FIELD MEETINGS
·
Visitors are very welcome on all meetings.
A donation of £3 per non-member would be appreciated.
·
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.
· Dogs are not permitted.
Winter
bird rambles
In exceptionally severe or dangerous weather conditions, please assume that the meeting is cancelled.
Tidal
information
The times and heights of high water (as at Portsmouth) are given for coastal bird meetings
FEBRUARY 2012
Saturday 25th
**8.30 a.m.** Education
Centre Grid Ref: SU151079
BIRDS
AT BLASHFORD LAKES, NORTH OF RINGWOOD, HAMPSHIRE
Leader: Sue Bradford
Blashford Lakes attract a large number of wildfowl during winter, including
gadwall, goosander. little and great white egret (the latter is rarely seen) and
bittern. The Lakes are a series of former gravel pits surrounded by grassland,
willow, birch and alder. The Dockens Water Stream flows through the reserve
which is bounded by ancient woodland of oak and beech.
A minibus is being hired and will be offered at a subsidised cost of £10 per
member. Bookings with payment must be made to the Society (HNHS), c/o Haslemere
Museum, attention of Mrs M Tomsett, by 3rd February 2012. The
minibus will pick members up outside Leightons Opticians, at the top of Weyhill,
Haslemere, at 8.30 a.m. and leave Blashford Lakes at 3.00 p.m. Members wishing
to leave cars at Weyhill car park should park away from the top end to avoid
recycling vehicles and associated traffic.
Bring lunch and wear warm clothing and suitable footwear.
MARCH 2011
Saturday 17th
10.30.a.m. Grid Ref: SU845152
DAFFODILS AT WEST DEAN WOODS, SINGLETON
Leader: Mark Monk-Terry (Reserve Manager)
Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) has a reserve in West Dean Woods where the wild
daffodils should be in bloom. Mark will talk about the management of this area.
Turn west off A286 opposite the Selsey Arms, West Dean. After 1¼ miles, just
past long avenue, enter the Reserve through gate on R saying “No access” with a
SWT sign just to L of gate. Stout footwear advisable for this morning walk.
PAST EVENTS
JANUARY 2012
Saturday 28th
SOLAR BOAT TRIP FROM (WEST) ITCHENOR: BIRDWATCHING
(Chichester Harbour Conservancy)
The Society booked 27 places for this bird
watching opportunity in Chichester Harbour. The Activities Officer of
Chichester Harbour Conservancy gave a commentary as the boat passed Stake
Island, the Chidham peninsular and Thorney Island, gliding so quietly the birds
were not disturbed. The birds seen included: an over-wintering sandwich tern
perched on a buoy; small groups of Brent geese feeding on eel grass; a flock of
knots and another of lapwings ; and a large group of bar-tailed godwits probing
on a mud bank.
Particularly exciting sights were a common seal resting on the top of a mud bank
and a female peregrine falcon ‘hunkering down’ close to some posts and
sheltering from the wind.
DECEMBER 2011
Saturday 10th
FRILLINGHURST AND GRAYSWOOD
Leader: Jon Taylor
Member Jon Taylor led 12 members on a walk on a frosty, but sunny December
morning. With his acute hearing he is often able to identify a bird before it
is seen - as with the crossbills that passed overhead and, later, a raven.
To list some of the interesting sights and sounds: blackbirds fed on ivy
berries; carrion crows squabbled noisily; robin, blue tit, marsh tit, coal tit
and dunnock called; a chaffinch had already paired up with a mate; and a kestrel
glided away. In tall hawthorn trees, laden with berries, fieldfares and
redwings fed busily, while nearby a wren was singing and a goldcrest searched in
the oak canopy.
Members resisted Jon’s invitation to sample the yellow crab apples strewn over
the path, particularly when he warned that they were the sharpest he had ever
tasted!
From the arable fields three buzzards were seen gliding over the woodland, one
being mobbed by crows. The pond at Imbhams Farm was skirted and the path
ascended through a wood of sweet chestnut to a field with a good viewpoint
towards the South Downs. Here there was a bonus: a flock of woodlarks flew in
to feed accompanied by thirty or so chaffinches.
