Peartree Green LNR 30th August
Insects . Natural History . Photography . Wild flowersAnother of our regular visits to Peartree Green LNR. A group of ten armed with cameras, beating trays, and sweep nets and being very careful to avoid all the dog excrement by the main path, searched for insects and other invertebrates. We added 9 invertebrate species to the reserve list, these included two recent arrival
Southampton Old Cemetery 22nd August
Insects . Natural History . Wild flowersA group of eight of us were thankful for cooler but sunny weather for this Saturday morning stroll. Much of the flora had shrivelled up after 7 weeks with no rain up to 18th August. We were pleased to find some Orpine still in bloom but it was obvious that work is required to remove
St Giles Cemetery, Winchester Moths and night insects 25th July
UncategorizedBy kind invite of Dave and Anna, who live adjacent to the cemetery, we ran a moth lamp over sheet at the gabions and three other traps were run from ‘9 til late’. 11 people attended the event. It was a typical warm night but a bit of breeze effected things as did the lack
Peartree Green LNR Flora on the green 18th July 2026
Field Trip . Flora . InsectsA pleasant stroll around the Green in the cool of the evening. There were eight of us altogether. Already, after 18 days with no rain, the Green was starting to look parched and most plants in the open areas looked dehydrated. All the usual PG cast – horse radish, Chines and common mugwort, goldenrod, red
Southampton Old Cemetery mid summer insects 12th July 2026
Field Trip . InsectsOne of my regular insect walks open to the public and exploring the fascinating Southampton Old Cemetery. Luckily it was relatively cool, only 29 degrees Celsius but we still shortened the walk a little as the sun was hot. There were six of us. Undoubtedly the highlight was yet another recent colonist – the Jersey
Mayfield Park private garden Moths and night creatures 3rd July 2026
Field Trip . InsectsBy kind invite of Pat and Di, friends of Cath Corney, seven of us ran a UV light over the sheet on a lawn immediately next to the woodland at Mayfield Park. It was a typical warm and calm summer evening. First we observed the roosting pipistrelle bats emerging from the house, then we concentrated
Peartree Green LNR summer insect walk 27th June 2026
Field Trip . InsectsDespite the very hot weather an insect walk took place in the afternoon. The 90 degree heat forced two of us to leave half way through but three others continued for a while. Butterflies seen included silver-washed fritillary and purple hairstreak in the more wooded areas. It looked as if white-letter hairstreak had already gone
Portsdown Hill Sunday 14th June
Field Trip . Flora . InsectsSix of us joined Mark Trigwell at Fort Widley on Portsdown Hill near the Churchillian Pub. In the warm morning sunshine we walked west along the steep south facing hill of Portsdown. We eventually found the elusive bastard toadflax plant creeping low in the grassland and studied the non-native Cotoneasters. Birds were in short supply
NEW Butterflies of Southampton
UncategorizedThis book features all of the butterflies ever seen in Southampton, where and when they have been seen and plenty of other information.
The Holt Bioblitz 6th June 2026
Natural History . UncategorizedA bioblitz was held at The Holt, near Upham, on Saturday 6th June. The weather was not promising but nevertheless it was a successful day. The early morning bird walk was wet and all present were glad to shelter for breakfast, but the sun came out briefly in late morning for the butterfly walk and