Fresh from an appointment with the physiotherapist, Martin Sell gamely led a joint BBOWT / RDNHS field trip at Walbury Hill and Coombe on Saturday 10th July, despite an injured foot. It was a walk of stunning views, first northwards across the Kennet Valley, and then into the steep-sided valley around Coombe. The walk started from the east end of Walbury Hill. Small Tortoiseshell was the commonest butterfly, and 3 big orange fast-flying butterflies were identified as Dark Green Fritillaries. Chalk flowers beside the track across Walbury Hill included Wild Thyme, Squinancywort, Small Scabious and Wild Basil. A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was an exciting find. A short diversion was made along the road which crosses the ridge to enjoy the splendid display of flowers on the verge. The pinnatifid leaves of Greater Knapweed could be compared with the simple leaves of Common Knapweed and there were Fragrant, Common-spotted and Pyramidal orchids. Knapweed Broomrape was abundant, with plants in all stages from first spikes to full flowers and then withered brown heads.
The walk continued westwards along the ridge past Coombe Gibbet, then south down the Test Way. Lunch was spent in a flowery meadow in Coombe Wood, with tall blue clumps of Viper’s-bugloss and Silver-washed Fritillaries patrolling along the edge of the clearing. Small Heath butterflies and 6-spot Burnet Moths flew across the meadow. The walk continued back up through Coombe Wood, then dropped down to the beautiful 12th Century church at Coombe. Bat droppings were spotted inside the church and there was a collection of moth wings in the porch. The walk finished with a steep climb back up to Walbury Hill.
RDNHS excursion to West Woodhay and Coombe Gibbet on Saturday 10th July 2010
Plant species observed:
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow |
| Adoxa moschatellina | Moschatel (leaves only) |
| Agrimonia eupatoria | Agrimony |
| Anthyllis vulneraria | Kidney Vetch |
| Artemisia vulgaris | Mugwort |
| Asperula cynanchica | Squinancywort |
| Brachypodium sylvaticum | False Brome |
| Briza media | Quaking Grass |
| Campanula glomerata | Clustered Bellflower |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell |
| Carduus acanthoides | Welted Thistle |
| Carduus nutans | Musk Thistle |
| Carlina vulgaris | Carline Thistle |
| Centaurea nigra | Common Knapweed |
| Centaurea scabiosa | Greater Knapweed |
| Centaurium erythraea | Common Centaury |
| Chaerophyllum temulentum | Rough Chervil |
| Chamaerion angustifolium | Rosebay Willowherb |
| Circaea lutetiana | Enchanter’s Nightshade |
| Cirsium acaule | Dwarf Thistle |
| Cirsium arvense | Creeping Thistle |
| Clinopodium vulgare | Wild Basil |
| Conium maculatum | Hemlock |
| Convolvulus arvensis | Field Bindweed |
| Crepis capillaris | Smooth Hawk’s-beard |
| Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted-orchid |
| Daucus carota | Wild Carrot |
| Echium vulgare | Viper’s-bugloss |
| Galeopsis tetrahit | Common Hemp-nettle |
| Galium verum | Lady’s Bedstraw |
| Geum urbanum | Wood Avens |
| Gymnadenia conopsea | Fragrant Orchid |
| Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed |
| Hieracium pilosella | Mouse-ear Hawkweed |
| Hyacinthoides non-scripta | Bluebell (in fruit) |
| Hypericum hirsutum | Hairy St John’s-wort |
| Hypericum perforatum | Perforate St John’s-wort |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Cat’s-ear |
| Knautia arvensis | Field Scabious |
| Lathyrus pratensis | Meadow Vetchling |
| Leontodon hispidus | Rough Hawkbit |
| Leucanthemum vugare | Oxeye Daisy |
| Linum catharticum | Fairy Flax |
| Lotus corniculatus | Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil |
| Malva sylvestris | Common Mallow |
| Matricaria matricarioides | Pineappleweed |
| Medicago lupulina | Black Medick |
| Melica uniflora | Wood Melick |
| Mercurialis perennis | Dog’s Mercury |
| Mycelis muralis | Wall Lettuce |
| Odontites verna | Red Bartsia |
| Origanum vulgare | Marjoram |
| Orobanche elatior | Knapweed broomrape (on Centaurea scabiosa) |
| Pastinaca sativa | Wild Parsnip |
| Phleum pratense | Timothy |
| Pimpinella saxifraga | Burnet-saxifrage |
| Plantago lanceolata | Ribwort Plantain |
| Plantago major | Greater Plantain |
| Plantago media | Hoary Plantain |
| Polygala vulgaris | Common Milkwort |
| Polygonatum multiflorum | Solomon’s-seal |
| Polygonum persicaria | Redshank |
| Potentilla anserina | Silverweed |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose (leaves only) |
| Pteridium aquilinum | Bracken |
| Ribes uva-crispa | Gooseberry |
| Rosa arvensis | Field-rose |
| Scabiosa columbaria | Small Scabious |
| Scrophularia nodosa | Common Figwort |
| Senecio erucifolium | Hoary Ragwort |
| Senecio jacobaea | Common Ragwort |
| Silene dioica | Red Campion |
| Silene vulgaris | Bladder Campion |
| Sisymbrium officinale | Hedge Mustard |
| Stachys sylvatica | Hedge Woundwort |
| Trifolium pratense | Red Clover |
| Trifolium repens | White Clover |
| Tripleurospermum inodorum | Scentless Mayweed |
| Valeriana officinalis | Common Valerian |
| Verbascum thapsus | Great Mullein |
| Veronica persica | Common Field-speedwell |
| Viola hirta | Hairy Violet (leaves only) |
Bird species:
Buzzard
Chiffchaff
Red Kite
Skylark
Yellowhammer
Butterflies and other insects:
Comma
Common Blue
Dark Green Fritillary
Gatekeeper
Green-veined White
Humming-bird Hawk-moth
Hornet
Large Skipper
Marbled White
Meadow Brown
Ringlet
Silver-washed Fritillary
Small Heath
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
List prepared by Renee Grayer