BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

JULY 2011 NEWSLETTER

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 Notices

 Evening Walks Programme

 What’s Happening?

 Havant Literary Festival

 June’s Outdoor Meeting

 July’s Outdoor Meeting

 Local Wildlife News

 Quiz Page

 And Finally

A million voices for nature Charity registered in England and Wales no. 207076

From The Group Leader

And so the summer moves on, the days are shortening, the nights extending, the weather deteriorating – well, that‟s the good news out of the way for this Newsletter!

Not really! There‟s plenty to look forward to over the coming months, both within the activities of the Local Group and, as the seasons change, the local wildlife. With regard to the latter the mid- / late July period is especially productive for both plants and invertebrates, this as birdlife generally remains at a lower, quieter, ebb. If you‟ve a little time spare, fancy clearing the town air from your lungs and don‟t mind a little walking, sites such as , , Lime Quarry, and The Mill Field are all local, easily accessed and currently absolutely stuffed with things to look, and wonder, at. Birding will soon be back upon us, the southward passage of migrants something to again wonder at, and something that we will be taking full advantage of on both the August and September Outdoor Meetings – Thorney Island and Lower Test Marshes. See you there!

Though we may take our holidays during the summer the RSPB goes on working throughout this time, the society‟s involvement in many projects forever changing, but never ending. More locally plans are still afoot for the society to become ever more involved in south coast estuarine areas, news to follow as further progress is hopefully made, and the most local reserve, the islands in , has had its successes this breeding season, though the tern colonies in the harbour have suffered badly through predation once again. Such unfortunate goings-on are a fact of life and have to be handled on an all too regular basis by the society‟s personnel, as do the questions, queries and even worse from both those within, and supporting, the Society and those that view the work from slightly further afield. As has been mentioned previously, you can‟t please all of the people all of the time!

Back on the migrant theme: As I type this Swift are still with us, but for how much longer? Last year birds were seen later than usual locally but will this be the case again this year? Let us know how long these, and other migrants, linger for this year, and how migration seems to have gone on this year; have you noted any plusses or minuses?

Peter E. Hutchins Notices

The Group Programme 2011 / 2012

Plans are still underway to collate this, so, if you have any thoughts on either the Indoor or Outdoor Meetings to be placed within this, please do let a Committee Member know as soon as you can. A Committee Meeting was held earlier this month and all ideas etc. already brought to the attention of the Committee were discussed and taken account of. It is anticipated that the Programme will be available for distribution during the coming month – unless you have anything else to add!

Newsletter Submissions

Over the Summer Break many of you are sure to be away for a while. While on holiday why not make a note of something special you see, hear or do for inclusion in future Newsletters? Take an image, pass it on, and see what others have done while you were out and about on your travels.

Newsletter Mailings

Thank you to those that have now forwarded their mailing addresses – more trees saved and more time to do other things now!!! Keep them coming! Wouldn‟t it be good to make the Group paper-less / free 

Bird Food

We are happy to supply any bird food to you at any time, just call on 01256 – 770831, 07895 – 388378 or mail us on [email protected] and we will arrange delivery to you. If you have any requirements that are not listed, please do let us know and we will ensure that they are available when you, or your birds, need them.

Bird Food Pricelist:

The below are examples of just a few of the items that we can supply. Please do enquire after anything else and we will provide you with a cost, time of delivery etc. As both of us are currently working in / about delivery can be expected to be completed within a day of an order being received – can you get that service anywhere else?

Wild bird Mix 30p/lb or 66p/kg Niger £1/lb or £2.20/kg Peanuts 65p/lb or £1.43/kg Fat Squares £1 each Black Sunflowers £1/lb or £2.20/kg Fat Pecker Balls 25p each Sunflower Hearts £1.10/lb or £2.42/kg

Also available are birdboxes, at £6.50, or two for £10, and a range of feeders.

A variety of items will be available at most Indoor Meetings but if there is something „missing‟ that you want, please do let us know.

Peter & Alison

Peregrines!

In case you are not aware, you can view live action on your computer of Peregrines at nests just over the border in Sussex:

Sussex Heights, Brighton http://sussexheights.co.uk/peregrines/

Chichester Cathedral https://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/146937-chichester-cathedral-peregrines

Evening Walks Programme

The 2011 Programme of, mid-week, Evening Walks has now been completed – successfully!

Two led by the Group Secretary, Geoff., had him summarising them as follows:

Longparish – 15th June. Five members.

