelled by Bus up to the Greenwich Peninsula with vague hopes of seeing one of the Caspian Gulls which we understand frequent the area beside the Thames.

On arrival our attention was initially attracted by aircraft, including this BA CityFlyer, Embraer ERJ-190SR aircraft, flying into the nearby London City Airport:

We didn't subsequently see the hoped for Caspian Gull although we saw lots of other Gulls, including a ringed Herring Gull (Ring No. V9FT) viz.

But Wow: before boarding a Thames Clipper to take us back to Woolwich on the first leg of the Homeward Journey, we unexpectedly chanced upon a Small Party of Reed Buntings busying themselves in the Phragmites that grow beside the River viz.

Which more than made up for not seeing a Caspian Gull. Truth to tell, we hadn't really expected to see one anyway. But perhaps more importantly, we are generally able to identify Reed Buntings; we need help with Caspian Gulls.

Birds seen included: a Coot, Common Gulls, Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Mallards, a Moorhen and the Reed Buntings.

After which, we voyaged to Woolwich, courtesy of a Thames Clipper viz.

A Footnote: whilst waiting for the Clipper we watched the Cable Cars criss-crossing the River viz.

Although we are not really brave enough to travel in a Cable Car (not very good with heights) we understand, without wishing to be controversial, that they come to ground on the other side of the River in the Middle of Nowhere!

Another Footnote: looking across the River towards, as we understand it, West Silvertown, we saw the (laid-up) Tug, Suncrest. And behind the Tug, we noticed the Rotting Carcass of the former floating Public House/Restaurant, the London Regalia viz.

Formerly moored at Swan Pier, located on the North Bank of the Thames between London Bridge and the Cannon Street Railway Station Bridge, the London Regalia apparently shut up Shop during 2011 or thereabouts, after which it was towed to West Silvertown.

We enjoy an Outing to Woolwich (the Royal Borough of Greenwich)

We traipsed along to Woolwich in the hopes of seeing some of the Great Crested Grebes that inhabit the Thames there.

And Yippee: our luck was in. We were in for a Great Surprise, seeing far more Birds than we had expected to see, as we walked alongside the River from the section beside the old Woolwich Arsenal viz.

which is now being turned into a vast (and doubtless, super-expensive) Communal Housing Area (Big Boxes filled with lots of Little Boxes), downstream towards the Thamesmead area.

Birds seen included:

Black-Tailed Godwits
Canada Geese
Common Gulls (sixty plus)
Common Sandpipers (three)
Gadwalls
Great Crested Grebes
a Grey Wagtail
Lapwings
Mallards
a Pied Wagtail
Redshanks
a Ring-Necked Parakeet
and Teals (circa a hundred)

A Footnote: whilst there we saw number of aircraft taking off from the nearby London City Airport,  including this CityJet BAE 146 / Avro RJ aircraft: