Updated: Xanthoria polycarpa on the Crossness Nature Reserve (and an orange Candelariella vitallina)

2 July 2022: we don't often see Xanthoria polycarpa so it was something of a surprise to find a small population on a fence post on the Crossness Nature Reserve (close to the entrance to the Norman Road Field) viz. 

Footnote: the granular orange lichen (see the third picture: to the left of the picture and lower right) which tested K- is confirmed as Candelariella vitellina. We usually see it in its yellow form but in this instance, it is coloured orange. 

17 July 2022: we find lots of Xanthoria polycarpa on the fence/posts beside the Norman Road Field viz.

Sea Couch on the Thames' Foreshore

Sea Couch is really rather pretty when flowering viz.

We are wondering whether to arrange an informal Walk (as we did this year) along the Thames Path next year (possibly again during early-June when the Sea Milkwort will be flowering) to look for Wild Flowers growing on the Foreshore, including:

English Scurvygrass

Golden Samphire

Lesser Sea-Spurrey

Sea Arrowgrass

Sea Aster

Sea Club-Rush

Sea Couch

Sea Milkwort

Sea Plantain

and Sea Purslane

Lichens on the Sea Wall in the Belvedere area

We started above the Sewage Works' Outfall and worked our way downstream along the Thames Path to just beyond the Waste Incinerator.

Lichen species seen and identified:

Caloplaca citrina agg. 

Caloplaca decipiens (lots of it)

Caloplaca saxicola

Candelariella aurella 

Lecanora albescens (assumed)

Lecanora campestris

Lecanora dispersa sp.

Lecanora muralis

Phaeophyscia orbicularis

Physcia caesia (lots of it and some with apothecia)

Verrucaria sp. (possibly V. ochrostoma)

Xanthoria calcicola

and Xanthoria parietina

Plus Aspicilia contorta sp. on the Path itself.

Protoblastenia rupestris close to the Front Door (at Home): also Aspicila contorta species

We took the camera when we went out to bring the Bins in after the Dustmen had gone. The yellowish smudges on the ground (cement) which we have either not seen or ignored before, are not smudges at all: for they have small orange apothecia. Protoblastenia rupestris (K+ red) and lots of it.

Apropos the Aspicila contorta species, growing on cement, are the areoles rounded (for subsp. contorta) or angled (for subps. hoffmanniana)? Difficult to tell: perhaps more angled than rounded but...

A Brown Lichen on a local Kerb Stone

When we first saw this lichen growing on a local kerb stone a few months ago it was a dark greenish colour. We wondered if it might be Phaeophyscia orbicularis: although the lobes seemed too big. 

It has subsequently turned a brown colour and been identified as a Xanthoparmelia species, possibly X. verruculifera, being the most common of the Xanthoparmelia species.

            

We had previously ignored another brown lichen, assuming it was dried up. We shall be more careful in future.

Our First Butterfly Sightings in the London Borough of Bexley: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

Our First Sightings are Identified for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 viz.

Brimstone: 7 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 26 March 2018 ~ 23 February 2019 ~ 11 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021 ~ 15 March 2022

Brown Argus: 4 June 2015 ~ 24 May 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 18 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 7 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021 ~ 18 May 2022

Clouded Yellow: 18 July 2015 ~ 17 August 2016 ~ 31 July 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ 7 September 2019 ~ 3 August 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ 2022?

Comma: 9 April 2015 ~ 17 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 14 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021 ~ 10 March 2022

Common Blue: 11 May 2015 ~ 22 May 2016 ~ 2 May 2017 ~ 22 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 5 June 2021 ~ 18 May 2022

Essex Skipper: 25 June 2015 ~ 25 June 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 18 June 2022

Gatekeeper: 3 July 2015 ~ 6 July 2016 ~ 30 June 2017 ~ 29 June 2018 ~ 6 July 2019 ~ 11 July 2020 ~ 16 July 2021 ~ 2 July 2022

Green Hairstreak: 28 April 2015 ~ 3 May 2016 ~ 6 April 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 19 April 2019 ~ 26 April 2020 ~ 19 April 2021 ~ 26 May 2022

Green-Veined White: 30 March 2015 ~ 2 April 2016 ~ 27 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 5 April 2020 ~ 4 April 2021 ~ 25 March 2022

Holly Blue: 22 April 2015 ~ 4 May 2016 ~ 8 April 2017 ~ 22 April 2018 ~ 14 April 2019 ~ 16 April 2020 ~ 7 May 2021 ~ 18 April 2022

Large Skipper: 5 June 2015 ~ 8 June 2016 ~ 1 June 2017 ~ 2 June 2018 ~ 2 June 2019 ~ 26 May 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ 2 June 2022