The weather had been wet all afternoon, but the sun broke through just before 7pm and we had an excellent evening. Highlights: juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker on a telegraph pole, one Red Kite going to roost in a nearby wood, Cuckoo (heard several times and seen briefly), Reed Warblers flitting across the river from the bridge in front of Longparish House, and a Woodcock roding over the riverside trees when we got back to the cars at 9:30pm. Total species: 39.

Alresford – 29th June. Seven members and one visitor (a lady from Alresford who had seen the walk advertised on the website). Weather – sunny, slight breeze. Highlights: very close view of Hobby chasing House Martins at Pinglestone Farm, three Little Egret, ten+ Grey Herons on the Cedar tree heronry at Arlebury Park, lots of Swifts in the village, usual wildfowl on , but including three Teal. Total species: 42. (had Little Owl on top of telegraph pole at on way home)

What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained over the months that the Local Group breaks from Indoor Meetings:

Basingstoke Field Society

9th August: . Meet at 7pm.

13th September: Park. Meet at 7pm.

For further details of the above, please contact: Patricia or Colin Stubbs (01256 – 323324), Diane Rampton (01256 – 467533) or Nicola Williams (01256 – 353194).

Hampshire Ornithological Society

Wednesday 27th July - Explore Hazleton Common for Summer flowers (evening walk)

Leader: John Goodspeed 7 p.m. (2 miles) Meet and park at the end of Padnell Road, Cowplain at SU 698112 (O/S 197 – Chichester). On this short walk we will explore the heathland habitat of Hazleton Common looking for interesting wildlife and hoping for helleborines. Walk

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category „A‟. Suggested donation £1.50.

Sunday 31 July – Itchen Valley Water Meadows

Leader: Roger Harrison 10.30 am until 12.30 pm Although this will be a quiet time of the year for birds the Water Meadows and this stretch of the Itchen support some 50+ bird species and also an interesting list of other flora and fauna some of which we may well see as Roger explains the History and the Conservation of the area. Roger and Victoria have suggested that the group may wish to bring a picnic for after the walk or if you prefer the Bush Inn is only a short walk away. This is a gentle walk but the paths can be slippery.

For directions and to book your place please email Christine on [email protected]

Overton Biodiversity Society

16th September 2011 7:30pm Community Centre Bats and Moths Walk Join us for a brief talk on moths and bats followed by a walk around the village visiting a moth trap and using bat detectors to locate and identify bats. Hot drinks to end with. Contacts: - Jane: 01256 771121 - Peter: 01256 770831 Please wear suitable outdoors footwear and clothing

Local Opportunities for Conservation Volunteering

Are you interested in your local environment? Do you have a passion for conservation and wildlife? If yes, try the following the site to check on what‟s happening locally that you could become involved in. http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/leisure/conservation/conservation.htm

There are opportunities for you as an individual, a family or a social group to join the groups of volunteers already working in the following areas:

Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Plantation Mill Field Local Nature Reserve Chineham Oakley Old Down, Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King Overton George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale) Popley Kempshott South View

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July’s Outdoor Meeting

th Magdalen Hill Down: 24 .

 For this outing please meet the B3404 for a 14:00 start (SU 511 294 – O.S Landranger Map 185; SO21 1HF for Magdalen Hill Farm). This is just to the east of and can be accessed off the A31 at the „Percy Hobbs‟ roundabout, this being reached by taking roads through to Alresford and then heading west, or by talking the M3 southwards and accessing the A31 at J9.

 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

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The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 22.02 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 22.1; a travelling time of 22½ and 29 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it‟s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

The down and, at its’ base, the A31

 Our visit will be at a time when bird life may be relatively quiet, but other wildlife on site will more than make up for this, as is shown by the fact that this is one of just a few Butterfly Conservation reserves within .

The open southerly aspect of the downland provides stunning views southwards to the and the timing of our visit may well have the group picking up southbound wader migrants, raptors, gulls, wildfowl and corvids over the agricultural land flanking the downs. Hirundines and Swift feed over the cereals and scrub, the latter still holding summering Whitethroat, Blackcap and resident breeding Robin, Dunnock, thrushes, Linnet and, possibly, Stonechat.

The more mature flanking hedgerows and woodland scrub help bring in further warblers, few now singing however, thrushes, finches, local buntings, pigeons and doves. The indeterminate weather so far this year may well mean that we find birds still on their nest, or with recently fledged young, making the most of the extensive invertebrate supplies that Butterfly Conservation helps to maintain here.

