We bicycled along the Thames Path from Erith to Woolwich and back again

Bird species seen (in no particular order): 

Black-Headed Gull
Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Herring Gull

Dunlin

Ringed Plover

Lapwing

Great Black-Backed Gull

Cormorant

Redshank

Carrion Crow

Mallard

Gadwall

Linnet 

House Sparrow

Moorhen

Teal

Shelduck

Magpie

Peregrine Falcon

Shoveller

Black-Tailed Godwit

Grey Heron

Common Snipe

Starling

Mute Swan

and Wood Pigeon

viz. twenty-seven species in total

The Wild Flower Society', Autumn Plant Hunt (for Plants found in flower during the last seven days of October viz. the 25th to 31st October inclusive)

We managed forty-nine (49) species: just two less than last year!

Creeping Thistle

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax

Jersey Cudweed

Smooth Sow-Thistle

Groundsel

Oxford Ragwort

Annual Mercury

Dandelion

Black Nightshade

Herb Robert

Red Dead-Nettle

White Dead-Nettle

Dwarf Mallow

White Clover

Common Field-Speedwell

Yarrow 

Black Horehound

Lesser Calamint

Wild Clary

Common Mallow

Perennial Sow-Thistle

Red Campion

Bristly Oxtongue

Hedge Bedstraw

Rough Hawkweed

Hoary Mustard

Perennial Wall-Rocket

Narrow-Leaved Ragwort

Nipplewort

Common Toadflax

Red Clover viz.

Daisy

Bramble

Hogweed

Lucerne

Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill

Buddleia

White Campion

White-Ramping Fumitory

Black Medick

Golden Samphire

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Shepherd's-Purse

Broad-Leaved Everlasting-Pea

Skullcap

Green Alkanet

Pot Marigold

Gorse

and Sowbread

We will not be submitting Records to the Wild Flower Society...

Wild Flowers in the Gardens (at Home)

We are currently re-organising the Gardens so we can focus on Sedums, Stonecrops &c.: removing many of the Wild Flowers, introduced to attract Wildlife but subsequently becoming essentially un-manageable.

Nevertheless, we will be keeping some Wild Flowers, including:

Bird's-Foot Trefoil (introduced and self-seeded)

Biting Stonecrop (introduced)

Black Horehound (introduced and self-seeded)

Black Medick (introduced)

Bladder Campion (introduced and self-seeded)

Brooklime (introduced)

Common Ragwort (introduced and self-seeded)

Creeping Thistle (self-seeded)

Feverfew (introduced and self-seeded)

Green Alkanet (self-seeded)

Hop Trefoil (introduced and self-seeded)

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax (introduced and self-seeded)

Narrow-Leaved Bird's-Foot Trefoil (introduced)

Navelwort (introduced)

Oxeye Daisy (introduced)

Red Valerian (self-seeded)

Reflexed Stonecrop (introduced)

Sand Lucerne/Medick (introduced and self-seeded)

White Clover (self-seeded)

White Stonecrop (introduced)

Wild Basil (introduced and self-seeded)

The Craneflies are back

We photographed this character on the Crossness Nature Reserve:

The Cranefly Recording Scheme (UK) suggest it to be either Tipula paludosa (fourteen antennal segments) or Tipula oleracea (thirteen antennal segments) viz.

We think we can count fourteen segments so seemingly Tipula paludosa:

Our first Ivy Bees of 2021

Two of four or so Bees on Ivy flowering beside Bourne Road (in Bexley) where it crosses the A2 (the sightings have been submitted to iRecord):

Wild Flowers in the Waterside Garden, Crayford (beside the River Cray)

After finding ourselves in the Garden, we looked around for Wild Flowers: 

Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Bucks-Horn Plantain

Cock's-Foot viz.

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Gipsywort viz.

Greater Plantain

Great Willowherb

Ivy-Leaved Toadflax

Knotgrass

Narrow-Leaved Ragwort

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Prickly Lettuce

Purple Loosestrife viz.

Ribwort Plantain

White Clover

Wild Clary viz.

