The Isle of Wight in Spring

Naturetrek Tour Report 6 - 8 June 2016

Oystercatcher Painted Lady on Thrift

Crested Cow Wheat Glanville Fritilary on Ribwort

Report and images by Jim Andrews

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 The Isle of Wight in Spring

Tour participants: Jim Andrews (leader) with four Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Monday 6th June

Parkhurst Forest, Shalfleet, Newtown Quay After all meeting at the Ferry Terminal, we embarked onto the ferry and the trip through Southampton Water and across the Solent to the island. On arrival, we headed out of Cowes and round to Parkhurst Forest for a walk; as we wandered along the tracks, the highlights here included Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchid. We headed back to the car and moved on to lunch at Shalfleet, where afterwards we took a stroll down to the quay, picking up a few butterfly species including Meadow Brown and Common Blue, as well as the first Mediterranean Gull of the trip. Once at the Quay, we were joined by a rather obliging Oystercatcher which showed very well.

Returning to the car, we took a short drive round to Newtown Quay and Marsh for a walk along the hedgerows, meadows and marsh edge. As well as great views of Little Egret, we were able to pick out a few Mediterranean Gulls nesting amongst the Black-headed Gull colony; we also saw a very showy Little Owl on the edge of the marsh. Moving through the meadow, we came across Southern Marsh Orchid and large amounts of Dyer’s Greenweed, as well as a good smattering of butterflies including Small Heath, Painted Lady and Brimstone.

After a nice steady walk, we headed off towards our accommodation for the night at NorthCourt Manor, where some of the group were lucky enough to see Wall Lizards sunning themselves on the patio. We enjoyed a lovely meal and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2 Tuesday 7th June

Needles, Afton Marsh, Compton Chine, Shippards Chine, Shepherd’s Chine, NorthCourt Getting up this morning, we were welcomed by the Little Owl living in the barn. After breakfast, we headed to The Needles. As we were leaving the car park, one of the local Ravens flew by. We walked up, enjoying the views and the plants along the way, with the great mix of Thrift and Vetches. As the sun came up more, butterflies started to appear: lots of Painted Ladies and Common Blues. Soon, one of our targets was found in good numbers: Glanville Fritillaries flitting up and down the banks, also joined by Dingy Skippers. Several species of moth were noted, including Mother Shipton, Pyrausta purpuralis and Silver Y.

We walked up to the old rocket test site and on to the end, where we looked over The Needles. Walking back, we found Early Gentians growing in the short, grazed chalk grassland while a Peregrine Falcon flew overhead. Once back at the car, we drove down towards Freshwater and Afton Marsh for a short walk. Here we picked up on Reed Warblers singing in the reed beds, while Azure Damselflies skirted along the stream edge. We then headed for a spot of lunch in Freshwater.

After lunch we headed off to Compton Chine, where we soon found an Adonis Blue along one of the tracks, while in the grass were Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Bee Orchids. We also found Green Hairstreaks battling amongst the Gorse. Moving along the road edge, we found Common and Knapweed Broomrapes, while on the cliff side the Sea Stock was in flower. Heading slowly back towards the car, the group came across several Small

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Blue butterflies. We next moved on to Shippards Chine where we walked down the steps, noting the new cliff erosion. Here, after a little searching, we located a few more Glanville Fritillaries and Painted Ladies. Heading back up the cliff, we moved on to the Shepherd’s Chine area where, in the fresh cliff collapse, we found a few more Glanvilles as well as Common and Azure Damselflies moving amongst the grass and Gorse.

After what had been a great day, we headed back to NorthCourt Manor where the group were met by the local Wall Lizards with several showing on the patio. John, our kind host, gave the group a guided tour of the grounds and the fantastic garden where the group were lucky enough see a couple of the local Red Squirrels which bounded out onto the lawn before realising we were there. On that great finish, we ended the day with a lovely dinner and a good night’s sleep, ready for the next day.