With reasonable weather good numbers of butterfly and day-flying moths should be on the wing, as well as many other insects, though nothing to worry about you‟ll be pleased to hear! Meadowland species such as Marbled White, Chalkhill

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Blue and Green-veined White will add subtle colour to the flower-filled areas, perhaps even early Clouded Yellows being present and adding a splash of ashen yellow as they move about the more expected residents. Burnets, Yellow Shell, Silver Y and pyrallid sp., all moths, will be flushed from the longer grasses as we spend time head down making the most of the shorter areas of turf and their residents, Skylark singing above us and shadows cast against the sun (!) becoming more solid and appreciated, drifting birds of prey.

One of the smaller, but none the less attractive because of that, moths that we will almost certainly encounter

For the botanically-minded among the group many, many flowers will still be in bloom and looking over these will again provide much evidence of the workings of Butterfly Conservation. Like the RSPB, it will be seen that actions taken to safeguard a species / wildlife type will have beneficial effects for others on site. With regard to the plants, as well as many more of the residents, on site, don‟t forget to bring your camera!

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Chicory Cichorium intybus One of the many ‘herbs’ that we’ll see in flower on site

 The site is one with a very limited number of „proper‟ footpaths and much of the reserve is on an obvious hill side. Please take note of this, wear appropriate footwear and, while on site, be aware of where you are walking and the inclines etc. that we may be negotiating.

 The walk will take us through to the late afternoon, this, as usual, however very much dependant on those attending, the wildlife on site and, unfortunately even more relevant currently, the weather on the day.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Yew Hill NR, St. Catherine‟s Hill, Alresford Pond and will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

August’s Outdoor Meeting

st Thorney Island: 21 .

 For this outing please meet on the minor road, south of the sewage works, for a 10:00 start (SU 756 049 – O.S Landranger Map 197; c.PO10 8BL). This is by Thorney Road, near Thorney Lane.

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 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 40.28 miles between Basingstoke and Prinsted, the AA site 54.3 (this via the ‘easier’ M3 / M27 route); a travelling time of 53 and 63 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it‟s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

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 Our visit will be at a time when both the resident species and those returning southwards once more, especially the wader fraternity, are in abundance; the home-grown family parties mingling with birds that have finished off their breeding season much further to the north.

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The Little Deep

The variety of habitats to be covered, that includes tidal estuarine, open grassland, scrub and more mature woodland, residential gardens, brackish streams and pools will help to provide a varied mixture of both bird and other wildlife and the opportunity to pick up on some of the more unexpected visitors to the area at this passage period. Much of the island is still managed by the MOD and therefore disturbance is at a minimum, allowing larger numbers, both in species and gatherings, to use the „island‟ without the threat of disturbance so obvious on adjacent coastal / tourist areas such as Hayling Island. These encourage birds such as raptors to regularly venture in and overhead, making the most of the gathered flocks of birds or, in the case of Osprey, the shoals making the most of the tidal conditions. The latter are regular visitors to the area during the autumnal passage period and sharp eyes might just add this for the day. Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard are all likely while the last Group visit saw a Harris Hawk lingering for some time and a Honey Buzzard moving high overhead.

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The locals are really friendly!

Waders are at a premium as the month draws towards its finish, Pectoral Sandpiper being seen by the Group on their last visit, as were a good range of other more expected species – don‟t forget your „scope for even better viewing over both the brackish pools and estuarine waters. Larger „waders‟ that should be obvious are both Little Egret and Grey Heron, the former sure to far more abundant than the latter; previous roost totals in the area moving up to well over 200!

The more open areas of water on the island allow both grebe and duck to linger, as will both tern and gull. Roosting / feeding flocks of the ducks often number in the hundreds with a good variety to be found with some careful searching. Out in the harbour, tidal conditions playing a great part here, the longer-legged waders are more likely to be located – godwits, Curlew, Whimbrel and, hopefully, Avocet while the deeper waters will hold further grebe and ducks, divers and auks a distinct possibility even this early in the late year period, especially after harder weather out on The Solent. The lingering gulls etc. could attract in a marauding skua, though the larger gulls are more likely to be seen predating their smaller relatives.

The scrub adjacent to the paths we will follow attract migratory, and resident, warblers, chats, thrushes, tits, crests, buntings and finches, the stonier areas separating these having held Wryneck occasionally; so everything and everywhere needs looking at!

 The site is open to the elements, we will be walking along the seawall area at times, do please ensure that you are ready for whatever the weather can throw at

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you! Don‟t forget it‟s near the Bank Holiday so should be fine! We will also at time be walking on unmade paths, sometimes on grass, and so, once again, do please be prepared for this.