NOVEMBER 2011
Saturday 19th
BIRDS IN CHICHESTER CHANNEL
Leader: Judith Kusel
Twenty three members spent a most rewarding day bird-watching along the
shoreline of Chichester Channel, beginning at low tide. This was a new venue
for the Society. Several members had ’scopes which enabled the identification
of shelduck, bar-tailed godwit, dunlin and red-breasted merganser to name just a
few.
Plants were also noted: butcher’s-broom, spurge-laurel and sharp-leaved fluellen.
After much counting of a large flock of Brent geese grazing in a field, it was
estimated there were over 300.
During the picnic lunch break (taken sitting on the shingle) it was enjoyable to
witness the arrival of four goldeneye, four little grebe, several great crested
grebe, a flock of curlew and two small tortoiseshell butterflies.
Finally, by the reedbeds and in a field a heron, a sparrowhawk and a buzzard
perched on a post were seen, bringing the total of bird species to 40.
OCTOBER 2011
Sunday
9th
FUNGI AT MARLEY COMMON
(National Trust)
Leader: Sara Shepley
It was dry and bright when Sara led 26 members and guests round Marley Common
for the annual Fungus Foray. The long spell of dry weather had resulted in fewer
fungi than in recent years but there was much to learn as Sara delighted her
listeners with a mixture of scientific facts and anecdotes. We saw both
poisonous and edible fungi, some with gills underneath and some with tubes, some
that need rotting wood and some that grow in grassland. Identification was
often confirmed by the smell, or chemical reaction, taste or colour (purple,
orange, red and brown). During the walk the group was briefly greeted by a few
crossbills overhead and the walk ended with greeting from a similar number of
belted Galloway cattle. It concluded a delightful and instructive afternoon.
Click for Species list
SEPTEMBER 2011
Saturday 3rd
ROYAL AND BAGMOOR COMMON (north of Thursley) (Surrey Wildlife Trust)
Leader: Fiona Haynes (Warden for the area)
During the past two years conservation
work undertaken by Surrey Wildlife Trust has helped restore heathland and made
progress towards creating a woodland pasture habitat. Warden Fiona Haynes
explained to nineteen members how scrapes have enabled ling and cross-leaved
heath to spread; birch woodland has been reduced to islands of birch; bracken
has been pulled continually and treated; and the “belted beauties,” namely
eight beautiful and docile Belted Galloway heifers are continuing to graze and
knock back the purple moor grass and young birch. It was exciting to glimpse
several fast-moving grass snakes and to have a close look at less active
slowworms which were found under some of the reptile tins put down across the
reserve as part of a reptile survey.
AUGUST 2011
Saturday 6th
DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES ON THURSLEY COMMON (Surrey Wildlife Trust)
Leader: Jill Fry
The large group was divided and under
the leadership of Jill and Ray Fry set off in different directions and later met
up. The common looked beautiful with ling, bell heather, cross-leaved heath and
lesser gorse all in flower. But the sky remained overcast all morning and only
a few damselflies were flying. These species were seen: large red, blue-tailed,
small red and a common blue. The only dragonfly seen (and photographed) was a
female black darter.
Common lizards sat on the board walks. Several tiny toads, a froglet and a very
young palmate newt were discovered by observant members. Jill found in flower
the largely submerged lesser bladderwort - the bladders of which capture water
fleas. On the surface of pools raft spiders sat motionless.
JULY 2011
Saturday 23rd
NIGHTJARS ON LUDSHOTT COMMON
(National Trust)
Leader: Chris Webb (Head Warden for Ludshott and Selborne, East
Hampshire)
A glorious evening saw 21 members join
Chris Webb to be taken around the common to be told of its history and listen
for nightjars.
Ludshott common comprises of about 600 acres of lowland heath and was given to
the National Trust in 1908.
We heard about the difficulty of managing such a large area and that in the near
future they hope to introduce a grazing regime to help keep the scrub at a
manageable level.