Large White: 1 May 2015 ~ 30 April 2016 ~ 10 July 2017 ~ 4 April 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 19 April 2020 ~ 26 June 2021 ~ 20 June 2022

Long-Tailed Blue: not seen during 2015 ~ not seen during 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ 29 October 2018 (a one off probably) ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021

Marbled White: 24 June 2015 ~ 17 July 2016 ~ 16 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 15 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022

Meadow Brown: 18 June 2015 ~ 18 June 2016 ~ 7 June 2017 ~ 8 June 2018 ~ 1 June 2019 ~ 13 June 2020 ~ 15 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022

Orange-Tip: 7 April 2015 ~ 12 April 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 14 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 23 March 2020 ~ 4 April 2021 ~ 26 March 2022

Painted Lady: 7 June 2015 ~ 5 June 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 24 June 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ 23 April 2021 ~ 17 May 2022

Peacock: 30 March 2015 ~ 30 March 2016 ~ 9 March 2017 ~ 21 March 2018 ~ 25 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 26 February 2021  ~ 15 March 2022

Purple Hairstreak: 5 August 2015 ~ 18 July 2016 ~ not seen during 2017 ~ not seen during 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ 1 July 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ 2022?

Red Admiral: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 March 2016 ~ 28 February 2017 ~ 19 May 2018 ~ 19 February 2019 ~ 6 March 2020 ~ 22 June 2021 ~ 19 March 2022

Ringlet: 25 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 14 June 2017 ~ 20 June 2018 ~ 22 June 2019 ~ 20 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 18 June 2022

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 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ 2022?

Small Copper: 4 May 2015 ~ 4 June 2016 ~ 10 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 21 April 2019 ~ 10 May 2020 ~ 7 June 2021 ~ 18 May 2022

Small Heath: not seen during 2015 ~ 26 May 2016 ~ 20 May 2017 ~ 20 May 2018 ~ 16 May 2019 ~ 9 May 2020 ~ 28 May 2021 ~ 29 May 2022

Small Skipper: 16 June 2015 ~ 24 June 2016 ~ 10 June 2017 ~ 15 June 2018 ~ 20 June 2019 ~ 9 June 2020 ~ 24 June 2021 ~ 15 June 2022

Small Tortoiseshell: 7 March 2015 ~ 28 January 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 22 March 2018 ~ 22 February 2019 ~ 21 March 2020 ~ 9 March 2021 ~ 8 March 2022

Small White: 7 April 2015 ~ 25 March 2016 ~ 11 March 2017 ~ 5 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 26 March 2020 ~ 22 March 2021 ~ 9 February 2022

Speckled Wood: 9 April 2015 ~ 6 March 2016 ~ 28 March 2017 ~ 19 April 2018 ~ 28 March 2019 ~ 9 April 2020 ~ 9 April 2021 ~ 21 March 2022

White Admiral: not seen during 2015 ~ 21 July 2016 ~ 24 June 2017 ~ 23 June 2018 ~ not seen during 2019 ~ not seen during 2020 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ 2022?

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 ~ not seen during 2021 ~ 2022?

Footnote:

Butterflies not seen in the London Borough of Bexley but seen elsewhere during 2022:

Dingy Skipper: 5 May 2022 (Hutchinson's Bank, the London Borough of Croydon)

 

Duke of Burgundy: 5 May 2022 (Chapel Bank, the London Borough of Croydon)

 

Grizzled Skipper: 5 May 2022 (Hutchinson's Bank, the London Borough of Croydon)

 

Purple Hairstreak: 30 June 2022 (Bostall Heath, the Royal Borough of Greenwich) 

Small Blue: (Hutchinson's Bank, the London Borough of Croydon)

Xanthoparmelia pulla on the Sea Wall beside the Thames close to Blackfriars Bridge

We had previously seen a number of dull brown Lichens on the Sea Wall beside the Thames close to Blackfriars Bridge. And assumed they were dried up Lichens (see below).

But they aren't. They are Xanthoparmelia pulla Lichens and that is their natural appearance.

They were identified by John Skinner, the Lichen Recorder for the London Natural History Society. He says, 'I can find no other records of this from London for ever. In fact, if you look at the distribution map for it on the BLS website you will see how rare it is in south east England'.

Prickly Lettuce beside the Thames Path

We hadn't realised until a recent local Wildflower' Walk along the Thames Path, that Prickly Lettuce can have both lobed and un-lobed leaves viz.

We had probably seen the different leaves before but without noticing them? 

Unknown to us, people were asked (during 2020) to send mature seeds of both to michaelpw22@hotmail.com who is/was investigating any differences between them.

There are twenty-one plants growing together beside the Thames Path, of which five are lobed.

