Written by mjcreighton on 2019-04-04
On not so little pines…
Natural History…do mighty Cedar trees grow. In this case, a Himalayan Cedar. Nature Note by Graham Manchip There is a tree in my local patch. I believe it to be a Himalayan Cedar Cedrus deodara around 30ft or more tall and, although I had seen the top, I had never seen the base as it was
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-02-28
British Science Week
Natural HistoryGuest post from Bournemouth Natural Science Society (BNSS) British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths held from 8-17 March 2019. This year’s theme is ‘journeys’ and the BNSS has organised three special adult education lectures around this topic. Lectures are open to all, so if you’re naturally inquisitive and
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-02-03
A touch of summer…
Natural History . Photography…in frosty February. The opening of ‘Chasing Butterflies’ – a retrospective of John Vetterlein’s 13-year obsession with photographing butterflies – was absolutely heaving at the Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton last evening. A selection of his best work is on display in the gallery space until the 27 February and covers common and less common
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-01-02
End of year party…
Natural HistoryThe common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a pretty gregarious animal. And even more sio when it comes to the huge flocks that appear from Novemeber to March or thereabouts. As we often do at Christmas, Jan and I took a trip to Ham Wall RSPB reserve in Somerset to see one of the biggest starling
Written by mjcreighton on 2018-11-12
An update from Peartree Green
Natural HistoryFrom Phil Budd As reported back in January the city council granted Peartree Green a Local Nature Reserve in November 2017. Following this, there was an official opening of the green on 7th April 2018 by Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith and Southampton City Council leader Simon Letts. Since then there have been many events
Written by mjcreighton on 2018-11-01
Any Eggsplanations for this?
Natural HistoryAt a recent meeting Cath brought out an egg (or was it?) for our inspection. It was sort of egg-shaped, although a little more symmetrical than most bird eggs. It seemed to have pores and felt light(ish) and was hard. Discussion ranged around turtle eggs, bird eggs, Cadbury Cream Eggs, oddly worn stones, or unusual
Written by mjcreighton on 2018-07-14
Remember to submit your moth records
Natural HistoryJan and I been trapping moths on and off for a year or three now. And for those of you who don’t know, we have a small garden right in the centre of Southampton. Surrounded by pubs, clubs, street lights and neon. We think we’re doing well if we get half a dozen moth records
Written by mjcreighton on 2016-08-27
Chalk downs in Southampton
Natural HistoryOr that’s how it seems when a micro-moth of the chalk ends up in Bevois Valley. Emptying a very meagre moth trap last night the one notable capture was a single Cochylis hybridella. According to HantsMoths this micro is local on chalk downland, woodland on chalky soils and sand-dunes throughout much of southern England and southern
Written by mjcreighton on 2015-07-19
New Forest Bee-Fly
Natural HistoryThe Mottled Bee-Fly (Thyridanthrax fenestratus) is not something you see everyday. Or ever before as far as we were concerned. So it was a nice surprise to find this individual sunning itself on a gravel path at Pigbush in the New Forest. The Mottled Bee-Fly requires sandy or gravelly locations as it relies on the
Written by mjcreighton on 2015-05-02
A chequered history
Natural HistoryCricklade is a ninth century Saxon town just north of Swindon. So what persuaded four members of the Southampton Natural History Society to pay a visit in late April 2015? The reason for the journey was to see the Snake’s Head Fritillaries (Fritilleria meleagris) which grow in substantial numbers at a site called North Meadow