Woody Nightshade

and Yarrow

There is also lots of Himalyan Balsam (an invasive species) present: as may be seen here:

Harebells in the Grounds of St Nicholas, Chislehurst (the LB of Bromley)

We decided to look for Harebells in the Grounds of St Nicholas, Chislehurst viz.

and Yippee, we found some viz.

Other Wild Flower' Species seen included:

Bird's-Foot Trefoil

Black Spleenwort (on the Church' Wall)

Caucasian Stonecrop

Creeping Cinquefoil 

Lesser Trefoil

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

Lady's Bedstraw

Reflexed Stonecrop

Ribwort Plantain

Selfheal

White Clover

and Yarrow

We had earlier walked round Prickend Pond, on Chislehurst Common viz.

where Wild Flower' Species (some we think probably introduced) included:

Black Horehound

Cock's-Foot

Common Knapweed

Common Mallow

Cow Parsley

Creeping Thistle

Dwarf Mallow

Gipsywort

Great Willowherb

Groundsel

Hoary Mustard

Mugwort

Purple Loosestrife

Redshank

Ribwort Plantain

Teasel

Water Mint

White Dead-Nettle

Wild Carrot

and Yarrow

Golden Samphire on the Thames Foreshore in the Erith area

After bicycling from Woolwich to the Thames Barrier to look at the Dittander growing just west of the Barrier, Marsh Woundwort, Sea Aster and Sea Milkwort were also present, we returned home via Erith where much to our surprise we saw Golden Samphire flowering on the Thames Foreshore viz.

A Wild Flower Ramble on the Crossness Nature Reserve

We managed fifty plus species, including:

Black Horehound

Blue-Water (or Pink-Water) Speedwell

Bramble

Bristly Oxtongue

Buttercup sp. (possible Creeping)

Celery-Leaved Buttercup

Cock’s-Foot

Common Sorrel

Common Toadflax

Creeping Cinquefoil

Creeping Thistle

Dandelion

Dove’s-Foot Crane’s-Bill

Fennel

Field Bindweed

Gipsywort

Goat's-Rue

Greater Plantain

Hawthorn

Hoary Cress

Hoary Mustard

Lady’s Bedstraw

Lesser Burdock

Lesser Sea-Spurrey

Lucerne aka Alfalfa (or possibly Sand Lucerne: depending on seed formation)

Mugwort

Many-Stalked Spike-Rush

Mare’s-Tail

Marsh Sow-Thistle

Mayweed (assumed Scentless)

Narrow-Leaved Bird’s-Foot Trefoil

Nettle 

Oxeye Daisy

Pendulous Sedge

Phragmites

Purple Loosestrife

Red Bartsia

Red Clover

Redshank

Reedmace

Ribwort Plantain

St John’s-Wort sp. 

Sea Beet

Sea Clubrush

Selfheal

Spear-Leaved Orache

Strawberry Clover

Teasel

Trifid Bur-Marigold

Tufted Vetch

White Clover

White Dead-Nettle

Wild Carrot

and Yarrow 

Our First Butterfly Sightings in the London Borough of Bexley: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021

Our First Sightings are Identified for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 viz.

Brimstone: 7 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 26 March 2018 ~ 23 February 2019 ~ 11 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021

Brown Argus: 4 June 2015 ~ 24 May 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 18 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 7 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021

Clouded Yellow: 18 July 2015 ~ 17 August 2016 ~ 31 July 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ 7 September 2019 ~ 3 August 2020 ~ 26 June 2021

Comma: 9 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 14 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021

Common Blue: 11 May 2015 ~ 22 May 2016 ~ 2 May 2017 ~ 22 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 5 June 2021

Essex Skipper: 25 June 2015 ~ 25 June 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021

Gatekeeper: 3 July 2015 ~ 6 July 2016 ~ 30 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 6 July 2019 ~ 11 July 2020 ~ 16 July 2021

Green Hairstreak: 28 April 2015 ~ 3 May 2016 ~ 6 April 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 19 April 2019 ~ 26 April 2020 ~ 19 April 2021