Day 3 Wednesday 8th June

St Lawrence, Arreton, St Helens, Garlic Farm, Firestone Copse. After breakfast we packed our bags and said our farewells to our hosts and, of course, the Wall Lizards which were just waking up and popping up out of the patio. We drove out round the island, with a Red Squirrel running across in front of the car as we left the village. We set off to St Lawrence where our first stop was for Field Cow-wheat; we also came across Crosswort. On the insect front, the field was teeming with Diamondback Moths.

Moving on from here, we stopped along a roadside where, after a little searching, we found Purple Broomrape as well as a rather nice Cream-spot Tiger moth. When we reached St Helens, the weather was quite still with a sea mist just off shore. While the group enjoyed an ice cream and a drink, we scanned the shore line which provided a couple of Grey Heron, Little Egret and Oystercatcher. Wandering back through the dunes, we reached the car and headed for lunch at the Garlic Farm where, sadly, the Red Squirrels did not appear.

Once lunch was done, we moved on to Firestone Copse for our last walk of the trip, wandering down the tracks. We came across several Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies, hunting along the paths, while a group of Crossbill flew overhead. As we cut down through the mixed woodland, we came across Common Cow-wheat and Butcher’s-broom. Walking along the edge, there was a nice area of wet meadow which once again held Little Egret and several species of dragonfly including Blue Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer. We followed the looped track round and came across one or two Red Squirrels moving through the trees; however, when we were back at the vehicle and preparing to leave, a rather obliging young Red Squirrel was seen feeding happily in the trees above the car park. Unfortunately, time was ticking away so we had to head off to the port and our ferry back to the mainland. As we left the port, a Common Seal popped up to watch us go, and a mixed group of Sandwich and Common Terns fished in front of the ferry, also joined by a Roseate Tern. The rest of the trip was quiet with just the landmarks of Calshot and Fawley to look at. Soon we were back at the dock and saying our farewells before heading our separate ways, after a very enjoyable time on the Isle of Wight.

Receive our e-newsletter

Join the Naturetrek e-mailing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit www.naturetrek.co.uk to sign up.

2 © Naturetrek October 16

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Species Lists

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

Common name Scientific name 6 7 8

1 Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 

2 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa 

3 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus  

4 Canada Goose Branta canadensis 

5 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 

6 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos    7 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 

8 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea  

9 Little Egret Egretta garzetta  

10 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo    11 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 

12 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo    13 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus    14 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 

15 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 

16 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 

17 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus  

18 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 

19 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus    20 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus    21 Common Gull Larus canus 

22 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus    23 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus    24 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 

25 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 

26 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii 

27 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis    28 Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral'    29 Stock Dove Columba oenas  

30 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus    31 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto    32 Little Owl Athene noctua  

33 Common Swift Apus apus 

34 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major    35 European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis H 

36 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius    37 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica    38 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula    39 Rook Corvus frugilegus    40 Carrion Crow Corvus corone    41 Northern Raven Corvus corax  

42 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris 

43 Coal Tit Periparus ater    44 Great Tit Parus major    45 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus    46 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis H 

47 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica   

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

June

Common name Scientific name 6 7 8

48 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum  

49 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus    50 Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti H

51 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita H H H 52 Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus H

53 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla H  H 54 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin H

55 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca H

56 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis    57 Goldcrest Regulus regulus H H

58 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes    59 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris H 

60 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris    61 Common Blackbird Turdus merula    62 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos H   63 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus H

64 European Robin Erithacus rubecula    65 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 

66 House Sparrow Passer domesticus    67 Dunnock Prunella modularis H   68 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii    69 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 

70 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs    71 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris    72 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis    73 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina    74 Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula  H  75 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 

76 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella H 

Reptiles & Amphibians: 1 Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis   

Mammals: 1 Bank Vole Myodes glareolus 

2 Stoat Mustela erminea 

3 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris  

4 Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus   

Butterflies 1 Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae 

2 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni    3 Large White Pieris brassicae    4 Small White Pieris rapae  

5 Green-veined White Pieris napi 

6 Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi 

7 Small Blue Cupido minimus 

8 Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus 

9 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus  

10 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus 

4 © Naturetrek October 16

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

June

Common name Scientific name 6 7 8

11 Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia 

12 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta  

13 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui    14 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria    15 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina    16 Small Heath Ceononympha pamphilus   

