In Hampshire

Go Slow… in Hampshire

Naturetrek Tour Report 10 - 13 July 2018

Silver-washed Fritillary Wet heath and bog, Thursley Common

Black-tailed Skimmer, Forest Mere Marbled White, Harting Down

Report and images by Jonathan Mycock

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Go Slow… in Hampshire

Tour participants: Jonathan Mycock (Leader) with four Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Tuesday 10th July

The group met for the first time at the hotel, Champneys Forest Mere, where they had dinner and discuss the forthcoming days with Jonathan.

Day 2 Wednesday 11th July

After a healthy breakfast at Champneys Forest Mere, we headed up the A3 from Liphook to Thursley Common in Surrey. An iconic lowland heathland site, this National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of the premier locations in the UK for dragonflies and damselflies. We spent much of the morning looking for these aerial jewels from the boardwalk which crosses the impressive valley mire and pools, where a variety of Sphagnum mosses, sedges including Cotton Grass, and Round-leaved Sundews are found growing. The boardwalk itself provided an elevated basking spot for several confiding Common Lizards!

Eight species of Odonata were observed, from the Small Red Damselfly to the mighty Emperor Dragonfly, including a few Emerald Damselflies and several, very obliging Black Darters. The many shimmering wings of these fascinating insects could be seen across the bog and pools, and they did not escape the notice of two very dashing Hobbies. These were flying rapidly across the surface of the vegetation, hunting dragonflies which had not yet gained in height due to the coolness of the morning temperature. A single Dartford warbler was seen flitting between small Scots Pine and birch saplings close to the boardwalk, while the return route to the car park produced a family of Stonechats and several Linnets.

We then drove to the pretty village of Selborne in east Hampshire, where we stopped for lunch at the Gilbert White House museum and tea room. It seemed fitting that we should visit the home of Gilbert White, the 'Grandfather of Ecology', whose book 'The Natural History of Selborne' was the first of its kind to document the wildlife of a country parish in the 18th Century.

After tea and sandwiches we headed up to Noar Hill, a reserve owned by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIOWWT). An area of former chalk pits, this small site contains a mixture of species-rich chalk grassland, scrub and woodland, and is particularly renowned for orchids. We managed to locate many Pyramidal Orchids, a few Common Spotted Orchids and the paired leaves of Twayblade, but the prolonged dry spell had resulted in other species 'going over' much earlier than expected and therefore could not be found. However, a wide variety of chalk grassland plants were recorded, including Greater Knapweed, Harebell, Wild Basil and Knapweed Broomrape. A supporting cast of Lepidoptera included Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Small Skipper butterflies, together with Six-Spotted and Cinnabar Moths. Birds included Red Kite, a fine male Bullfinch and several Yellowhammers. In fact, so rich was the flora and fauna that we found it hard to pull ourselves away in order to return to Forest Mere for our dinner!

Day 3 Thursday 12th July

In the morning we headed south to visit Farlington Marshes, a coastal HIOWWT reserve within the Langstone and Chichester Harbours complex. A circular walk produced a good selection of plants, birds and butterflies.

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

The tide was already high, so birds e.g. Oystercatchers were flying inland to roost. The pools provided a good variety of waders, including eight Avocets, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank and a single Ruff. The fringes of Common Reed held several Reed Warblers, whilst on the drier grassland behind the pools we watched the parachuting display flights of Meadow Pipits. Plants included Sea Plantain, Great Mullein, Sea Lavender and Sea Purslane.

On the recommendation of the HIOWWT warden, we travelled to the north end of Hayling Island for lunch at the Crown and Anchor pub. Later we drove north-west across the South Downs towards the Meon Valley. A heavy downpour forced us into a tea room in the village of West Meon, where we sat in the sheltered courtyard to enjoy our beverages and cake. After a brief rainy spell we were soon on our way to Old Winchester Hill NNR, a prominent site on the Downs. Although time did not allow us to explore the impressively large Iron Age Hill- fort, we could observe the ramparts from afar. A short circular walk allowed us to explore the flower-rich chalk grassland, which contained several Ringlets as well as Green-veined and Marbled White butterflies. Birds included several very vocal Song Thrushes and a pair of Bullfinches.

