FIELD MEETINGS
· The HNHS cannot be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage to person or property incurred at any of its meetings.
· Dogs are not permitted.
· High tide is given for Chichester Harbour (entrance).
· In exceptionally severe or dangerous conditions please assume that the meeting is cancelled.
· Click on Grid Reference to go straight to StreetMap.
· Always wear appropriate clothing and footwear for expected weather conditions
·
Junior members are always welcome but MUST be accompanied by an adult.
·
If any of the leaders is unable to be present, every effort will be made
to find a substitute.
· Although visitors are normally very welcome at our meetings, Covid restrictions mean we are unable to accommodate non-members for the time being.
**** PLEASE OBSERVE COVID-19 PROTOCOL ****
1. IF MEMBERS WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE, either by email or by phone or text message to our Secretary, Sue Bradford on 07852 206479. Give your full name and contact details so that if necessary, these can be used to enable test-and-trace.
2. If you develop symptoms within 7 days of the walk notify the Society.
3. Bring a face covering and hand gel (in case gates or stiles are encountered).
4. Be prepared to keep your distance – 2 metres.
5. Should it be necessary to cancel the walk we will inform you.
6. Visitors are not permitted currently.
****
During Covid restrictions it will be necessary for members to book places on
meetings in advance.
****
OCTOBER 2021
Saturday 23rd
08.30
GR:
SU922307 GU27
3BJ
Early morning autumn migratory birds on Black Down
(National Trust)
Leader: Paul Matson (Sussex Ornithological Society member).
Paul undertakes breeding birds surveys for SOS.
Directions:
From Haslemere at end
of Tennyson’s Lane, on bend by entrance to Aldworth House, turn R down to
car park.
Saturday 30th
10.00
GR:
SZ857966 PO20 7NE
Birds at Ferry Pool, Sidlesham and Church Norton.
Leaders: Phil Darley & Douglas Maughan (HNHS Members)
This area attracts a wide variety of geese, ducks and waders. After looking at
birds at Ferry Pool, the walk will proceed along the sea wall to shingle, salt
marsh and mud flats on route to Church Norton (weather permitting). Approx 1½
miles plus return.
Carry lunch. H.T.3.82m
Directions: Meet at Visitors Centre car
park 1½ miles south of Sidlesham on B2145.
NOVEMBER 2021
Saturday 20th
10.30
GR:
SU965319 GU8 4SY
Signs of winter on a Shillinglee walk.
Leader: Jon Taylor (HNHS member)
A morning walk looking at habitats of rough grazing with good hedging, woodland
and a freshwater lake.
Directions: On A283 (going southwards
towards Northchapel), take L at crossroads (signed Plaistow). At Shillinglee
with group of cottages on L, look for property “Barton” first on R. Parking by
kind permission of owner.
DECEMBER 2021
Saturday 4th
10:30
GR:
SU844405
GU10 4SY
Winter Birds at Frensham Great Pond (managed by
Waverley Borough Council)
Leader: Sue Bradford (HNHS Member)
A morning walk around the Pond looking for birds that gather here in winter.
Directions:
Take
A287 to Frensham, turn L into Bacon Lane. Car park on L at Visitor Centre.
Parking: up to 2 hours £3, up to four hours £4.00.
REPORTS OF RECENT
EVENTS
(Click underlined links for photos taken on the day)
OCTOBER 2021
Saturday 9th
Fungus Foray: Waggoners Wells (west end) (National
Trust)
Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member)
Report to be posted shortly.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Friday 17th
Moth Trapping
Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS member)
Three traps were set up, tree trunks had been smeared and wine ropes dipped in a
special concoction.
After a slow start lots of pug moths were found, several different species of
thorns and then a Brimstone Moth and a Barred Sallow. Two Copper Underwing
alighted on tree trunks.
The traps remained out overnight and by morning
20 species had collected.
Member Martyn Phillis bought along his bat detector so Common and Soprano
Pipistrelle and a single, distant Noctule were identified. Martyn was able to
confirm that social calls were probably being made by a male Soprano trying to
attract females into a bat box!
