Written by Society Admin on 2026-10-02
Lord’s Wood, Redlodge Belt and Southampton Sports Centre 27th September 2026
Birds . Field Trip . Flora . Fungi . InsectsThis was primarily a bird walks with HOS but there were only 18 bird species for the 11 people present and all were common garden, park, and woodland species but one Buzzard was seen. Squirrels were everywhere and 2 Roe Deer seen in Lord’s Wood. A few insects like Hornet and Rhododendron Leafhopper were found.
Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-22
Southampton Old Cemetery – 20th September 2026
Field Trip . Flora . Insects . UncategorizedThis was a pleasant sunny September afternoon insect walk around the old cemetery by the Common. There were five of us – four ladies and myself (Phil Budd) present. Using our eyes, close focusing binoculars, a sweep net and a beating tray we discovered quite an assortment of beasties. The highlights included the jumping spider
Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-06
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-06
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-08-14
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-08-14
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-08-14
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-08-14
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-08-14
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
Written by Society Admin on 2026-04-29
Watch out for the Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp
InsectsOn Sunday afternoon 19th April I was walking over my local patch, Netley Common, and I noticed some curious and strikingly red galls on the leaves of a young Sweet Chestnut (illustrated). I later identified these from the Internet as caused by the Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmos kuriphilus. The galls are not described in