14-19/5/10: Barnehurst miscellany - from Jay to Pignut

14/5: Jay seen from train window in cutting just west of Barnehurst station. An infrequent species in the area. Brooms in flower towards Bexleyheath. Very dark-flowered Lilac before Falconwood (most 'escapes' are pale-flowered forms).

15/5: Holly Blue butterfly in the garden, Wood Mouse in the compost heap. The native Broom deliberately planted in the garden is flowering well.

18/5: Holly Blue in the garden again. An adult Common Frog after dark.

19/5: Brown Rat on edge of old Pitch and Putt course by Bursted Wood. Several Swedish Whitebeam saplings (from street tree seed, no doubt) in the wood. Thyme-leaved Speedwell and a couple of the umbellifer Pignut (where the grass hasn't been cut around Daffodils) in the grassy area between Erith Rd and the hospital turn-off, Bursted Wood.

21-24/8/09 in the garden

It's all gone a bit quiet in my Barnehurst garden, and I haven't had time to roam the streets for a few days.

The Wood Mouse was seen in the compost bins on the 21st.

On the 22nd there was a Red Admiral in the garden (numbers are reported to be down on previous years), and 4 Small Whites feeding on Lavender round in Barnehurst Avenue.

August 23rd saw this second generation Snout moth at the window after dark:


On the 24th there were two Silver Y moths.

It's now been 2 or 3 days since any Gatekeepers were seen in the garden, though there is still a modicum of Speckled Wood action.