Saturday 4th
Reptiles on Ambersham Common
(Natural England)
Leader: Paul Stevens (Sussex Amphibian & Reptile Group Committee member)
With more than 20 years’ experience of recording
amphibians and reptiles, Paul led members across part of Heyshott Common, which
is on the other side of the road from Ambersham Common.
He had carried out a full survey of the site during the previous week and had
planned a route to visit the tins (refugia) where Slowworms, Adders, Grass
Snakes or the rare Smooth Snake take shelter.
The very first tin that was lifted revealed a fairly small, adult male Smooth
Snake. For several members this was an exciting ‘first’. A second
male Smooth
Snake was also found beneath another tin.
As the group moved on over the Heath where heather was still in flower, seen
were: 6 dark brown, furry Fox Moth caterpillars; a
Wasp Spider in her web and an
egg pot made by the same species; an unusually dark
Slowworm, clearly gravid and
near to giving birth; and flowering
Dwarf Gorse growing adjacent to Common
Gorse.
Under the final tin a third male Smooth Snake was found, with members declaring
it had been thrilling to have had the chance to see three examples of this rare
and elegant snake.
AUGUST 2021
Saturday 28th
Bats at Frensham Little Pond
(National Trust)
Leader: Martyn Phillis (HNHS Member)
Weather conditions were very promising at the start of our walk. A warm, still
evening with 90% cloud cover was ideal to bring out the insects, and following
them, the bats.
Soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus were the first to emerge,
shortly after sunset. High amongst the tall conifers, north-west of the pond,
they flitted about, silhouetted against the sky, above the bat boxes funded by
HNHS a few years ago.
Near the south-west corner of the pond, the distinctive call of a large noctule
bat Nyctalus noctula was picked up faintly on the bat detectors. Shortly
afterwards, one appeared above us, hawking for large flying beetles and moths.
Its distinctive ‘chip-chop’ call could be heard clearly on our detectors as it
swooped about at high speed.
We were soon surrounded by soprano pipistrelles, flashing past very close, just
above our heads. Our bat detectors rattled loudly as they gobbled up the midges
homing in on our group.
Common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus first appeared on the east
side of the pond, at one point taking advantage of our midge cloud in the same
way that sopranos had earlier.
To finish, we watched a splendid display of Daubenton’s bats Myotis
daubentonii skimming the water in front of us at the dam, plucking their
insect food from the surface of the pond.
Then a final surprise as we reached the car park – a large serotine bat
Eptesicus serotinus passed unseen above us a few times, its calls clear on
the detectors. It will have been catching flying beetles emerging from the
mature pine trees.
Saturday 14th
Mainly Dragonflies on Graffham Common
(Sussex Wildlife Trust)
Leader: Jane Willmott (Reserve Manager)
Sussex Wildlife Trust took over the Common in 2010 and removed many rhododendron
plants and pine trees to bring it back to open heathland. The large pond was
probably used for shooting.
The Common is renowned for its
spider population. Found were: a tiny,
white-flowered sundew (previously
not recorded here) and a bright-orange female of the uncommon
Red-brown Longhorn Beetle.
There were several grasshopper species,
Bog Bush-Cricket,
Common Cudweed, Common Eyebright, Sphagnum Moss, immigrant Silver Y Moth and the
large hairy caterpillar of the Fox Moth. At the pond identified were:
Large Red Damselfly,
Blue-tailed Damselfly, several
Ruddy Darter and an
Emperor Dragonfly flying fast over the water.
JULY 2021
Saturday 31st
Midhurst Common
Leader: Murray Marr accompanied by Friends of Midhurst Common.
Murray has studied the history of the Common in detail, has made maps going back
to 1550 and kindly produced a leaflet for our 12 members.
200 years ago Scots Pine was introduced on the bare heath as ornamental planting
and with little grazing and being self-seeded has spread and adapted to the poor
soils.
In wet heath areas Purple Moor Grass grows. Cross-leaved Heath and Bell Heather
were in flower with heather about to do so. Deep in the bracken a marker stone
(1793) was located. This was one of four and showed the boundary between
Midhurst and Woolbeding Manors. Commoners had the right of turbary, i.e.
cutting of peat and turf as fuel.