If we manage to collect seeds we shall ask if he is still interested in receiving some.

PS... we recall seeing lots of Prickly Lettuce growing close to the Lesser Calamint in Lesnes Abbey Park and if it still there, we must see if any plants have lobed leaves.

National Insect Week

We joined a Nature Walk on the Crossness Nature Reserve. A wet start to the day but it brightened up just as we got going. Although the focus was on Insects, it being National Insect Week, we looked at all and anything. As such, we noticed a number of Bindweed flowers with patterned holes viz.

Subsequent enquiries identified the Caterpillar of the Common Plume Moth as the probable culprit.

Insect-wise, species identified included:

Andrena species (Bee)

Bombus pratorum (Bee)

Buff/White-Tailed Bumblebee

Honey Bee

Megachile ligniseca (Bee)

Comma Butterfly

Large Skipper Butterfly

Speckled Wood Butterfly

Unidentified White Butterfly

Flea Beetle

Red Soldier Beetle

Swollen-Thighed Flower Beetle

Weevil species

Eristalis tenax (Hoverfly)

Eristalis species (Hoverfly)
Tropidia scita (Hoverfly)

Blue-Tailed Damselfly

7-Spotter Ladybird

The Upper Bedon Stream: Wild Flowers

The spring-fed Upper Bedon Stream runs in the open from around TQ490788 to around TQ496780 before disappearing underground. We understand it enters the Thames somewhere in the Erith area.

We have long wanted to conduct an exhaustive Wild Flower' Survey of the immediate surrounding area and think the time has come. We found Ivy Broomrape growing beside the Stream during July-2019 viz. 

And last year, we saw Watercress for the first time (making a comeback after previously being recorded and then seemingly disappearing) viz. 

Wild Flower' species seen as of 18 June: 

Alexanders

Annual Meadowgrass

Annual Mercury

Black Horehound

Bristly-Oxtongue

Brooklime

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Cleavers

Cock's-Foot

Common Bramble

Common Chickweed

Common Mallow

Common Mouse-Ear

Common Nettle

Common Ragwort

Common Vetch

Cow Parsley

Creeping Buttercup

Creeping Thistle

Daisy

Dandelion

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Dwarf Mallow

Garlic Mustard

Goat's-Beard

Greater Plantain

Green Alkanet

Hedgerow Crane's-Bill (white)

Hogweed

Horsetail

Ivy Broomrape (now seen growing on the other side of the Stream)

Lesser Celandine

Meadow Buttercup 

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

New Zealand Pygmyweed

Primrose

Red Dead-Nettle

Reflexed Stonecrop

Ribwort Plantain

Sheep's Sorrel

Shepherd's-Purse

Sow-Thistle

Spear Thistle

Spotted Medick

Sweet Violet

Tufted Vetch

Watercress

White Bryony

White Dead-Nettle

and Yellow Iris

We return to the Field with 'No Name': the one beside Welling Way and East Rochester Way

We visited once during July-2020 and hadn't returned since. But we wondered if there might be Marbled White Butterflies present so back we went and indeed, they are present viz.

At least two, since we saw them at the same time. But probably no more than three: if that.

Other Butterfly species identified: Large Skipper, Large White, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper. Plus a Burnet Companion Moth.

Wild Flower species seen included:

Bird's-Foot Trefoil

Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea

Cock's-Foot

Common Bramble

Common Knapweed

Common Ragwort

Common Sorrel

Creeping Thistle

Hogweed

Lesser Stitchwort

Mugwort

Ribwort Plantain

Smooth Tare

Tufted Vetch

White Clover

and Yorkshire Fog

Wild Flowers and Butterflies in the New Woolwich Cemetery (the RB of Greenwich)

Wild Flower species seen included:

Bird's-Foot Trefoil

Biting Stonecrop

Black Medick

Bristly Oxtongue

Buck's-Horn Plantain

Caucasian Stonecrop

Common Fumitory

Common Knapweed

Common Ragwort

Cock's-Foot

Common Mallow

Daisy

Dandelion

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill

Fat Hen

Field Bindweed

Green Alkanet

Hedge Crane's-Bill

Herb Robert

Hoary Mustard

Hop Trefoil

Knotgrass

Lady's-Bedstraw

Lesser Swine-Cress

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

Oxeye Daisy

Red Clover

Red Dead-Nettle

Red Valerian

Ribwort Plantain

Round-Leaved Crane's-Bill

Selfheal

Sow-Thistle

Spear Thistle

Spotted Medick

White Clover

White Stonecrop

and Yarrow

Plus, we saw our first Marbled White Butterfly and Essex Skipper Butterfly of the year viz.