 The walk will take us through to the early / mid-afternoon, this, as usual, however very much dependant on those attending, the wildlife on site and, unfortunately even more relevant as we head towards the autumn, the weather on the day.

Something we can but hope for!

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Hayling Island, , and Woolmer Pond will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

June’s Outdoor Meeting

th Martin Down NNR: 19 .

A straggle of R.S.P.B. group members clustered in the car park at the Martin end of Martin Down on the morning of the walk. We had driven through puddles but

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were to see only a brief sprinkle of dampness during our mainly sunny perambulation.

Immediately on opening the car doors we were confronted with our first birding challenge; trying to catch a glimpse of a very vocal Lesser Whitethroat which was singing from a dense and shaggy hedge. Fortunately, persistence was rewarded when the bird (first, under the cunning guise of a Robin) showed itself clearly, albeit, briefly. Beneath the Whitethroat, the strong scent and white blossoms of a Wild Privet had attracted a number of nectar-feeding butterflies, hoverflies, bees, flies and pollen-seeking beetles. Most “showy” were the graceful and elegant Dark-green Fritillaries. They were joined by the more ubiquitous and proletariat Meadow Browns and the somehow dishevelled-looking Large Skippers.

Clockwise: Dark-green Fritillary, Large Skipper, Small Blue, Meadow Brown (not to scale)

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Later in the walk, we were to see Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled White, Small Heath, Small Blue butterflies but the draughty and often dull conditions seemed to keep most butterflies down in the grass when we were out on the open downland and some species were only just at the start of their flying season.

We made our way slowly up the track, enjoying the orchids and other flowers characteristic of chalk downlands. Three species of orchid; Fragrant, Pyramidal and Common Spotted were found in abundance amongst the Salad Burnet, Dropwort, Rough Hawkbit, Kidney Vetch, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Fairy Flax, Wild Thyme, Sheep's Bit Scabious, Greater Knapweed, Quaking Grass and many other species in the grasslands. This ancient turf hosts an assemblage of plant species and their attendant insects which has been lost to intensive agriculture over most of the areas where it used to be found. Near Basingstoke, occasional patches of ground, even stretches of road verge can be found which hint at the richness of the sheep-downs which used to be there and remind us of what has been lost. For example; the hill fort on Ladle Hill, near and the roadsides along the higher parts of the A339, Kingsclere Road are interesting but only degraded remains of what once was found abundantly.

Fragrant and Common Spotted Orchids in abundance. They are growing amongst shoots of Dogwood, Whitebeam, Hazel, Ash, Jay-planted Oak seedlings and the like. Sheep are utilised to keep down the scrub invasion. Indeed, Chalk downland is not a natural situation, but the result of thousands of years of grazing by stock. Left to itself, the downland would soon become forest.

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To our left, the shrubbery contained largely invisible Chiffchaff and a briefly showy male Bullfinch but, out over the grasslands we were able to experience a genuine exultation of Skylarks, singing in ideal habitat. Another bird which enjoys these conditions and has become very scarce in farmlands near Basingstoke, is the Grey Partridge. The head of one was found by scanning carefully. A good find, as the illustration suggests.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

On the crowns of scattered Hawthorns and Blackthorns were frequent bright Yellowhammers singing their (supposed) “Little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese” song. Quite possibly the least helpful mnemonic ever devised, I think. We also often encountered the browner, more often found relative of the Lesser Whitethroat. These Common Whitethroats, though, were far less likely to be visible than when they first arrived in the spring. Several were glimpsed carrying food for youngsters or heard “charring” at us as we passed near a nest.

Perhaps surprisingly, the only Meadow Pipits seen were a couple pursuing one of the two or three Cuckoos we saw and heard. Actually, birds were hard to find out in the open grasslands, apart from Skylarks and high-perching Yellowhammers. We might have expected to find a Stonechat, or two, for example, but none were seen. It is possible that the latter bird and several other resident or largely resident species took a hammering in last winter's deep, long-lasting snows. That might be part of the reason for the lack of resident raptors during the walk; at most, just two Kestrels and not one Common Buzzard. There was some compensation, though

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with a couple of sightings of Hobby; a bird not likely to be affected by our winter while it is in Africa. Most of the Swallows, House Martins and Swifts (all potential prey for a Hobby, when it is not grabbing large, flying insects) were seen in the vicinity of the village.

As we climbed higher we were able to get a good view of a large field turned scarlet with the huge numbers of Poppies growing amongst the Oilseed Rape.