Near the Pest House (1741) chalk and lime were brought in to neutralise the acid
soil so the inmates could cultivate food. Now it is deciduous mixed woodland.
The flat, open sandy area with three ponds was the base of a sandpit. Here grow
Common Wintergreen, Blue Fleabane, Smooth Cat’s Ear and Yellow-wort.
Murray commented: “The Common is really a place of mixed-up habitats.”
Saturday 17th
Butterflies at Oaken Wood near Plaistow (Butterfly
Conservation)
Leader: Phil Darley (HNHS Member)
The
rare butterfly in the south of England, the Wood White, made its first emergence
of the summer brood on the very day of this field meeting.
During the hot, sunny morning many species of butterfly were in high numbers and
very active: Small Heath, Marbled White, Purple Hairstreak, Gatekeeper and
Large Skipper were all seen; Silver-washed Fritillary had newly emerged; and
numerous Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet flew wherever one looked.
For butterflies (and 21 members) it was a perfect morning in a perfect location!
Saturday 3rd
Entomology at Myrtle Farm, Rake
Leader: Scotty Dodd (Entomologist)
Myrtle Farm was a new venue for the Society. The
farm owners had requested that numbers be limited but were kind enough to allow
an afternoon visit too.
With 16 acres of pasture and 10 acres of woodland the aim is to promote a more
natural landscape and increase biodiversity, habitats and carbon capture. ~
With Scotty’s collapsible white fabric beating tray, a pooter and the Society’s
two sweep nets a large number of insects and spiders were collected which Scotty
very ably identified. Many were very small and only have Latin names. Seen were
grasshoppers, bush-crickets, weevils, soldier beetles, leaf hoppers, shieldbugs,
spider mites, hoverflies, ladybirds and harvestmen.
When the sun appeared butterflies in the meadows were active: Ringlet, Meadow
Brown, Large and Small Skipper and Marbled White.
Click here for Scotty’s
comprehensive species list. Included are 5 Notable Species and one on the
Rare Data Book, namely a false click beetle Microrhagus pygmaeus.
JUNE 2021
Saturday 19th
Insects and Plants on Bramshott Common
Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member)
Andy gave a brief history of the Common, particularly the impact of Canadian
Army Camps in WW1 and WW11, whereby mortar from buildings and materials for
roads have altered the pH allowing calcareous-loving plants to survive and
plants brought in to maintained gardens have spread. Examples of these are
Carline Thistle, Mossy Stonecrop, Birdsfoot Clover, Lady’s Mantle, and St.
Dabeoc’s Heath, Bloody Cranesbill and Dotted Loosestrife, all of which Andy
revealed their precise location as he knows the area well.
Although mainly dull and overcast, there were two occasions when male and female
Silver-studded Blue
butterflies were seen and photographed.
Click for species list.
MAY 2021
Saturday 22nd
Spring Plants on Ebernoe Common
(Sussex Wildlife Trust)
Leader: Frances Abraham (Sussex Botanical Recording Society member)
After 15 months with no Field Meeting due to Covid-19
restrictions, it was a great pleasure for 16 members to meet up again. Visitors
are not permitted yet.
Ebernoe Common is a National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by Sussex
Wildlife Trust, It is a Low Weald woodland and is an example of old wood
pasture with glades, all created when cattle and pigs one grazed and browsed on
acorns and beech mast.
Along the main track found were: Wood Millet, Wood-sedge, Dog’s Mercury Wood
Mellick, Black Bryony, Agrimony, Wood Sorrel and Butcher’s Broom, to name a
few. In a glade with acid soil were: Sharp-flowered Rush, Tormentil, Broad
Buckler Fern, Dwarf Gorse, Crab Apple and Midland Hawthorn. In damp Willand
Wood, once coppiced, were: Thin-spike Wood Sedge, Goldilocks, Sanicle and
Pignut.
Members had enjoyed Frances’ anecdotes, both botanical and historical and had
learnt to recognise plants new to them.
