Alton Natural History Society walk, Chawton 2 July 2019

20 or more members of the society walked south from Chawton Church. The main target was White-Letter Hairstreak Butterfly . This is an Elm specialist, and there are a few small-medium elms surviving by the A32, with others which have fallen victim to Dutch Elm Disease. This strikes once they reach a certain size. Some of the party were rewarded with sightings of three buzzing around the top of one of the trees. A single Silver-washed fritillary was watched at the top of the field, and 20+ Marbled Whites were also present.

There has been a major influx of Painted Ladies in the last few weeks with most pretty tatty implying they are newly arrived across the English Channel.

 22-spot ladybird

Small Skippers:

On the way to the walk we found this moribund Lesser Stag Beetle squashed at the entrance to Ackender Wood in Whitedown Lane, Alton:

The A31 Alton Bypass is a good site for wild flowers with 100's of orchids - Pyramidal mostly and some Common Spotted. Pyramidal Orchids at Chawton roundabout:

The path through the field to the southwest from the roundabout had interest. There is a line of very young elms which are worth checking. A nice weedy corner was full of poppies:

and some arable weeds were present:

This long-horn beetle and Meadow Brown were sharing a bramble flower:

Wild strawberry along the wall in Chawton village...

The Caker Stream, Alton

A couple of oddities as I explored the edges of the Caker stream on 24 June.

This large mouse was underneath an old sign which I lifted. I think it is Yellow-necked mouse.

 Scarlet Tiger Moth

White Admiral at Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest on 29 June. I was hoping for Purple Emperor but had to "make do" with this White Admiral...

21 -23 June On the North Downs at Weston Common and North of Upton Grey

Mid Morning as I passed Shalden Green, this Tawny Owl was perched in the open.

An excellent variety of wildlife at Weston Common near Lasham.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth:

Large Skippers - don't be fooled by the black antenna tips...

Beetles...

Miscellaneous awaiting ID:

A pupa on bracken:

The Greater Butterfly Orchids were near the end of this year's display

On the North Downs to the north of Upton Grey we followed bridleways to see what we could find.
The butterfly highlight was a small colony of Small Heath in a recently planted deciduous plantation.
The parastic Knapweed Broomrape was found at the roadside...

... and colonies of 30+ and 50+ Common Broomrape were also found:

A nice weedy patch held Great Mullein - when examined closely we found the spectacular (and huge)  Mullein Moth caterpillar:

... and this beetle which is yet to  be ID'd/

Privet attracted various butterflies including Small Tortoiseshell...

This planted poppy field was stunning had some nice weeds such as sun spurge.

 Note the tiny insect on this - maybe a jumping spider ?