Martin Down & Poppies

While looking in that direction we glimpsed a Turtle Dove flying near the field but it was not until we were able to see the field close-up that we were able to obtain better views of a pair and hear one “purring” in the hedgerow. Even more distant were the three Brown Hares seen chasing each other near a cattle pasture on the edge of the down.

Bushes and clumps of scrubs allowed us to add Blackbird, Song Thrush and Blackcap and hedgerows nearer the car park provided Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Linnet, Goldfinch and Dunnock. The most conspicuous birds, though, were the corvids, mostly Rooks, which were foraging methodically in the grass, stabbing the turf with those pickaxe beaks and striding, baggy-pantalooned through the flowers. With them were a few Jackdaws. Magpies were obvious when they made sporadic, chattering appearances. Most Carrion Crows were fly-overs, as was the light passage of immature Lesser Black-back. and Herring Gulls. Amongst the Woodpigeons, one each of Feral Dove and Stock Dove were noted.

Much of our time was spent with eyes downcast, looking for plants and invertebrates in this species-productive environment. The flowers have already been mentioned but it was interesting to find white examples of each of the orchids, a white-flowered Welted Thistle and a White Milkwort (despite the name, they are usually blue).

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Meadow Grasshopper Blackneck

Because many of the flowers are very small we had to look carefully and this helped us to find an interesting selection of insects. The grass irrupted mostly immature grasshopper nymphs but an occasional adult was found, such as this cryptically-coloured Meadow Grasshopper. The black bits of the Blackneck moth, like the head of a Black-headed Gull, are actually chocolate brown. Beetles were abundant, many unidentified or only tentatively identified. Flowers were often “inhabited” by tiny Pollen Beetles and weevils and a striking Wasp Beetle (Strangalia maculata) was seen close to a mating pair of shiny Swollen Thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis). Only the male of this species sports the “swollen” thighs.

Strangalia maculata Oedemera nobilis

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We had been seeing the communal webs of “tent-making” caterpillars on some of the shrubs but only found one inhabited, by a cluster of around forty caterpillars (possibly Brown-tail Moth caterpillars). Many metres of hedgerow Spindle were draped with the remains of what must have been a severe infestation but the plants were now well recovered and growing strongly to replace lost greenery. Later, we saw a brightly coloured and hairy Dark Dagger caterpillar, munching through a Blackthorn leaf.

The stars, though, for an R.S.P.B. outing must be the birds and I'll finish with two buntings. The Yellowhammer and the earth-coloured Corn Bunting. Both species have been having a tough time of it as their numbers have crashed, largely, it is thought, due to changing farming methods, the Corn Bunting was the only one seen.

Yellowhammer Corn Bunting

Doug. Kelson

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Local Wildlife News

The following highlights reports received since the A.G.M. If you have anything further to add, please feel free to let us know at any time.

Cut-leaved Germander – survey work in mid-July found 3952+ found at Micheldever Spoil Heaps, this in just part-coverage of one of only four sites in Britain where this can be seen. Glow Worm – these continued in their attempts to find „friends‟, their glowing being noted in to early July; a peak count of 175 at a site in Overton being particularly notable. Hedgehog – more reports of these were received than for many months, ranging from the very young to the very large.

From a recently received email:

Finally; Hedgehogs have cold, wet noses. I knew this, intellectually, but, in the early hours of this morning, I gained empirical proof of it. As usual, I was out to replenish the bird feeders, part of which means squeezing peanuts into the little drilled holes in the logs. I'd noticed a half-grown Hedgehog under the feeders, as I approached, so I slowly crept closer, throwing half-nuts to it. It munched on these and I began quietly, to shove nuts. It took a strong constitution not to jump into the air when I suddenly felt something cold and wet pressed against my sandaled ankle. I looked down to see the Hedgehog, apparently satisfied I wasn't going to be a threat, looking for more peanuts which I duly dropped to it, one or two of them bouncing off its back and head. Though it momentarily froze, it soon overcame its startlement to munch more nuts.

The wet nose again!

This time, a different foot...and a different Hedgehog. The 2 of them walked around my feet, between my legs and, once, one of them walked over my foot.

I was being quiet, but, by no means silent to avoid frightening the little blighters but I had to move me feets, eventually. I threw nuts to lead them a little further off and stepped slowly and quietly away. They froze momentarily and one waddled into cover but, as I watched by torchlight, soon came back. I've noticed on many occasions that they don't seem bothered by ordinary torchlight, (no need for it to be red) as long as it isn't over- bright.