Several nightjars were heard, and one flew overhead. We also heard stonechats
and saw a few pipistrelle bats.
Saturday 9th
BUTTERFLIES AT GRAFFHAM DOWN
Leader:
Margaret Hibbard with David Mozley (Chairman, Graffham Down Trust)
Nine members made their way up the
steep track to the top of the South Downs where the Trust has created a
remarkable reserve of 31 hectares. The meadows were full of flowers.
Butterflies seen were : large white, green-veined white, large and small
Skipper, meadow brown, red admiral, ringlet, silver-washed fritillary and many
marbled white. Although some time was spent during the lunch stop by some
broad-leaved sallows where the purple emperor has been seen in the past, in the
windy, often grey conditions only a fleeting glimpse was had. As a result of
many years of management the meadows have an ever-increasing number of flower
species and butterfly numbers.
JUNE 2011
Saturday 18th
VALEWOOD PARK (part private and part National Trust)
Leader: Iain Brown
For most of the 24 members meeting for the morning walk it was the first time
they had visited this area between Haslemere and Fernhurst. At the start Iain
explained that Valewood House had been owned by James Mangles who was greatly
interested in the cultivation and hybridisation of rhododendrons.
The unimproved meadows, belonging to and managed by the National Trust, were
prolific in flowers, notably heath spotted orchids and hybrid orchids. A wide
range of plants were found: a very dark form of angelica, broad-leaved
helleborine, monkey flower, skunk cabbage, common lousewort, fen bedstraw, branched
bur-reed and skull-cap.
The circular walk climbed up to Ridden Corner on Black Down where heathers and
bilberry are re-colonising after the removal of rhododendron. The number of
plants, grasses and ferns recorded reached a staggering 137.
Saturday 4th
FLOWERS AT MIDHURST COMMON
(SNCI)
Leader: Peter Jones (Wild Flower Society)
20
members and a guest who knew the area well met on a warm sunny 5th
June to see the wild flowers at Midhurst Common. The plants seen were very
varied, from the heathers and sphagnum of the bog, to the delightful little
wintergreen and common spotted orchid in the woodland, the cornsalad, fringe
cups and wild pansies in the allotments, the dodder at the churchyard, the
sedges and rushes in the woodland and on the sand by the disused pits, to the
bog cotton grass, ragged robin and royal fern not far from the road. Over 100
plants were recorded, including some of the shrubs and trees.
MAY 2011
Saturday 21st
BIRDS AT FARLINGTON MARSHES
(Hampshire Wildlife Trust)
Leader: Diane Timney
Sunny weather and low tide made for excellent
bird-watching conditions when eleven species of
“land
birds”
and twenty four species of
“water
birds”
were counted.
From the sea wall good views were had of a large group of black-tailed godwits
probing in a pool, a skylark parachuting downwards and a juvenile meadow pipit
perching on a post. A surprisingly large number of starlings was active over the
grassland and from the reeds sedge warblers were very vocal. When the tide later
reached the sea wall, terns hovered on the wind before plummeting into the
water. They were so close it was possible to see the colour of their bills and
so identify them as common, little and Sandwich tern.
The lunch stop was taken at the central area of the grazing marsh. Here many of
the bramble bushes had been decimated by the caterpillars of the brown-tailed
moth (Eurproctis chrysorrhoea ). The cobweb-like communal
“tents”
were found and a few caterpillars were munching on the remaining leaves.
Continuing on the circular walk there were many more interesting sights:
swallows flying low over the meadows; gulls bathing busily in a large pool; a
single swift; a black rabbit feeding among buttercups; and a fox that scampered
away. Finally snatches of a Cetti’s
warbler’s
song were heard, bringing to an end a most enjoyable day.
FEBRUARY 2011
Saturday 19th
WILDFOWL
AT DUSK ON LECONFIELD ESTATE, PETWORTH
Leader: Andrew Thompson (Leconfield Estate Warden)
A unique opportunity to visit
part of the Leconfield Estate, Petworth, not normally open to the public,
enticed twenty-two members along.
