Walk: 07 June 2018 King's Hat report

Heath Spotted Orchid

© Mary Mawdsley

20 members set off from King’s Hat car park on a cool summer morning. We crossed the road into King’s Hat inclosure, where a number of birds were identified by their song, principally Blackcap. Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Robin. Coming out of the enclosure onto the heathland at Dibden Bottom, we noted the Heath Moth and Small Heath butterfly, the very alert spotted a resting immature damselfly.  Also Cross-leaved Heath and Bell Heather, Creeping Cinquefoil, Heath Bedstraw, and the clumps of a beautiful Heath Spotted Orchid were on view. Further along Willow Warbler was heard. Round- and Oblong-leaved Sundew were still in bud, but a late Lady’s Smock was still in bloom.
 

On recrossing the road towards Beaulieu River we saw a Stock Dove, Song Thrush and Skylark. Chaffinch and Wren were heard. By the river were flowering Lesser Spearwort, and Common Cow-wheat. A Curlew and Green Woodpecker were calling. The large yellow bracket fungus on an oak was Chicken-of-the-Woods.

Chicken-of-the-Woods

© Mary Mawdsley

On walking up towards Buck Hill we saw Greenfinches, Linnet, Siskin, and Dartford Warbler and a Grey Heron flew over. Also noted were Common Birdsfoot Trefoil, Heath Speedwell, Marsh Pennywort, Mouse-eared Hawkweed, Bog Asphodel, Lousewort and Eyebright. Brian went off track to see the monument to Samuel Carter, who died riding with hounds in January 1883. When he rejoined the tail of our party they were treated to the sight of a Hobby sweeping over the heath.

Samuel Carter's Memorial

© Richard Coomber

By Starpole Pond were Swallow, Blue Tit and Carrion Crow.

We then crossed the Beaulieu River again and returned to the car park, having completed a 4 mile walk.

Hampshire Swift Day 30th June 2018

Andy Broadhurst, who spoke to us last year, has sent details of a forthcoming Swift event.

31 May 2018 Martin Down revisited

Following our field meeting, Duncan and Richard returned to Martin Down a week later on an overcast day. They found that the numbers of Greater Butterfly Orchids had increased and Marsh Fritillaries and Adonis Blues were on the wing. 

A week later, on another dull and rather damp day, Richard went back again and counted over 80 Great Butterfly Orchid flower spikes along Bokerley Bank. Chalk Fragrant Orchids were scattered along the Bank, where Common Spotted Orchids were just coming out. Hawthorn and Cowslip flowers were over, but Horseshoe Vetch, the food plant for Adonis Blue, formed large yellow patches.

At this time of the year Martin Down is well worth a visit!

A stunning micro moth - Alabonia geoffrella

Adonis Blue - male

  

Marsh Fritillary

 

 

 

Fragrant Orchid

Horseshoe Vetch

 All photographs © Richard Coomber

Walk: 17 May 2018 Martin Down

Bloody-nosed Beetles mating (CR)

Fourteen of us made the trek across to Martin Down for a springtime walk on the chalk grasslands and amongst the scrub. It was a glorious day with a fresh breeze. We saw the first of several Yellowhammers as we gathered at the Sillen Lane Car Park. As we set off Chris found a mating pair of Bloody-nosed Beetles, which became the first of many subjects for those with cameras.

Yellowhammer - male (RC)

Martin Down probably the most reliable place in Hampshire to see the declining Turtle Dove, a species that has suffered from hunting in the Mediterranean region on migration and from the effects of intensive agriculture in Europe during the breeding season. It wasn’t long before we heard the first of three ‘purring’ males. Some of the party had great views of one through Chris’s telescope while the rest saw another song-flighting over a different area of bushes and trees.

Field Fleawort (CR)

During the steady climb up to Bokerley Bank a number of interesting plants were found including Horseshoe and Kidney Vetches, Early Purple and Chalk Fragrant Orchids and masses of Cowslips. Before long the first of several Dingy Skippers were encountered. On top of the bank we had a late biscuit round which evolved into picnic time! Nearby were more Early Purple Orchids, but unfortunately the Greater Butterfly Orchids were still in bud.  

Freshly laid Brimstone egg (CR)

The bank and the surrounding area produced other floral goodies with Pasqueflower, Field Fleawort and Burnt Orchid being the highlights and with the warmth of the day more and more butterflies appeared bringing the day total to 11 species. Several female Brimstones were seen egg-laying and their tiny lime-green eggs found!

Greater Butterfly Orchid in bud (DW)

Burnt Orchids (RC)

  

Star of Bethlehem (CR)

Grizzled Skipper (RC)

We strolled leisurely back to the cars to the sound of singing Skylarks and a ‘cuckoo-ing’ Cuckoo, but it was a singing male Corn Bunting that was the afternoon’s avian highlight and a clump of Star of Bethlehem flowers the floral one.

Thanks to Chris Robinson, Duncan Wright and Richard Coomber for the use of their images. Copyright remains with the photographers.

Rosie and the Goshawks

Some members know Rosie Bowman, either through conservation volunteering or on our walks, when she worked for Birds Aware Solent. Now her love of our area and the New Forest has taken her inland to become the RSPB's staff member at the Date With Nature project at the Reptile Centre near Lyndhurst. There she, and a keen team of volunteers, run the project which aims to show live footage from a Goshawk's nest (somewhere in the New Forest) over the coming weeks as well as showing other aspects of wildlife in the Forest.

Goshawks are early breeders and the chosen nest already has chicks - see https://carnyxlive.co.uk/jwplayer/streams/newforest720ssl.html. However the image is seen better at the Reptile Centre than over the internet.

Good luck Rosie!