Doug.

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Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Meadow Road, Basingstoke Doug. Kelson Taken at 01:59!

Hobby – one was seen over Sherfield-on-Loddon late in June. Humming-bird Hawk-moth – several were reported from late June, often in gardens and lingering, to the delight of those finding them. Marmalade Hoverfly – these were seen in seemingly ever-increasing numbers, 50+ being noted in one Overton garden. Orchids – these continued to flower in increasing numbers with sites such as and Fens, Greywell Moor and The Mill Field LNR holding many hundreds, as did several of the roundabout about Basingstoke.

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Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris NR, Greywell, Hampshire Julian Aburrow

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Owls – Barn, Little, Long-eared and Tawny all remained regularly seen, and heard, about the Borough; all also being proven to breed locally. Polecat – a family party were seen carrion-clearing on a road to the south of Overton. Purple Emperor – these were seen at The Mill Field LNR, Bartley Wood, Forest and Bentley Wood.

Purple Emperor Apatura iris Bentley Wood NR, Hampshire Mike. Duffy

Red Kite – numbers again seemed to be on the up, gatherings of up to five being recorded. Swift – it was already noticeable that birds were gathering in larger numbers, soon to be heading off southwards again; a feeding flock of 200+ over the area the largest yet noted.

As always, thank you to all those that have contributed sightings for this report; if I have missed anything, please do let me know and be sure to keep me updated as we head still further in to the Summer Break. If you find anything you consider particularly notable, or you would like an update on what is happening locally, please do feel free to contact me at any time. I can assure you that you will always get a favourable response! 07895 – 388378 is the hot line, well my mobile number anyway! 

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Quiz ‘Page’

From June, how did you do?

One doesn‟t make a summer (SwalloW) not such a pure and heavenly orchid (White HelleborinE) spectacled bug? (Eyed LadybirD) blue-egged little brown job (DunnocK) this species might be taking its‟ Test (KingfisheR) a robin without the red breast, just borders (Red-flanked BluetaiL) the most feline of flowers, perhaps (LeopardsbaNE) an inebriated amphibian (NEwT) the purr-fect summer visitor (Turtle DoVE) now established in The , this insect eater usually being found in tropical houses (VEnus Fly-traP) a decorated butterfly (Painted LadY) a bright bunting (YellowhamMER) Arthur‟s magical companion (MERliN) the stormiest of our summer visitors? (NightingaLE) the minor flowered suture (LEsser StitchworT) a moth not to be sneezed at (TissuE) an initial barb (Early ThorN) the crepuscular avian (NightjaR) an oxidised fern? (Rust-bacK) the motorway monitor? (Kestrel)

And now on to more!

For those of a more botanical bent! Orchids have been particularly noticeable over the past month or two, so here‟s a few for you to „find‟:

1. Hopping to the fore. Frog 2. One of the smellier varieties? Musk 3. Perhaps Egyptian in origin? Pyramidal 4. A fortified flower! Military 5. The scalier of the species. Lizard 6. What Cinderella left behind. Lady’s Slipper 7. The bloke among the orchids. Man 8. Not quite such a bloke! Lady 9. Bombing about! Bee 10. The Italian moped of the orchid world! Wasp 11. Vulgar, well you can look at it two ways. Common Twayblade 12. The larger of the lepidoptera. Greater Butterfly 13. An over done flourish. Burnt-tip 14. Vulgar and tarnished. Common Spotted 15. Sun up and swampy. Early Marsh 16. The lesser of the lepidoptera. Lesser Butterfly 17. Fen and funky. Marsh Fragrant 18. The most unearthly of the British. Ghost 19. An ecological flyer. Green-winged 20. In the beginning amethyst was the colour. Early Purple

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And Finally

Over the coming weeks and months it would be appreciated if you kept an eye open for, and reported, migrants locally.

With this in mind, please do use the following to record your latest sightings, or any notes on anything that was of particular interest to you, whether it be the numbers, activities or even lack of birds. Thank you.

Species Date last / first noted Notes of interest

Little Egret Common Shelduck Eurasian Wigeon Common Teal Northern Shoveler Goosander Eurasian Hobby Water Rail Little Ringed Plover European Golden Plover Whimbrel Green Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Common Tern Common Cuckoo Common Swift Sand Martin Barn Swallow House Martin Yellow Wagtail Whinchat Northern Wheatear Fieldfare Redwing Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Common Whitethroat Garden Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Lesser Redpoll

If you see anything else on the move, please do add it to the „list‟.

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