The Group starts off

We had already seen three buzzards soaring high as drove up the gravel lane to the car park and as we got ready to set off, the beautiful sound of skylarks filled the air, as it did for most of the day!

This was obviously going to be a good day for flowers as almost immediately we found three species of orchids:  common spotted, pyramidal and greater butterfly, the latter being a new one for most of the group.

Greater Butterfly Orchid

As we walked further up the ramparts we saw wild thyme, kidney vetch, hoary plantain, birdsfoot trefoil, milkwort and a few musk thistles rose amongst the grasses with their 'nodding' flowers. 

A pair of yellowhammers landed giving us a good view of their beautiful yellow plumage and the song of a tree pipit was heard.

In the wooded area at the top of the Rings we came across two ponds.  Both were awash with damselflies with large red and azure being two species identified.  Broad-bodied chaser dragonflies were at both ponds and at the second pond a large emperor dragonfly flew low across the water. 

We watched a banded demoiselle damselfly with its amazing metallic green colouring dance around and flowers in the woods included enchanter's nightshade and hedge woundwort.  A few of the group also had a lovely close up view of a male pheasant.

Bee Orchid

As we left the woods and walked onto the ramparts on the opposite side of the Rings, a member of the group spotted what was for some the flower of the day - the bee orchid - an amazing flower that is patterned to mimic a visiting bee. 

Nearby was common twayblade, another member of the orchid family that was fairly abundant on this side of the Rings.

It was also a good day for butterflies, we had already seen a meadow brown and a painted lady and as we ventured on we saw a large white, a pretty black and red six-spotted burnet moth, a couple of marbled whites, a clouded yellow, a small heath and a large orangey-red coloured butterfly flew past but we were unable to make an exact identification but we believe it was one of the fritillaries that like these chalky conditions. 

6 spotted Burnet moth

There seemed to be no end to the different species of flowers as we passed agrimony, common valerian, white bryony, yellow rattle, lady's bedstraw and ox-eye daisies.  Another large dragonfly was seen that may have been a golden ring but it was a little too fast and far away to be sure.

After lunch we followed a route from the car park that led around the outside of the Rings which was apparently an old sheep drove. 

As a male linnet sang from high in a tree, there were more flowers to be seen  including mouse-ear hawkweed, wild mignonette, white and red clover, more common spotted and pyramidal orchids, the dainty white flowers of fairy flax and a pretty red poppy.

As the path narrowed the distinctive song of a chiffchaff was heard, a chaffinch flew past and the song of a blackcap came from nearby.

We passed more plants including goatsbeard with its large dandelion like 'clocks', wild clematis winding its way through the hedgerow, rough chervil and hogweed.

We arrived at a crossroads with the paths going in 4 directions and had a brief rest watching some cows in a field and a sloebug climb a blade of grass.

As we took the path leading back towards the Rings a thrush was seen and a cuckoo sung briefly.  We also saw a speckled wood butterfly, red and white campion, bladder campion and knapweed that is also known as hardheads. 

As we ventured along this very narrow path we were being slowly pursued by ten horse and carts so as the path widened by a gate at the side, we stood back and watched them pass.

A stile led back into the Rings enclosure and we continued back round to the car park seeing more orchids including another bee orchid, silverweed, scabious, tufted vetch, a six-spotted burnet moth and its caterpillar.

Back at the car park everyone agreed it had been a lovely day and so much had been seen.

At the indoor meeting on Monday 26th June, Peter Allan gave us a fascinating illustrated talk about local dragonflies and damselflies.

Concentrating on those found in Hampshire and surrounding counties, Peter explained the different habitats that attracts different species, with some preferring still to running water and even bogs and marshes.

Both dragonflies and damselflies spend most of their lives as larvae underwater before emerging into the flying form that we see in the summer and we can all  help build good habitats for them.  Even a relatively small garden pond can be a haven for these beautiful creatures and once you have created your pond, it's usually not long before they start to visit.

The Society's next outdoor meeting will be on Sunday 16th July with a visit to Ramsdown looking for flowers, butterflies and dragonflies.  Meet at Oak Road Car Park, Dibden Purlieu at 10.00am (strong footwear recommended.)

The next indoor meeting will be on Monday 24th July when we welcome Margaret Matthews to talk about the wildlife on Southampton Common.  Meet at 7.30pm at the St. Andrew's Centre, Dibden Purlieu.  Visitors very welcome at £2.00.