Tring Reservoir - 14th April 2007

In glorious sunshine on Saturday 14th April, Martin Sell led a field trip to Tring Reservoirs, looking for spring migrant birds. Highlights of the day were an osprey and a little gull. Swallows and grey wagtails were seen, and common terns appeared to be arriving as the day progressed.

Aston Upthorpe - 3rd June 2007

In a summer notable only for its terrible, wet weather it was surprising that we had wonderful warm, sunny weather on the RDNHS trip to Aston Upthorpe downs.

The downs are famous for their stands of Juniper and very small populations of Burnt-Tip orchids and Pasque Flowers, amongst a very wide range of plants typical of chalk downland.

New Forest coach outing - 30th June 2007

On Saturday 30th June, Meryl Beek organised the annual coach outing, which this year went to the New Forest. Silver-studded Blue butterflies were seen on the walk across boggy heathland to Bishop’s Dyke. After lunch at the Beaulieu Road Station Hotel, the coach drove via very narrow lanes and a ford to Blissford, on the north-east side of the Forest. Unusual plants seen on the walk up to Hampton Ridge included bog pimpernel, lesser skullcap, petty whin and dodder. 3 different species of insect-eating plants were identified – the round-leaved and oblong-leaved sundews and pale butterwort. The distress call of a curlew alerted the group to the presence of a fox. Then it started to rain heavily and everyone raced back to the coach.

Shirburn Hill - 25th August 2007

On Saturday 25th August, Tony Rayner led a field trip to Shirburn Hill, in the Chilterns north of Christmas Common. Both Autumn Gentian and Chiltern Gentian were found. An unusual white form of the flower Centaury was seen, as well as the usual pink form. Silver-spotted Skipper butterflies were quite numerous – but hard to watch because they were very active in the hot sunshine. A number of Juniper bushes were found. Only the female plants had berries.