Graham Saunders led a bat walk at Greywell on Saturday 31st July. The evening started with visits to two Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust reserves. A few Marsh Helleborines were still in flower at Mapledurwell Fen and there were drifts of wetland plants such as Meadowsweet, Water Mint, Wild Angelica and Hemp-agrimony. Common Blue butterflies were roosting on long grass stems and an unfamiliar insect was identified as a juvenile Long-winged Conehead. The group then moved on to Greywell Moors, near the headwaters of the River Whitewater. Marsh Fern was abundant, and other sightings included Betony, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Bogbean, Marsh Lousewort and a young toad. Grey Herons flew in to roost in the treetops across the river. The cows which graze on the reserve took a great interest in the proceedings.
As darkness fell, the group set off for the Basingstoke Canal. The first bat sighting was a Serotine over the village street. This is a relatively large bat which roosts in buildings. Greywell Tunnel is an important bat hibernating site. The bat detector indicated that a number of bats were flying close to the tunnel entrance, including a possible Whiskered or Brandt’s Bat. Along the tow-path, Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle bats were detected, with a Noctule over an adjoining field. A young Tawny Owl was being fed by a parent in a tall canal-side oak. The bat detector picked up the chirps of crickets as well as the clicks of bats. At the limit of navigation in the canal is a big turning circle. Torches were directed across the open water here and the bats were watched as they hunted above the canal.
Pictures by Rob Stallard and Jan Haseler
Plant species observed in Mapledurwell Fen:
| Anagallis tenella | Bog Pimpernel (leaves only) |
| Angelica sylvestris | Wild Angelica |
| Apium nodiflorum | Fool’s Watercress |
| Briza media | Quaking Grass |
| Caltha palustris | Marsh-marigold (in fruit) |
| Centaurea nigra | Common Knapweed |
| Circaea lutetiana | Enchanter’s Nightshade |
| Cirsium dissectum | Meadow Thistle (leaves only) |
| Dactylorhiza incarnata? | Early Marsh-orchid (in fruit) |
| Epilobium hirsutum | Great Willowherb |
| Epipactis palustris | Marsh Helleborine |
| Eupatorium cannabinum | Hemp-agrimony |
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet |
| Gymnadenia conopsea | Fragrant Orchid |
| Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed |
| Hypericum tetrapterum | Square-stalked St John’s-wort |
| Iris pseudacorus | Yellow iris (leaves only) |
| Lotus uliginosus | Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil |
| Mentha aquatica | Water Mint |
| Menyanthes trifoliata | Bogbean |
| Myosotis scorpioides | Water Forget-me-not |
| Oenanthe crocata | Hemlock Water-dropwort (in fruit) |
| Potentilla erecta | Tormentil |
| Pulicaria dysenterica | Common Fleabane |
| Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup |
| Ranunculus flammula | Lesser Spearwort |
| Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup |
| Rhinanthus minor | Yellow-rattle |
| Rumex sanguineus | Wood Dock |
| Sium latifolium? | Water-parsnip |
| Stachys palustris | Marsh Woundwort |
| Valeriana dioica | Marsh Valerian |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch |
Insects:
Common Blue
Ringlet
Mother of Pearl
Common Carpet
Long-winged Conehead
Plant species observed in Greywell Moors and along the River Whitewater
| Apium nodiflorum | Fool’s Watercress |
| Briza media | Quaking Grass |
| Caltha palustris | Marsh-marigold (in fruit) |
| Centaurea nigra | Common Knapweed |
| Cirsium palustre | Marsh Thistle |
| Epilobium hirsutum | Great Willowherb |
| Epilobium parviflorum | Hoary Willowherb |
| Eupatorium cannabinum | Hemp-agrimony |
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet |
| Iris pseudacorus | Yellow iris (leaves only) |
| Lathyrus pratensis | Meadow Vetchling |
| Lotus uliginosus | Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil |
| Lychnis flos-cuculi | Ragged-robin |
| Lysimachia vulgaris | Yellow Loosestrife |
| Lythrum salicaria | Purple-loosestrife |
| Mentha aquatica | Water Mint |
| Menyanthes trifoliata | Bogbean |
| Pedicularis palustris | Marsh Lousewort |
| Phragmites australis | Common Reed |
| Potentilla anserina | Silverweed |
| Potentilla reptans | Creeping Cinquefoil |
| Prunella vulgaris | Selfheal |
| Pulicaria dysenterica | Common Fleabane |
| Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup |
| Ranunculus flammula | Lesser Spearwort |
| Scrophularia auriculata | Water Figwort |
| Stachys officinalis | Betony |
| Succisa pratensis | Devil’s-bit Scabious |
| Thelypteris palustris | Marsh Fern |
| Trifolium pratense | Red Clover |
| Veronica beccabunga | Brooklime |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch |
Bird species:
Green Woodpecker
Herons (on treetops)
Common Toad
List compiled bt Renee Grayer