Moths (L = Larvae) Bactra lancealana  1 2 Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella    Straw Dot Rivula sericealis  3 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella  4 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana  5 Light brown Apple Tortrix Epiphyas postvittana  6 Micropterix calthella  7 Pyrausta purpuralis  8 Elachista argentella  9 Crambus lathoniellus  10 Scorparia pyralella  11 Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae  12 Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae  13 Mullein Moth Cucullia verbasci L 14 Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi L 15 Silver Y Autographa gamma   16 Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata  17 18 Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia    Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica   19 20 Mother Shipton Callistege mi    White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda   21 Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria  22 Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata  23 Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata  24 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata  25 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba  26 Cream-spot Tiger Arctia villica  27 Dragonflies 1 Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula    2 Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum 

3 Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella  

4 Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans 

5 Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa 

6 Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum 

7 Blue Emperor Anax imperator 

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Plants

Scientific Name Common Name

GYMNOSPERMS CONIFERS Cupressaceae Juniper Family Juniperus communis Juniper

Pinaceae Pine Family Larix decidua European Larch Picea abies ssp. abies Spruce Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine Thuja plicata Western Red-cedar

Taxaceae Yew Family Taxus baccata Yew

EU-DICOTS TRUE DICOTYLEDONS Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Carrot Family Aegipodium podagaria Ground Elder Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley Daucus carota Wild Carrot Heracleum sphondyllium Hogweed Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-Saxifrage Sanicula europaea Sanicle Torilis japonica Upright Hedge Parsley

Aquifoliaceae Holly Family Ilex aquifolia Holly

Araliaceae Ivy Family Hedera helix agg Ivy

Asteraceae (Compositae) Daisy Family Bellis perennis Daisy Centaurea nigra Knapweed Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy Matricaria discoidea Pineappleweed Senecio erucifolius Hoary Ragwort Senecio jacobea Common Ragwort Senecio vulgaris Groundsel Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle Taraxacum agg Dandelion Tragopogon porrifolius Salsify Tragapogon pratensis Goat's-beard Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed

6 © Naturetrek October 16

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Betulaceae (Corylaceae) Birch Family Betula pendula Silver Birch Betula pubescens Downy Birch Corylus avellana Hazel

Boraginaceae Forget-me-not Family Anchusa arvensis Bugloss Echium vulgare Viper’s Bugloss Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor Changing Forget me not Myosotis sylvatica Wood Forget-me-not

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Cabbage Family Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard Arabidopsis thaliana Thale Cress Brassica oleracea Wild Cabbage Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s Purse Lobularia maritima Sweet Alison Matthiola sinuata Sea Stock Sinapis arvensis Charlock Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard

Campanulaceae Bellflower family Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Sambucus nigra Elder Viburnum lantana Wayfaring Tree Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family Cerastium diffusum Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear Silene dioica Red Campion Silene (Lychnis) flos-cuculi Ragged Robin Silene latifolia (S.alba) White Campion Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort Stellaria media Common Chickweed

Celastraceae Spindle-tree Family Euonymus europaeus Spindle-tree

Cistaceae Rock-rose Family Helianthimum nummularium Common Rock-rose

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Convolvulaceae Bindweed Family Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Cuscuta epithymum Common Dodder

Cornaceae Dogwood Family Cornus sanguinea Dogwood

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop

Cucurbitaceae Cucumber Family Bryonia dioica White Bryony

Dipsacaceae Teasel Family Dipsacus fullonum Teasel Knautia arvensis Field Scabious

Eleagnaceae Sea-buckthorn Family Hippophae rhamnoides Sea-buckthorn

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood Spurge Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge Mercurialis perennis Dog’s Mercury

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Pea Family Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch Genista tinctoria Dyer’s Greenweed Hippocrepis comosa Horseshoe Vetch Lathyrus nissolia Grass Vetchling Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot Trefoil Medicago arabica Spotted Medick Medicago lupulina Black Medick Trifolium campestris Hop Trefoil Trifolium pratense Red Clover Trifolium repens White Clover Ulex europaeus Gorse Vicia sativa ssp. segetalis Common Vetch