Green-Veined White: 30 March 2015 ~ 2 April 2016 ~ 27 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 5 April 2020 ~ 4 April 2021

Holly Blue: 22 April 2015 ~ 4 May 2016 ~ 8 April 2017 ~ 22 April 2018 ~ 14 April 2019 ~ 16 April 2020 ~ 7 May 2021

Large Skipper: 5 June 2015 ~ 8 June 2016 ~ 1 June 2017 ~ 2 June 2018 ~ 2 June 2019 ~ 26 May 2020 ~ 26 June 2021

Large White: 1 May 2015 ~ 30 April 2016 ~ 10 July 2017 ~ 4 April 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 19 April 2020 ~ 26 June 2021

Long-Tailed Blue: not seen during 2015 ~ not seen during 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ 29 October 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 2021?

Marbled White: 24 June 2015 ~ 17 July 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 15 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021

Meadow Brown: 18 June 2015 ~ 18 June 2016 ~ 7 June 2017 ~ 8 June 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 ~ 15 June 2021

Orange-Tip: 7 April 2015 ~ 12 April 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 4 April 2021

Painted Lady: 7 June 2015 ~ 5 June 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 24 June 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 23 April 2021

Peacock: 30 March 2015 ~ 30 March 2016 ~ 9 March 2017 ~ 21 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 26 February 2021

Purple Hairstreak: 5 August 2015 ~ 18 July 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 2021?

Red Admiral: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 March 2016 ~ 28 February 2017 ~ 19 May 2018 ~ 19 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 22 June 2021

Ringlet: 25 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 14 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 20 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021

Silver-Washed Fritillary: not seen during 2015 ~ 23 July 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 2021?

Small Copper: 4 May 2015 ~ 4 June 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 21 April 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 7 June 2021

Small Heath: not seen during 2015 ~ 26 May 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 9 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021

Small Skipper: 16 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 10 June 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 9 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021

Small Tortoiseshell: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 January 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 22 March 2018 ~ 22 February 2019 ~ 21 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021

Small White: 7 April 2015 ~ 25 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 5 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 26 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021

Speckled Wood: 9 April 2015 ~ 6 March 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 9 April 2020 ~ 9 April 2021

White Admiral: not seen during 2015 ~ 21 July 2016 ~ 24 June 2017 ~ 23 June 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 2021?

White Letter Hairstreak: 22 July 2015 ~ not seen during 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 2021?

Lichens in the Grounds of St John the Baptist, Erith

The British Lichen Society (BLS) has Seventeen (17) Species' Records for St John the Baptist, Erith (collected during 1995) viz. 

Amandinea punctata

Caloplaca sp.

Caloplaca flavescens

Candelariella aurelia

Candelariella medians

Candelariella vitellina

Lecania erysibe

Lecanora campestris

Lecanora conizaeoides

Lecanora dispersa

Lecanora stigmatea

Phaeophyscia orbicularis

Physcia adscendens

Physcia caesia

Verrucaria hochstettera

and Verrucaria macrostoma f. furfuracea  

We have been invited to provide an Introduction to Lichens growing in the Church' Grounds to a Conservation Group! 

And rightly or wrongly, we have accepted the Invitation! 

So we need to do some preparatory work. 

To the List above we can add: Lecidella elaeochroma, Lecanora muralis and Xanthoria parietina.

A Wild Flower &c. Walk along the North Bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge to Charing Cross

Wild Flower Species seen included:

Annual Mercury

Biting Stonecrop

Black Medick

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Creeping Thistle

Creeping Cinquefoil

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Gipsywort

Greater Plantain

Groundsel

Hemlock Water-Dropwort (close to Westminster Bridge: the Plants growing between Tower Bridge and London Bridge had flowered out)

Ivy-Leaved Speedwell

Jersey Cudweed

Knotted Hedge-Parsley (the first time we have knowingly seen it)

Nipplewort

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Ribwort Plantain

Sow-Thistle

Sun Spurge

Wall Barley

Wall Speedwell

and Willowherb species