Walking along the bank of the River Rother, Andrew Thompson, the Estate Warden,
explained how in the past ten years Higher Level Stewardship Scheme grants have
enabled the 90 acre area to be restored to pasture and grassy-wetland. The work
has provided a five-acre pond, sluices to control the water level in the ditches
throughout the year, two artificial gravel riffles in the river to encourage
fish egg-laying, a new ford, banks to provide kingfisher nest sites and
artificial otter holts.
Members watched flocks of teal and pintail - this being the first winter the
latter have appeared. On the lake were shelduck, swans, coot and Canada geese.
Tracks of mink were seen in the mud by the river’s loop. At dusk, standing on
viewing platforms, a watch was kept for any incoming flocks, but in the very
still conditions all that was seen and heard were returning mallard pairs and
two snipe.
JANUARY 2011
Saturday 22nd
BIRDS AT FRENSHAM GREAT POND AND THE OUTFALL
(owned by National Trust and managed by Waverley Borough Council)
Leader: Mary Clarke
22 hardy members met at the Great Pond at
Frensham despite the very cold, damp and overcast conditions.
From the field centre, the group walked down to the shore line where a large
number of adult swans with cygnets were feeding in amongst a large number of
coots, tufted ducks and mallards. Further out on the pond were gadwall, pochard
and great crested grebe with a cormorant sitting on a buoy drying it
feathers. The coots seemed to be fighting all the time - obviously for
territory or potential partners. Outside the hotel, the tufted ducks had
increased to between 30 and 40. Down the outfall path there were goldcrests
feeding from tree to tree. 30 to 40 siskins were seen moving through the high
canopy. Also of note was a carpet of reindeer lichen and fresh oyster fungus on
several tree trunks.
DECEMBER 2010
Saturday
4th
VALEWOOD PARK (PART PRIVATE, PART NATIONAL TRUST)
Leader: Iain Brown
This meeting had sadly to be cancelled at short notice due to heavy snowfall in
the area. It has been rearranged as part of the summer 2011 programme.
NOVEMBER 2010
Saturday 27th
WINTER BIRDS AT COBNOR POINT, CHICHESTER HARBOUR
Leaders: Chris Rhodes and Ann Fitchett
During this excellent field meeting 30 species of birds associated with water
and 15 land species were seen. This is a valuable area for wintering wildfowl
and waders feeding on the intertidal mudflats and saltmarshes. Lapwing,
oystercatcher, dunlin, shelduck, grey plover, curlew, bar-tailed and
black-tailed godwit were all seen and also snipe, common gull, red merganser, a
weasel, 21 avocets and a flock of more than 400 Brent geese.
OCTOBER 2010
Saturday 23rd
HEATHLAND MANAGEMENT AT IPING
Leader:
Bruce Middleton
To see, hear about
and have explained the ongoing conservation work on Iping Common, near Midhurst,
gave members a most interesting morning on Saturday,23 October. Bruce (formerly
of South Downs Conservation Joint Committee), who oversees the management, said
that rare insects such as the heath tiger beetle and the field cricket live on
this common. There are three heather species, two gorse species and a number of
rare heathland plants, including one not found anywhere else in Sussex.
The conservation work aims to provide a mosaic of heathland habitats, such as
wide tracks, dry areas, bare scrapes, boggy places, and different ages and
heights of heather. All these should encourage the increase of many species
and provide the correct conditions to re-introduce some that have been lost in
past years.
Chairman Margaret Hibbard said: “We have learnt that this particular heathland
has a known history from Mesolithic to Roman times and now the work being done
here is vitally important to conserve rare insect and plant life.”
Sunday 10th
FUNGUS FORAY ON WITLEY COMMON (NATIONAL TRUST)
Leader:
Sara Shepley
Fungi are abundant this year! A large gathering of members and guests,
including children, met at Witley Common for the annual Fungus Foray.
Sara has been a popular leader of the Society’s forays for many years. They are
a delightful balance between science, anecdote and folklore and there was scope
for all three as she talked about slippery jack, razor strop, honey fungus,
poison pie, jersey cow, cauliflower and orange peel, candlesnuff, hedgehog and
the easy-to-identify fly agaric. Many of them are very striking and colourful.