Fagaceae Oak & Beech Family Fagus sylvatica Beech Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Gentianaceae Gentian Family Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Gentianella anglica Early Gentian

Geraniaceae Geranium Family Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium pratense Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium robertianum Herb Robert

Hypericaceae (Clusiaceae) St. John’s-wort Family Hypericum hirsutum Hairy St.John’s-wort Hypericum perforatum Perforate St.John’s-wort Hypericum pulchrum Slender St.John's-wort

Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Dead-nettle Family Ballota nigra Black Horehound Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy Lamium album White Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle Prunella vulgaris Selfheal Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort Teucrium scorodonium Wood Sage Thymus polytrichus Wild Thyme

Malvaceae Mallow Family Malva sylvestris Common Mallow

Oleaceae Olive Family Fraxinus excelsior Ash Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet

Onagraceae Willowherb Family Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb

Orobanchaceae Broomrape Family Melampyrum arvense Field Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense Common Cow Wheat Orobanche elatior Knapweed Broomrape Orobanche minor Common Broomrape Orobanche purpurea Purple or Yarrow Broomrape

Oxalidaceae Wood-sorrel Family Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel

Papaveraceae Poppy Family Glaucium flavum Yellow Horned-poppy Papaver rhoeas Corn Poppy

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Plumbaginaceae Thrift family Armeria maritima Thrift

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Plantago majus Greater Plantain Plantago media Hoary Plantain

Polygalaceae Milkwort Family Polygala calcarea Chalk Milkwort Polygala serpyllifolia Heath Milkwort Polygala vulgaris Common Milkwort

Polygonaceae Knotweed Family Rumex acetosa Sorrel Rumex acetosella Sheep's Sorrel Rumex crispus Curled Dock Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock

Primulaceae Primrose Family Primula veris Cowslip Primula vulgaris Primrose

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone Clematis vitalba Old man’s-beard Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus muricatus Rough-fruited Buttercup Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup

Resedaceae Mignonette Family Reseda lutea Wild Mignonette Reseda luteola Weld

Rhamnaceae Buckthorn Family Rhamnus catharticus Buckthorn

Rosaceae Rose Family Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Geum urbanum Wood Avens or Herb Bennet Potentilla anserina Silverweed Potentilla erecta Tormentil Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil Prunus avium Wild Cherry

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Rosa canina agg Dog Rose Rubus caesius Dewberry Rubus fruticosus agg Bramble Sanguisorba minor agg Salad Burnet Sorbus aucuparia Rowan

Rubiaceae Bedstraw Family Asperula cynanchica Squinancywort Cruciata laevipes Crosswort Galium aparine Cleevers Galium mollugo Hedge Bedstraw

Salicaceae Willow Family Salix caprea Goat Willow Salix fragilis Crack Willow

Sapindaceae (Aceraceae) Maple Family Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Acer campestre Field Maple

Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Odontites verna Red Bartsia Rhinanthus minor agg Hay Rattle Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort Verbascum thapsus Common Mullein Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell

Solanaceae Nightshade Family Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade

Urticacae Nettle Family Parietaria judaica Pelitory of the Wall Urtica dioica Common Nettle

Valerianaceae Valerian Family Centranthus ruber Red Valerian

MONOCOTS MONOCOTYLEDONS Alliaceae Onion Family Allium ursinum Ramsons

Araceae Arum Family Arum maculatum Lords and Ladies

The Isle of Wight in Spring Tour Report

Scientific Name Common Name

Asparagaceae Asparagus Family Ruscus aculeatus Butcher’s-broom

Iridaceae Iris Family Iris foetidissima Stinking Iris Iris psuedacorus Yellow Flag

Orchidaceae Orchid Family Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa Southern Marsh Orchid Ophrys apifera Bee Orchid Orchis mascula Early Purple Orchid

Naturetrek Facebook

We are delighted to launch the Naturetrek Facebook page so that participants of Naturetrek tours can remain in touch after the holiday and share photos, comments and future travel plans.

Setting up a personal profile at www.facebook.com is quick, free and easy. The Naturetrek Facebook page is now live; do please pay us a visit!

Azure Damselfly Purple Broomrape