Later on, after an early dinner, we travelled a short distance to Longmoor Inclosure, near the town of Liss. Part of the Woolmer Forest SSSI, this extensive area of lowland heath is a military training area and supports a great diversity of wildlife. Close to the car park we saw a fine Roe Deer buck, with a rich chestnut coat, browsing the shrubs adjacent to the track which sits on the route of the old Woolmer railway (where the black and white film 'The Belles of St Trinians' was filmed!). Further on, a family of Stonechats was seen, followed by Linnets and a singing Yellowhammer.

Eventually we reached an area where Jonathan had seen Nightjars in previous years. As dusk began to fall, a nightjar churred briefly, before falling silent. We then had to wait a further 15 minutes when the grey-brown, falcon-like shape of a Nightjar flew quickly over the tree tops then disappeared. Then, after what seemed like ages, one, then a second Nightjar began churring nearby, followed by sightings of two birds quite close to where we were standing. As it was now nearly 10.00pm, we headed back to the vehicle, observing a large bat (possibly a Noctule or Serotine) and a much smaller Pipistrelle en-route. Jonathan even managed to show the group the planet Jupiter through his telescope, and some of the moons could be clearly seen.

Day 4 Friday 13th July

Today we headed north-west to Bentley Station Meadow, a small Butterfly Conservation reserve adjacent to Alice Holt Forest. We walked through the tiny railway station, crossed the track, then headed across a recently harvested hay field before reaching the reserve. A line of trees within the hay field was fringed with scrub and Bramble, which provided a good nectar source for butterflies, including a Comma, Ringlets, Gatekeepers, Small Skipper and our first Silver-washed Fritillaries. Purple Hairstreaks were also seen flitting through the tops of hazel and oaks. Within the reserve, the grasses were long and uncut, and there was a lot of flowering Bramble along the woodland edge. We saw good numbers of butterflies here, with at least 10 Silver-washed Fritillaries, and lots of Small Whites and Meadow Browns. Finally, just as we were about to leave the reserve, Jonathan spied a lovely White Admiral, sitting on a hawthorn bush next to an interpretation board. We all admired this gorgeous butterfly, and although we didn't see any of the near-mythical Purple Emperors, we all agreed that one day we would return to Bentley Station Meadow.

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Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

After a substantial buffet lunch, the group said their goodbyes to one another, as most had a long journey ahead. Before departing, Jonathan took a last look at the lake, recording Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose and Little Grebe before departing.

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Botanising at Noar Hil

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Species Lists

Plants Bentley Station Meadow = BSM Farlington Marshes = FA Forest Mere = FM Longmoor Inclosure = LI Noar Hill = NH Old Winchester Hill = OWH Thursley Common = TC

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

PTERIDOPHYTES FERNS & ALLIES

Equisetaceae Horsetail Family Equisetum arvense Common Horsetail BSM

Dennstaedtiaceae Bracken Family Pteridium aquilinum Bracken TC

PINOPSIDA (GYMNOSPERMS) CONIFERS

Cupressaceae Juniper Family Juniperus communis Juniper NH

Pinaceae Pine Family Larix decidua European Larch ● Picea abies ssp. abies Spruce Pinus sylvestris Scot’s Pine TC, FM

Taxaceae Yew Family Taxus baccata Yew NH

MAGNOLIOPSIDA (ANGIOSPERMS) FLOWERING PLANTS

Magnoliidae (Dicotyledons)

Aceraceae Maple Family Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore FM

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Carrot Family Aegipodium podagaria Ground Elder FM Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley NH Heracleum sphondyllium Hogweed NH Sanicula europaea Sanicle NH

Aquifoliaceae Holly Family Ilex aquifolia Holly FM

Araliaceae Ivy Family Hedera helix agg Ivy All

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Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

Asteraceae (Compositae) Daisy Family Achillea millefolium Nipplewort NH Bellis perennis Daisy NH, FM Centaurea nigra Knapweed NH Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed NH Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle FM Inula conyzae Ploughman's Spikenard Lapsana communis Nipplewort ● Leucanthimum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy NH Matricaria discoidea Pinapple Weed FA Pilosella officinarum Mouse-eared Hawkweed NH Senecio erucifolius Hoary Ragwort FA Senecio jacobae Ragwort FA Senecio vulgaris Groundsel FA Taraxacum agg Dandelion FM Tragapogon pratensis Goatsbeard FA

Betulaceae (Corylaceae) Birch Family Betula pendula Silver Birch TC, FM, OWH, LI

Boraginaceae Forget-me-not Family Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not BH

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Cabbage Family Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard FA

Campanulaceae Bellflower Family Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved Bellflower OWH Campanula rotundifolia Harebell BH

