Back again on the new (Bird) 'Patch'

Back again to the new Bird' Spotting 'Patch' viz. the Thames' Foreshore in the Woolwich area (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) and beside the adjacent section of the Thames Path, first visited on 21 November 2018.

[i] Birds seen today:

Black-Headed Gulls
Black-Tailed Godwits
a Blue Tit
a Carrion Crow
Common Gulls
Coots
Cormorants
Great Black-Backed Gulls
Herring Gulls
Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
Magpies
Moorhens
a Pied Wagtail (in the Grounds of the former Royal Arsenal) viz.
Redshanks
Teals
and Yellow-Legged Gulls

[ii] Bird' Species seen (effective 16 December 2018):

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Common Gull
Coot
Cormorant
Egyptian Goose
Gadwall
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Shelduck
Starling
Teal
Yellow-Legged Gull

Other Bird' Species seen during previous visits viz. before 21 November 2018, have included: Common Tern, House Martin, Greylag Goose, Grey Wagtail and Lapwing.

Assumed Cladonia sp. Lichens on/in Bostall Heath/Woods

We discovered a small area with Heather (a short distance from a known and larger Heather' Population) on the other side of the Road from the Cattle Trough, a few yards into the Heath/Woods.

And we found some Cladonia sp. Lichens growing amongst the Moss viz.

The first Lichen (the feathery one) is confirmed as Cladonia portentosa aka the Reindeer Lichen.

The others are unidentified. That being said, we understand that the Cladonia sp. are notoriously difficult to Identify. We had never seen one with Brown Markings before but since we haven't really seen many Cladonia sp. that doesn't really signify.

Next Stop: we become 'Novice Geologists'

????????????

Well: we are starting to look at Rocks, Stones &c. Partly prompted by a new-found Enthusiasm for Lichens.

Starting with some Stones on the Thames' Foreshore off the former Royal Arsenal viz.

We understand the Speckled Green Stone is probably Glauconitic Limestone/Sandstone:          

And these Red Stones might be, 'Weathered Pieces of Brick':

Some Lichens seen on Trees on/in Bostall Heath/Bostall Woods

Back on the new (Bird) 'Patch'

Back to the new Bird' Spotting 'Patch' viz. the Thames' Foreshore in the Woolwich area (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) and beside the adjacent section of the Thames Path, first visited on 21 November 2018.

[i] Birds seen today:

Black-Headed Gulls (including a ringed Bird, 2DNA or 2ONA, although probably 2DNA) viz.

Black-Tailed Godwits viz.

a Carrion Crow
Common Gulls
a Coot
Cormorants
Gadwalls
a Great Crested Grebe
a Grey Heron viz.

Herring Gulls
a Moorhen
a Pied Wagtail (in the Grounds of the former Royal Arsenal) viz.
Redshanks (the first seen this year) viz.

a Starling
and Teals

[ii] Bird' Species seen (during recent visits):

Black-Headed Gull
Black-Tailed Godwit
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Common Gull
Coot
Cormorant
Egyptian Goose
Gadwall
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Shelduck
Starling
Teal

Of White Ramping-Fumitory and Winter Heliotropes

We had intended to Walk along the Thames Path from Woolwich downstream to Erith. In the Event we turned off via the Public Footpath (that runs beside the Waste Incinerator) connecting the Thames Path and Norman Road North.

We had hoped to see the White Raping-Fumitory (which we 'discovered' ** during November-2015 and which merited a mention in Kent Botany 2015) growing beside the Thames Path close to the Waste Incinerator and Phew, it was still there although being at constant risk from the Council Strimmers viz.

** We of course, had no idea as to what it actually was, other than being an assumed Fumitory. It was kindly identified for us (via Twitter).

We first saw the Winter Heliotropes that grow beside the Public Footpath (that runs beside the Waste Incinerator) connecting the Thames Path and Norman Road North, a few years ago. Somehow, they have until now at least, managed to escape the attentions of the Council Strimmers. And the first flowers will soon be appearing viz.

Some Lichens &c. in Central London

Some Lichens seen in and around the Charing Cross area:

Some Lichens &c. in the Grounds of Hall Place

We spent a couple of hours just wandering around the Car Park!

Lichens and Mosses live in Companionable Proximity on the Sea Wall beside the Thames in the Belvedere area

The Lichen is assumed Xanthoria parietina and the Moss, assumed (Cushion-forming) Grimmia pulvinata (apparently the commonest British, Grimmia).

An important feature of Grimmia pulvinata are the long hairs on the leaf-tips: clearly visible in the picture and which give the Moss it its grey appearance.

Algae: not Lichens

We assumed the Green Growth (on a tree growing beside the Thames Path in the Belvedere/Erith area) to be Algae rather than Lichens and it would seem we were correct.

We now understand it is an Aeriel Algae: possibly [i] a Desmococcus sp., either D. olivaceus or D. viridis or perhaps [ii] a Pleurococcus sp.

The 'Before' and 'After'? No: two Different Lichens

We were wondering whether the Lichens in this picture viz.

are the 'Before' (the lower Lichens) and the 'After' (the upper Lichens) .

Well: seemingly Not.

Opinion suggests that [i] the lower Lichens are probably a Lecanora sp. (possibly L. albella, L. chlarotera or L. hypocarba) and [ii] that the upper Lichens might be a Lecidella sp. (possibly L. elaechroma) or perhaps Buellia erubescens?

Providing Confirmation, not that it was ever needed, that to become even a Novice Lichencologist, one needs a 'Big Brain'.

And it possible that the Hint of Yellow in the upper Lichen might be a developing Xanthoria parietina?

Lichens are Undeniably Addictive

And we can see why viz.

Seen beside the Thames Path in the Woolwich (Royal Borough of Greenwich) area.