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| Martin Dawn - Silens Lane end |
It was a fine
morning for our meeting at Martin Down, where we met our guide, Pete Durnell,
at the Sillen Lane car park. We walked
up to and along the Bokerley Ditch before returning to the
start. Working for Hampshire County Council, and with a thorough knowledge of the Down, Pete
was the ideal person to inform us about the area and the splendid variety of birds, butterflies and
flowers we were to encounter during the walk.
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| Corn Bunting |
Undoubtedly the best birds were the Turtle Doves. We heard their purring calls and saw two, with one performing a display flight after being watched well in a tree through a telescope. Martin Down is one of
the few places in Hampshire where this migratory dove still breeds. Towards the end of the walk we came across a Corn Bunting (right) perched in the hedge near the car park, sadly another declining
species. Also noted were Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff (heard
only), Long-tailed Tit, Skylark and Common Buzzard.
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| Brimstone butterfly eggs |
Butterflies were excellent.
Brimstone was the commonest and a female was
discovered egg laying on the underside of fresh Blackthorn leaves (left)
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| Green Hairstreak |
We also had good views of Green Hairstreak (right), Dingy and
Grizzled Skippers, Small Heath, Small Blue and Orange-tip.
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| Early Purple Orchid |
Flowers included - Early Purple (left) and
Green-winged Orchids, Chalk Milkwort, Salad Burnet, Horseshoe and Kidney
Vetches, Spindle, Lady's Bedstraw.
