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
Portsdown Hill 14th June 2026
Natural History . UncategorizedMark Trigwell led a group of seven westward along the south facing slopes of Portsdown Hill close to Fort Widley. The weather was warm, bright and muggy so some of us were pleased to tucking into cooling ice creams at the end. We met the warden who said that it was not worth looking at
Southampton Old Cemetery Insect Walk
UncategorizedA large crowd of 14, including one child, enjoyed a sunny insect walk around Southampton Old Cemetery on Sunday afternoon 26th April. The birds were quiet but we did see Jay and Ring-necked Parakeet and heard Blackcap singing. We also found a Dunnock nest on a path – it may have been predated and half
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
Fishlake Meadows and Barge River walk
Birds . Field Trip . Insects . UncategorizedA group of six joined Julian Moseley on this walk from the HWT car park at Oxlease Gardens, up the Barge River canal and into the core of Fishlake Meadows in glorious weather. We saw or heard at lease 34 bird species. The highlight was the warblers – we all got to see a singing
Hamble Bird Walk 11th April 2026
UncategorizedThis was a joint walk with the Hampshire Ornithological Society. There were 4 SNHS members and 10 HOS members present for all or part of the walk, which lasted from 10.30am to 3pm. We set off in cloud from Hamble Point but the sun soon came out as we traversed Hamble Common and then passed
UV Night Walk at Peartree Green 4th April 2026
UncategorizedJamie Wylie kindly led a group of 19, including several society members, on a one and half hour slow walk around the upper part of Peartree Green. It was a highly unusual event and everybody, including the four children present, were issued with UV torches that radiated just beyond the naked eye range at 365