Walk report: 19 May 2019 Acres Down

On a decent morning, another bumper gathering of 20 set out on a 2.5 mile stroll through this hilly bit of the northern Forest near Minstead and Emery Down. We kept to the north of the cycle track in mixed woodland where conifers have been felled in large numbers during the last few years leaving open areas with resin-sticky stumps to glue the unwary, resting walker to the spot.

We headed west along the cycle track then north across trickling Bagshot Gutter and took a zig-zag, rolling, clockwise route eventually up onto the ridge near Stonard Wood. Turning back into the trees at Hart Hill, we reached a memorial bench marking the lives of members of the Burnett family, clearly distinguished in medicine and the armed forces. The vista from here has been opened up by removal of tall, mature conifers and now the Isle of Wight can be seen on a clear day. However, at ground-level it is a bleak prospect, but the aim might be to make the boggy valley wetter still to restore mire. The steep, skittery descent led back to the cycle track.

Among the vertebrates seen was a female Roe Deer, alone in the trees looking at us looking at her until she slowly melted into the bushes. Tiny frogs were elusive as were some birds, identified only by their call including Blackcap, Chaffinch, Cuckoo and Robin. There were views of Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Common Buzzard, Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Wren. A few insects were noted such as a few Wood Ant nests, Pond Skaters, butterflies including Brimstone and some day-flying moths.

The fungi Birch Polypore, Blusher, Bog Beacon and Turkey Tail were seen plus the green-grey trumpets of a lichen, Cladonia sp. As well as dense Bracken, Hard and Male Ferns were present. Flowering plants were abundant including late Bluebell, Common Dog Violet, Germander Speedwell, Herb Robert, Lousewort, Milkwort, Ragged Robin, Round-leaved Sundew, Thyme-leaved and Wood Speedwells, Tormentil, Wood Sorrel, Wood Spurge and Yellow Pimpernel. The ground was peppered with Beech seedlings. MW/SP

Trip report: Titchfield Haven 02 May 2019

Shelduck

© Richard Coomber

Adrian and Kay arranged this coach trip to Titchfield Haven NNR and as usual it was well supported. On arrival we checked-in through the reserve’s visitor centre and set off to explore the trails and to visit various hides that overlooked scrapes, lagoons and marshes.

By far the most conspicuous birds were the noisy Black-headed Gulls, but the scrapes also held a variety of other species including Avocets, Shelduck and some migrant shorebirds including Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. From the surrounding willows and other trees sang Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, whilst in the reeds and adjacent scrub Reed

Greater Pond Sedge

© Richard Coomber

Bunting, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Common Whitethroat were found. Also seen were Common and Sandwich Terns, Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe. A Merlin was heard, but only as a Spitfire flew over!

Although the weather was overcast a few butterflies, such as Brimstone and Orange-tip,  ventured forth and along the ditches and water margins grew Comfrey, Yellow Iris and various grasses and sedges including Greater and Lesser Pond Sedges.

Our thanks to Adrian and Kay for arranging the trip and to the driver of Solent Coaches for negotiating roads that probably don’t see many coaches – Thank you! RC

Walk report: 18 April 2019 Milkham

A bright, cool, breezy morning heralded a warm spring day as 20 gathered for a 2.5 mile loop through Milkham Inclosure. This mixed woodland sits north of the A31, accessible from the road between Bolderwood and Linwood. It stretches westwards then south, continuous with Roe Inclosure, then Red Shoot and Pinnick Woods, ending at Linford.  Today we limited ourselves to the northern area where there has been recent clearance of some conifer stands leaving open slopes or small areas of dense, deciduous replanting including wild cherry, in blossom today. Beech and Oak were fresh in spring foliage and soft shoots of Larch had to be touched. Wide grassy rides run west-east and north-south bordered by ditches with a winding cycle path and several crossings of Linford Brook and its shallow tributaries that drain toward Blashford Lakes. After a slow start all these areas provided their own wildlife interest.

Palmate Newts

© Richard Coomber

As an overture, a Peregrine zipped over the car park, too fast for some to see. Swallow, Robin, Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch and Raven were seen by most. More elusive, and identified by call, were Chaffinch, Siskin, Blackbird, Blackcap, Song Thrush and Chiffchaff.

In both shallow and deeper water there were dark Leeches, stretching to several centimetres then contracting, mating Palmate Newts, and a few frog tadpoles.

Speckled Wood

© Richard Coomber

Insects were represented by Southern Wood Ants teeming over their large brown hillock-nests. Several dozen were getting the better of a solitary Dor Beetle until a helping hand lifted it away from the unfair struggle, dusted it down and released it to safety. As the day warmed, butterflies appeared including Speckled Wood, spiralling round each other, Peacock, Brimstone and Orange Tip. A single dragonfly larva walked along the pebbly bed of a shallow drainage channel with Pond Skaters and Whirligig beetles on the deeper water.

Bog Beacon

© Duncan Wright

Spring flowers on the verges took our eye: one Tormentil, many Common Dog-Violets, Wood Anemones, Wood Sorrel and Wood Spurge. Bilberry had not been grazed as short as usual and some early flowers were present. As for ferns, Southern Polypody was found.

Fungi were scarce but, as well as a few brackets and  dead branches stained turquoise by Green Elf Cup, stretches of soggy ditch were peppered with the tiny, bright orange spots of Bog Beacon; a challenge for photographers. MW/SP