Many are highly poisonous and she reiterated many times the danger of eating
fungi which had not been identified with absolute certainty. At least 50
species were recorded in the time available (a list will be posted on the
website in due course).
SEPTEMBER
2010
Friday 3rd
BAT EVENING, FRENSHAM LITTLE POND (NATIONAL TRUST)
Leader: Martyn Phillis
The Little Pond at Frensham is home to eight or nine of the country’s 18 species
of bats. 28 members and guests (including children) went to look for them on
this walk.
Martyn Phillis (who as a member is the Society’s webmaster and also a licensed
batworker) gave an introductory talk describing the bat’s history, its unique
position in the animal kingdom as the only flying mammal and each British
species’ preference for a different habitat, their means of echolocation, their
lifecycle and the threats to their survival. He led the walk as the still,
clear and warm dusk turned to night. It was not long before the bat detectors
picked up a soprano pipistrelle. A noctule, the largest British bat, flew
straight overhead. It was nearly dark as the group moved through the trees and
some of the clicks on the detectors were later identified as faint serotine
calls and possibly a brown long-eared bat. Although it was completely dark, the
group was asked to look out by sparing use of torches for young toads on the
path and one of the young and nimble visitors saved one from certain
trampling. Common pipistrelles were heard above and, reaching an opening
beside the Pond, the group was rewarded with views of a few Daubenton’s skimming
the water and dipping to catch their prey.
JULY 2010
Saturday
31st
AMBERLEY WILD BROOKS (RSPB AND SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST)
Leader: a RSPB Warden
18 members were
attracted to this meeting, and two volunteer wardens from the RSPB led the walk
from Greatham Bridge, along the public footpath and into the reserve. The
Wildbrooks are part of the flood plain of the River Arun which comprises a huge
area of grassland intersected by water-filled ditches. The path initially
accompanies the fast-flowing river, passes a few dwellings, then turns into the
reserve.
Within the ditches and beside them was a splendid array of flowering marsh
plants – white, yellow and pale mauve. They included the white gipsywort,
frogbit, water plantain and meadowsweet, the yellow common toadflax and lesser
spearwort, the pale mauve water mint, marsh woundwort and skullcap and deep
mauve (sometimes white) marsh thistle. Other plants included reedmace, branched
bur-reed, water dock, water horsetail, together with reeds, rushes and sedges.
Notable amongst them was cut grass, the Wildbrooks being the main UK site for
it. It is a tall plant with dangerous little silica teeth on the leaf margins.
To end a very full morning, as we looked over Greatham Bridge at the river,
there was a vivid blue-green banded demoiselle sitting on a patch of pondweed.
Saturday 17th
THE
CHANTRIES (GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL)
Leader: Bob Kirby
A small but gruesome sight: ten members witnessed the sad end of a
recently-hatched holly blue butterfly as it was captured on a flower by a small
white crab spider. This was first seen by a member photographing the butterfly
when it first alighted.
The underlying geology of sands, clay and chalk gives rise to a diversity of
soils and habitats. These were pointed out by Bob,one of our members, who had
previously researched the area for its flora and fauna. Interesting plants
included hare's-foot clover, orpine, and lady's-mantle; of the many insects
seen were nine butterfly species, several species of hover-flies (mimicking
either a bee or wasp) and - a
welcome sight- a good number of six-spot ladybirds.
Members were amazed at the rich variety of wildlife and Bob's wide knowledge was
much appreciated.
Saturday 3rd
10.30 a.m. Grid Ref: SU977347
BUTTERFLIES AT BOTANY BAY, DUNSFOLD (FORESTRY COMMISSION)
Leader: Margaret Hibbard
Members described the walk as “amazing”, “awesome”. 20 of
us met for a walk through Forestry Commission woodland to look for butterflies.
