This week's walk: 15 August 2019 Ridgeway Lane

A general interest walk this week will be led by Brian meeting at SZ321942 and setting off at 10:00

Walk report: 01 August 2019 Dibden Inclosure

Small Copper

© Richard Coomber

On a very warm day, 17 members joined Sue and Geoff for a first Lymnats visit to Dibden Inclosure. The sunshine was beginning to bring out the insects and as we walked from the car park down the ride towards Dibden Bottom, Gatekeepers were seen in abundance along with Meadow Brown, and specimens of Common Blue and Holly Blue were also spotted. Other butterflies seen on the walk included Small Heath, Brimstone, Small Copper, Large Skipper and Silver-washed Fritillary. We also saw the first signs of all 3 varieties of heather coming into flower.

Along the level part of Dibden Bottom, we saw more dragon- and damselflies and those identified included Emperor, Golden-ringed, Broad-bodied Chaser and Keeled Skimmer. Stonechats were “chipping” away atop the gorse. A Solitary Bee was identified near several bee holes in the sandy soil.

Cut-leaved Bramble Rubus laciniatus
© Richard Coomber

Our hilltop refreshment stop afforded wide open views across to Lyndhurst and Roe Deer were spotted feeding in the shade of a clump of Silver Birch on the heathland below us. A Raven circled overhead briefly before flying east over the woodland of the inclosure. Other birds spotted during the morning were Wren, Siskin, Goldfinch and, of course, our friendly Robins both adult and juvenile.

Through the Noads woodland, Rowan trees were heavy with berries and elsewhere other plant highlights seen were Round-leaved Sundew, Royal Fern, Cut-leaved Bramble Rubus laciniatus (a non-native perhaps sown via bird droppings) and the lichen Parmelia caperata.

Unfortunately, the return walk along the other side of the woodland was notable for its absence of interesting natural sightings but the sunshine provided a good view of the tumuli near the Beaulieu Road. S&GN

'Walk' report: 18 July 2019: Mothing at North Weirs, Brockenhurst

Our moth event in Angela’s garden was well attended, but was rather more sedentary than the usual Thursday walk. A bin-type Robinson trap was left running overnight. With a 125w bulb it lured a good variety of moths into the trap, but unlike last year there were no Hornets. We sat around the tables in the shade where Richard and Mary talked their way through the moths that had settled on the egg trays that had lined the inside of the Robinson trap. Some 47 species were noted, and one or two others might have been missed off the notebooks! Last year we recorded 49 – so not so different in totals, but this year we noted over 30 species not previous recorded at the site.

Not all were little brown jobs as some of their names indicated - Mother of Pearl, Ruby Tiger, Rosy Footman, Purple Clay and Flame Shoulder. Others with names like Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet and Bright-line Brown-eye helped to identify the species. Some were large and quite spectacular such as Swallow-tailed Moth and three hawkmoths – Elephant, Poplar and Pine. Those classed as micro-moths were mostly tiny, but in some cases, such as Oak Longhorn, certainly not little brown jobs.

Once the trap had been emptied a number of obliging moths were encouraged to pose on logs for those with cameras and these included some species that had been caught at either Milford or Pennington overnight. With the end of the event the moths were returned to their respective home areas.

Richard would like to thank Mary for her assistance in the morning. Angela and Robert for hosting the event and of course all the members whose enthusiasm helped make it a most interesting and enjoyable morning. (RC)

Micro Moths

Scientific name	English name
Agapeta zoegana
Anania coronata
Ancylis badiana
Brachmia blandella
Carcina quercana	Oak Longhorn
Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer
Ditula angustiorana	Red-barred Tortrix
Endotricha flammealis
Hofmannophila pseudospretella	Brown House-moth
Pandemis heparana	Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix
Pleuroptya ruralis	Mother of Pearl
Plutella xylostella	Diamond-back Moth
Pyrausta purpuralis
Tachystola acroxantha
Teleiodes vulgella
Udea ferrugalis	Rusty-dot Pearl
Ypsolopha dentella	Honeysuckle Moth

 

Oak Longhorn - a micro

Macro moths

Scientific name	English name
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches
Cosmia trapezina	Dun-bar
Crocallis elinguaria	Scalloped Oak
Cyclophora albipunctata	Birch Mocha
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth
Diarsia brunnea	Purple Clay
Eilema depressa	Buff Footman
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman
Hoplodrina blanda	Rustic
Hoplodrina octogenaria	Uncertain
Idaea biselata	Small Fan-footed Wave
Idaea dimidiata	Single-dotted Wave
Laothoe populi	Poplar Hawk-moth
Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border
Lycophotia porphyrea	True Lover's Knot
Meganola albula	Kent Black Arches
Mesapamea secalis agg.	Common Rustic agg.
Miltochrista miniata	Rosy Footman
Mythimna albipuncta	White-point
Mythimna ferrago	Clay
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot
Mythimna pallens	Common Wainscot
Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder
Ourapteryx sambucaria	Swallow-tailed Moth
Parascotia fuliginaria	Waved Black
Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip
Scopula imitaria	Small Blood-vein
Sphinx pinastri	Pine Hawk-moth

 

Blood-vein

Swallow-tailed Moth

 Photographs © Richard Coomber