Jan Haseler led a walk round the southern Bald Hill section of Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve on Saturday 5 August. The walk started from the Cowleaze Wood car park under dark threatening skies and with a strong north-westerly wind. The route led diagonally down across the very steep south-west facing side of Bald Hill. At the top of the hill were Field and Small Scabious, Greater and Common Knapweed, Large Thyme, Marjoram, Wild Basil, Bifid Hemp-nettle and Agrimony. Continuing down the hillside, there were many gentian spikes which were not yet in flower. There was some debate as to whether these were Autumn or Chiltern Gentians, with the majority thought to be the latter. Carline and Stemless Thistle, Squinancywort, Yellow-wort, Lady’s Bedstraw, Eyebright, Quaking-grass, Fairy Flax and a Frog Orchid were amongst the sightings here. Then the clouds moved on, the sun came out and the butterflies started to appear. Silver-spotted Skippers were quite numerous and if they perched in a suitable position, attempts were made to separate the males and females. The females had darker, more contrasting wing edges, while the males had a dark sex brand on the forewing. Silvery-blue male Chalkhill Blue butterflies were unmistakable, while the dark brown females had chequered black and white wing margins. Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies were also seen here, together with a single Dark Green Fritillary and a number of Six-spot Burnet moths.
The route continued through a gateway into the western section of Bald Hill. The lower part of the field was sheltered from the wind, and the carpet of Marjoram was alive with butterflies. Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Small Heath were added to the butterfly tally here, while Common Gromwell, Clustered Bellflower, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Juniper, Hoary Plantain and Hawkweed Oxtongue were amongst the plant sightings. On the walk back, Common Rock-rose and another Frog Orchid were seen.
Pictures by Rob Stallard and Martin Mitchell
| RDNHS trip to Aston Rowant on Sunday 5th August led by Jan Haseler | ||
| List of plant species found | ||
| Scientific name | English name | Comments |
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow | Pink flowers |
| Agromonia eupatoria | Agrimony | |
| Arenaria serpyllifolia | Thyme-leaved Sandwort | Growing on ant hill |
| Asperula cynanchica | Squinancywort | |
| Blackstonia perfoliata | Yellow-wort | |
| Brachypodium pinnatum | Tor-grass | |
| Briza media | Quaking-grass | |
| Campanula glomerata | Clustered Bellflower | |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell | |
| Carduus nutans | Musk Thistle | |
| Carlina vulgaris | Carline Thistle | |
| Centaurea nigra | Common Knapweed | |
| Centaurea scabiosa | Greater Knapweed | |
| Centaurium erythraea | Common Centaury | |
| Cerastium fontanum | Common Mouse-ear | |
| Cirsium acaulon | Stemless Thistle | |
| Clinopodium vulgare | Wild Basil | |
| Coeloglossum viride | Frog Orchid | |
| Cornus sanguinea | Dogwood | |
| Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn | |
| Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted-orchid | In fruit |
| Daucus carota | Wild Carrot | |
| Euphrasia spec | Eyebright | |
| Galeopsis bifida | Bifid Hemp-nettle | |
| Galium verum | Lady’s Bedstraw | |
| Gentianella germanica | Chiltern Gentian | |
| Hypericum perforatum | Perforate St John’s-wort | |
| Knautia arvensis | Field Scabious | |
| Leontodon hispidus | Rough Hawkbit | |
| Ligustrum vulgare | Wild Privet | |
| Linum catharticum | Fairy Flax | |
| Lithospermum officinale | Common Gromwell | |
| Lotus corniculatus | Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil | |
| Mercurialis perennis | Dog’s Mercury | |
| Myosotis arvensis | Field Forget-me-not | Growing on ant hill |
| Ononis repens | Common Restharrow | |
| Pastinace sativa | Wild Parsnip | |
| Phleum bertolonii | Smaller Cat’s-tail | |
| Picris hieracioides | Hawkweed Oxtongue | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Mouse-ear Hawkweed | |
| Plantago media | Hoary Plantain | |
| Polygala vulgaris | Common Milkwort | |
| Poterium sanguisorba | Salad Burnet | Not flowering |
| Primula veris | Cowslip | In fruit |
| Prunella vulgaris | Selfheal | |
| Reseda lutea | Wild Mignonette | |
| Rhinanthus minor | Yellow-rattle | |
| Rubus caesius | Dewberry | |
| Scabiosa columbaria | Small Scabious | |
| Silene latifolia | White Campion | |
| Stellaria graminea | Lesser Stitchwort | |
| Thymus polytrichus | Wild Thyme | |
| Thymus pulegioides | Large Thyme | |
| Tragopogon pratensis | Goat’s-beard | |
| Trifolium campestre | Hop Trefoil | |
| Verbascum thapsus | Great Mullein | |
| Viburnum lantana | Wayfairing-tree | |
| List of butterfly species | ||
| Scientific name | English name | |
| Hesperia comma | Silver-spotted Skipper | |
| Pieris brassicae | Large White | |
| Pieris rapae | Small White | |
| Pieris napi | Green-veined White | |
| Gonepteryx rhamni | Brimstone | |
| Coenonympha pamphilus | Small Heath | |
| Maniola jurtina | Meadow Brown | |
| Pyronia tithonus | Gatekeeper | |
| Argynnis aglaja | Dark Green Fritillary | |
| Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral | |
| Aglais io | Peacock | |
| Aglais urticae | Small Tortoiseshell | |
| Aricia agestis | Brown Argus | |
| Polyommatus icarus | Common Blue | |
| Polyommatus coridon | Chalkhill Blue | |
List by Renée Grayer