The weather was hot and sunny and countless butterflies flew up and down the
ride. At the start, Margaret displayed a large chart and indicated the species
likely to be seen. Ringlets, silver-washed fritillaries, several white
admirals, large and small skippers, comma, meadow brown and speckled wood
flitted along the track. There was excitement at the appearance of a wood
white, a delicate little butterfly, and a passing naturalist pointed out several
wood white eggs on black medick. This area is the stronghold of wood whites in
south-east England.
A very varied flora each side of the track was obviously appealing to this wide
selection of butterflies. A few birds were heard fleetingly. The tally of
butterflies concluded with small white, red admiral and, after much searching of
the canopy with binoculars where they nectar and the ground where they forage
for salts, a purple emperor was spotted on the track. It stayed long enough to
be photographed with wings open, and then closed, its pale yellow proboscis
searching for salts. It was a perfect end to a very rewarding walk.
JUNE 2010
Saturday 19th
10.00 a.m. Grid. Ref.
SU737321
ORCHIDS AND OTHER PLANTS OF THE CHALK AT NOAR HILL, SELBORNE (HAMPSHIRE WILDLIFE
TRUST RESERVE
Leader:
Pamela Lee (Volunteer Warden)
“Orchids galore!” On a mostly sunny, slightly blustery
day, fourteen members met at Noar Hill to be shown the carpets of pink, white,
blue and yellow flowers of this chalk downland reserve by Volunteer Warden,
Pamela Lee (and it was pleasure to welcome six new members). Beside the paths
which circumnavigate and cross the quarried pits there were quantities of spent
cowslips. Carpets of common spotted, fragrant and pyramidal orchids were
interspersed with patches of birdsfoot trefoil, blue, white and mauve milkwort,
thyme and the occasional twayblade. In a little patch of woodland everyone was
thrilled to see white helleborine. On the short turf further up the hill were
little yellow-green musk orchids and a few frog orchids. Uncommon plants of the
day included the parasitic knapweed broomrape, very young plants of adderstongue,
just one specimen of the deep mauve-blue clustered bellflower and a few
lemon-yellow dragon’s teeth. The last orchid to be found was a fly orchid (and
a pure yellow variety of it). It was rather too breezy for butterflies but
several species were recorded. Birdsong tended to be brief: the pièce de
résistance was sight of a red kite being mobbed by a crow. Noar Hill is an
idyllic place and we were grateful to Pamela for so expertly pointing out its
treasures.
MAY 2010
Saturday 15th
FIELD CRICKETS AT LORD’S PIECE, BARLAVINGTON
Leader: Mike Edwards
Arriving at Lords's Piece in sunny conditions, members were soon
rewarded with the unusual sound of chirping male field crickets, a
species confined to only a few sites in Britain. Mike Edwards, who has
made a study of these insects, described the years of management which
now have produced an ideal habitat. The harsh winter did not affect
them as they remained safe inside their burrows. Their life cycle was
explained and photographs were taken of an adult male and female which
had been lured from their burrows (for which a Handling Licence is
necessary). There is an ongoing programme of translocation to
introduce them to other heath localities, mainly in Sussex.
Wednesday 5th
NIGHTINGALES AT EBERNOE COMMON NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE (SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST)
Leader:
Bob Kirby
Bob had done much research on the history and
resident wildlife on the site
resulting in a fascinating walk around these ancient wood pastures with ponds, streams, meadows and
woodland.
There was much to be shown: an apparently
fused oak and beech, mandarin duck, local Paludina limestone, goldilocks ( a
type of buttercup), interesting lichens, liverworts, wild service tree,
early-purple orchids among the bluebells and the tiny plant blinks. During the
patient wait to hear nightingales (which eventually sang briefly), blackcap,
whitethroat, chaffinch and blackbird sang in the still evening with distant
sounds of woodpeckers, Canada geese and cuckoo. As the temperature dropped few
bats were flying, but our bat detectors and recording equipment positively
identified both common and soprano pipistrelles, Daubenton’s and a single
noctule.
