Field Meeting

Leader: Alan Perry (HNHS member)Leading the walk across Lavington Plantation, Alan was soon able to locate the scratchy song of the Whitethroat and 12 members heard Chiffchaffs, a male Yellowhammer, Linnets and a distant Cuckoo.  Two key heathland species were encountered:  Woodlarks were heard then seen in flight and Dartford Warblers made brief appearances.Stonechat males […]

Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member)Standing near the edge of Selborne Churchyard, Andy explained to 11 members the geology of the area which includes Middle Chalk, Lower Chalk, Upper Greensand and Lower Greensand.  All these have given rise to specific types of flora and fauna.When Gilbert White wrote “The Natural History of Selborne” the village was […]

From the Farnham Heath area where 6 Longhorn Cattle were resting and grazing, the walk entered “Tankersford Common” which is not open to the public.Seen were:  Fox, Roe Deer, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stonechat, Dartford Warbler and Heath Cudweed. A Whitethroat gave its scratchy song.In an open, sunny area of tussocky grasses with bare patches […]

Leader: Paul Matson (Sussex Ornithological Society member). On a grey morning (not ideal for seeing birds) fourteen species of birds were seen or heard, notably Tree Creeper, Dartford Warbler and Stonechat.  Redwings and Fieldfares had been there previously, but having devoured the berries, most had moved away.  However, a small flock flew over.  Through the […]

Leaders: Doug Maughan and Phil Darley (HNHS Members) The weather conditions were ideal for visiting this National Nature Reserve which has 369 acres of wetland in the Lower Meon Valley alongside the Solent.On the shoreline, with the Black-headed Gulls, were Turnstone busy searching among the pebbles and bathing.For the three hides on the east side […]

Leader: Dee Durham (Area Ranger National Trust South Downs West) Eleven members met with Dee for this walk.She explained that 12 Longworth traps had been set in various habitats and it was hoped that mice and voles would be caught.It was good weather for the walk, but unfortunately all the traps were empty. Dee said […]

Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member)Andy produced a list of 57 identified species of largely quite ordinary fungi at this renowned site.However, there was several attractive and uncommon ones including:  a clump of bright orange Pholiota adiposa (uncommon) on a huge fallen beech tree; several black and white Magpie Inkcap; and a patch of the minute white Fluted […]

Leader: Andy Swan, Margaret Tomsett The clear skies and cold temperatures (starting at 11°C and dropping to 8°C) spoilt this event.Three Skinner Moth Traps had been set up in different areas in a large garden.Very few moths were found at repeated inspections, but at some point during the night there was some activity.No fewer than […]

Leader: Andy Swan, HNHS President The morning’s walk, passing through many different habitats at Burton Mill Pond and Chingford Pond, revealed some very interesting finds.In the acidic woodland the Blushing Rosette fungus was adjacent to the uncommon Zoned Rosette (Podoscypha multizonal).The Sweet Chestnut trees, planted in the 1740s, are remarkable for their height, age and […]

Leaders: Andy Swan and Mike Lawn (HNHS Members) Mike led 18 HNHS members through the gate to enter the MoD land on a sunny but not excessively hot morning.The level of the main pond was very low - it was just a few inches deep. Along the damp margins a Black Darter was found, and […]