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle BSM Sambucus nigra Elder NH Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose NH

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear NH Silene dioica Red Campion BH Silene latifolia (S.alba) White Campion NH

Celastraceae Spindle-tree Family Euonymus europaeus Spindle-tree NH

Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot Family Halimione portulacoides Sea Purslane FM

Cistaceae Rock-rose Family Helianthimum nummularium Common Rockrose BH

Clusiaceae (Guttiferae, Hypericaceae) St. John’s-wort Family Hypericum hirsutum Hairy St.John’s-wort FA Hypericum perforatum Perforate St. John’s-wort NH

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

Marsh St.John’s-wort FA

Convolvulaceae Bindweed Family Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed FA, NH

Cornaceae Dogwood Family Cornus sanguinea Dogwood NH

Corylaceae Hazel Family Corylus avellana Hazel NH

Cucurbitaceae Cucumber Family Tamus communis Black Bryony NH

Dipsacaceae Teasel Family Dipsacus fullonum Teasel FA Knautia arvensis Field Scabious NH, BH

Ericaceae Heath family Calluna vulgaris Heather TC, FM, BH Erica cinerea Bell Heather TC, FM, BH Erica tetralix Cross-leaved Heath TC, FM Vaccinium myrtilis Bilberry FM

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family Mercurialis perennis Dog’s Mercury NH

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Pea Family Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch NH, BH Clinopodium vulgaris Wild basil NH Hippocrepis comosa Horseshoe Vetch BH Lathyrus pratensis Yellow Vetchling BH Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot Trefoil NH, BH Medicago lupulina Black Medick NH Ononis repens Restharrow NH Trifolium pratense Red Clover NH, BH Trifolium repens White Clover NH, BH Vicia cracca Tufted vetch FA Vicia sepium Bush Vetch NH

Fagaceae Oak & Beech Family Carpinus betulus Hornbeam NH Fagus sylvatica Beech FM, OWH Quercus robor Pedunculate Oak FM Quercus petraea Sessile Oak FM

Geraniaceae Geranium Family Erodium cicutarium Common Stork’s-bill FM Geranium robertianum Herb Robert NH

Gentianaceae Gentian Family Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort NH

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Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Dead-nettle Family Betonica (Stachys) officinalis Betony NH, BSM Clinopodium vulgare Wild basil NH Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy OWH Lamium album White Deadnettle CC Oregano officinalis Marjoram BH Prunella vulgaris Selfheal BH Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort CC, FM Teucrium scorodonium Wood Sage BH Thymus polytrichis Wild Thyme NH, BH

Linaceae Flax Family Linum catharticum Purging or Fairy Flax ●

Oleaceae Olive Family Fraxinus excelsior Ash BH, OWH Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet NH

Onagraceae Willowherb Family Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb FM Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb FA

Orobanchaceae Broomrape Family Orobanche elatior Knapweed Broomrape NH

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain NH, BH Plantago majus Greater Plantain FA Plantago maritima Sea Plantain FA

Polygalaceae Milkwort Family Polygala serpyllifolia Heath Milkwort TC Polygala vulgaris Common Milkwort NH, BH

Polygonaceae Knotweed Family Rumex acetosa Sorrel FA, FM Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock FA Rumex acetosella French Sorrel FA, FM

Primulaceae Primrose Family Primula veris Cowslip NH, BH

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Caltha palustris Kingcups FM Clematis vitalba Old man’s-beard NH, BSM Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup NH, BH Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup NH, BH

Rhamnaceae Buckthorn Family Rhamnus catharticus Buckthorn NH

Rosaceae Rose Family Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn FA, NH, BH

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry NH Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet FA Geum urbanum Wood Avens or Herb Bennet ● Malus sylvestris Crab Apple NH Potentilla anserina Silverweed FA Potentilla erecta Tormentil NH, BH Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil FM Prunus avium Wild Cherry BSM Prunus spinosa Blackthorn NH Rosa canina agg Dog Rose NH, FA, BH Rubus fruticosus agg Bramble NH, FA, BH Sanguisorba minor agg Salad Burnet NH, BH Sorbus aria agg Whitebeam NH Sorbus aucuparia Rowan FM, LI

Rubiaceae Bedstraw Family Cruciata laevipes Crosswort NH, BH Galium aparine Cleavers FA, Galium mollugo Hedge Bedstraw ● Galium verum Ladies bedstraw NH, OWH Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw TC

Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family Digitalis purpurea Foxglove TC, FM, Odontites verna Red Bartsia NH Rhinanthus minor agg Hay Rattle NH Verbascum thapsus Dark Mullien FA Verbascum nigrum Great Mullien FM

Solanaceae Nightshade Family Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet FA

Urticacae Nettle Family Urtica dioica Common Nettle All

Valerianaceae Valerian Family Centranthus ruber Red Valerian NH Valeriana dioica Marsh Valerian FA

Violaceae Violet Family Viola riviniana Common Dog Violet NH,

Liliidae (Monocotyledons)

Araceae Arum Family Arum maculatum Lords and Ladies OWH

Iridaceae Iris Family Iris psuedocorus Yellow Flag FM

Orchidaceae Orchid Family Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid NH Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid NH

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Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Group/Species English Name (if any) Location:

Gymnadenia conopsea Fragrant Orchid NH Listera ovata Twayblade NH

Poaceae (Gramineae) Grass Family Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal Grass NH, BH Arrhenathrum elatius False Oat-grass BH Brachypodium sylvaticum False Brome NH, BH Bromopsis erectus Upright Brome ● Briza media Quaking Grass NH, BH Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog’s-tail NH, BH Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot BH, FA Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog ● Festuca ovina agg Sheep's Fescue TC, BH Festuca rubra agg Red Fescue TC Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass FA, FM, BH Molinia caerulea Purple Moor-grass TC Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass NH, BH Phleum pratense Timothy ● Phragmites australis Common Reed FM

Mammals Common name Scientific name Location:

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus FM Badger Meles meles OWH (dead by roadside) Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus LI

Reptiles & Amphibians: Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara TC

Butterflies: Brimstone Gonepterix rhamni NH Small White Artogeia rapae FM, BSM Green-veined White Artogeia napi OWH Common Blue Polyommatus icarus BH Small Blue Cupido minimus NH Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus TC Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta BSM Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae FA Marbled White Melanargia galathea NH, OWH, BSM Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina NH, BH Ringlet Aphantopus hyperanthus OWH, BSM Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria TC, NH Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris NH, BSM Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus TC Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus NH, FA Comma Polygonum c-album NH, BSM Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus FM, NH, OWH, BSM Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus BSM Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia BSM White Admiral Limenitis camilla BSM

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name Location:

Moths: Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae NH Zygaena filipendulae Six-spot Burnet BH stephensi Emerald Moth sp. NH

Odonata Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula TC Small Red Damselfly Ceriagrion tenellum TC Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum TC Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa TC Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator FA, TC Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum FM Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens TC Black Darter Sympetrum danae TC

Birds (=recorded but not counted; H = heard only) July

Common name Scientific name 11 12 13 1 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus  2

2 Canada Goose Branta canadensis 20 20 20 3 Greylag Goose Anser anser    4 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 4 2

5 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 1

6 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 6

7 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos    8 Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata 5

9 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 1

10 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2

11 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 2 2 12 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 3

13 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 

14 Red Kite Milvus milvus 2

15 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 4 2 2 16 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 2 1 17 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 3

18 Coot Fulica atra    19 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2 2

20 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 10

21 Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 8

22 Redshank Tringa totanus 30

23 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 50

24 Ruff Calidris pugnax 1

25 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 15

26 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus    27 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 5

28 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2

29 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus 

30 Feral Pigeon Columba livia feral 

31 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus   

Go Slow… in Hampshire Tour Report

July

Common name Scientific name 11 12 13 32 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto    33 Tawny Owl Strix aluco 1

34 Nightjar Caprimulgus europaea 2 (+4H)

35 Common Swift Apus apus 6 2

36 European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis 1 1 1 37 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 1

38 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica    39 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula    40 Rook Corvus frugilegus 

41 Carrion Crow Corvus corone    42 Coal Tit Periparus ater 3

43 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris 1

44 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus    45 Great Tit Parus major  

46 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 2

47 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica    48 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum 2 

49 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 10

50 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 2 1

51 Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata 1

52 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 1 1 1 53 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 3

54 Goldcrest Regulus regulus  

55 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes  

56 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 1 1 1 57 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris  

58 Common Blackbird Turdus merula    59 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1

60 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 1

61 European Robin Erithacus rubecula  

62 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 5 3

63 House Sparrow Passer domesticus    64 Dunnock Prunella modularis  

65 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii 4 

66 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 4

67 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs    68 Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 1

69 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 1

70 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina 6 10

71 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis    72 Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus 1

73 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 4 2

74 Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 1