APRIL 2010
Saturday 24th
SPRING FLOWERS
IN BUMMOOR COPSE, COMPTON
Leader: Jill Fry
Carpets of wood anemone, primrose, celandine, wood sorrel,
and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage greeted us for our walk. The sun shone
through the trees on this glorious array of colour. Interspersed were patches
of common dog violet and the first bluebells. In the boggy areas were clumps of
the golden marsh marigold. Hazel, alder and poplar were bursting into leaf. In
the open ride to the west of the copse we saw moschatel or town hall clock.
After lunch, Jill decided it was too early for the bluebells at Mitchell Hall
Plantation and took us up the North Downs. Sweet, hairy and white violets were
in flower and spindle-tree, whitebeam and wayfaring tree were coming into leaf.
A small tortoiseshell butterfly brought a delightful day to a close.
Saturday 10th
FARNHAM HEATH RSPB RESERVE
On a beautiful spring morning, eighteen members were taken around
Farnham Heath by one of the RSPB volunteers.
We heard about the latest plans towards converting what was a large wooded area
into lowland Heath. This project commenced in 2003/2004, and it is now possible
to see the benefits of all the work carried out. On parts of the heath we saw
heathland birds such as the woodlark and tree pipit. We also hoped to see sand
lizard, but perhaps it was not quite warm enough for them to venture out.
Other species noted were, crossbills, kestrel, wren, siskin and goldcrest. Several
butterflies, including holly blue, comma, brimstone and and peacock. We also
spotted a seven spot ladybird and a buff-tailed bumble-bee.
PAST EVENTS - 2009
JULY 2009
Saturday 18th
BUTTERFLIES & FLORA OF GRAFFHAM DOWN
Leader: Margaret Hibbard with Biddy and Paul Dimmer of Graffham Down Trust
Nineteen
observant people were bound to find much to interest them
during the walk through five reserves managed by the Graffham Down Trust
and adjacent to the South Downs Way. Biddy and Paul Dimmer described
how management in recent years has encouraged an increase in butterfly
numbers and flower species. Thirteen butterfly species were seen,
including many newly-hatched painted ladies. (This brood no doubt
resulting from the great invasion in late May). A queen wasp
Dolichovespula media, a fast-moving snake, a fallow deer, several large
yellow underwing moths, a vivid dark green dung beetle, the bright green sawfly
Rhogogaster viridis and a
longhorn beetle were all encountered.
Wednesday 1st
PEWLEY DOWN & THE CHANTRIES (Guildford Borough Council)
Leader: Bob Kirby
A quotation from William Cobbett’s “Rural Rides” on his visit to Chilworth in
1825 set the scene for a fantastic, if very hot, day on the North Downs.
Society-member Bob Kirby had taken great care with preparation, providing a list
of flora which he had recently seen and fossils typical of the area. He
described the topographical features of the Downs in the context of the Weald
and how their geology determined the flora. We looked at plants which had
colonised a sandstone quarry, found a large number of Harlequin ladybirds on a
clump of stinging nettles beside the road and then took the long narrow path
across the vale of Gault Clay to the chalk of Pewley Down, noting the change in
flora as we went (together with a white letter hairstreak butterfly!). The
highlight of the chalk-loving plants was the sight of countless pyramidal
orchids, ranging from very pale to deepest pink. Nearby more than a dozen
marbled white butterflies were nectaring on greater knapweed. We crossed to the
north-facing slope of the Down to find another change in flora. Members were
beginning to flag in the heat so it was regretfully agreed that the plan to look
at flora on the sandstone Chantry Down should be postponed to another year. We
saw so much and there were so many things to reflect on!
Sunday 21st
WOODLAND FLORA IN LYNCHMERE WOODS
Leader: Laura Ponsonby
Including grasses and ferns growing in damp areas, nearly 80
woodland
flora species were identified. To name just a few - there were yellow
flowers of buttercups, tormentil, cinquefoil and two species of St.
John's-wort; pink and purple self-heal, hedge woundwort, herb-robert,
marsh thistle and one spotted orchid; blue thyme-leaved speedwell,
brooklime and skullcap; and in full-flower large patches of white common
marsh-bedstraw. The stands of foxglove were impressive and it was
pleasing to see ragged robin and carpets of wood sorrel.
