21 March 



Ricki Bull led a walk through Dinton Pastures Country Park and then along the River Loddon on 21^' 

 March. The sallows were covered in pale golden blossom and the Blackthorns were coming into 

 flower. A ChifFchaff was calling from close to the track between White Swan and Black Swan lakes and 

 a Kingfisher was spotted on the River Loddon, close to Lavell's Lake. Many clumps of Loddon Lilies 

 were just coming into flower on the river bank. Close inspection showed the tiny teeth on the edges of 

 the flower stem, which distinguish the wild flowers from their cultivated relations. From the Ron 

 Bryant hide, the group were able to look out over the lake at Lea Farm, where a pair of Goldeneyes 

 and a Redshank were amongst the sightings. The walk continued downstream along the bank of 

 the Loddon. A Fox was spotted in the field across the river, with an agitated Moorhen on the bank 

 below. As the temperature rose in the brightening sunshine, butterflies started to appear 

 patrolling Brimstones, plus Peacocks, Commas and a Red Admiral. The walk terminated at the 

 Wheelwrights Arms, where most people stayed to lunch. 



April 



Poor weather conditions (lashing rain and a strong cold wind) led to the cancellation of the April 

 walk. 



16 May 



Chris Ash led a walk round the southern part of Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve on 16'^ 

 May, starting from the Cowleaze Wood car park. The dew pond at the top of the reserve was 

 uncharacteristically full and even had a visiting Mallard. A Dingy Skipper butterfly was nectaring on 

 Dandelion flowers in the first field. The hillside to the south was the site of an unsuccessful 

 experiment in using goats for scrub control - they failed to tackle the scrub, but needed supple- 

 mentary feeding in winter. Cowslips were abundant in the steep south-facing field, the leaves of 

 Common Spotted-orchids were showing well and there were several rings of St George's 

 Mushrooms. At Bald Hill, the next west-facing field, there was a wonderful display of Early-purple 

 Orchids. The open grassland situation came as a surprise to those who had only seen these 

 flowers in woodland before. Tiny-flowered Early Forget-me-not and Common Whitlowgrass were 

 in flower on some of the ant hills. Juniper bushes which had been planted about 15 years ago and 

 were doing well inside a rabbit-proof fence were inspected. Leaving the field at the bottom, there 

 was a Hornbeam with an impressive display of witch's broom. The return route came back up 

 across Linky Down, first through a sheep-grazed field and then through steeper chalk grassland, 

 where a number of Grizzled Skipper butterflies were seen. Finally, back along the sheltered track 

 at the top of the reserve, Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler were singing, an Orange-tip and a few 

 more Grizzled Skippers were found and black St Mark's Flies were abundant. Most of the 11 -strong 

 group then went to the Carriers Arms at Watlington for lunch. 



20 June 



Chris Bucke led 15 members on a walk round the Wellbarn Estate in the Berkshire Downs on 20"^ 

 June, starting from Starveall above Aldworth. The route started out eastwards along the edge of a 

 field of oilseed rape, crossed the Ridgeway, then went through Town Copse, where there had 

 evidently been a good display of Bluebells and Ramsons. There were splendid views as the track 

 dropped gently down into Unhill Bottom. Greater Knapweed was in flower and the brightly coloured 

 caterpillars of the Mullein Moth were found on the leaves of Black Mullein. Few arable weeds, apart 

 from Black-grass, had survived in the barley crop at the bottom of the valley. A Brown Hare was 

 spotted higher up the slope and a Buzzard was being mobbed by crows. On the return route back 

 up beside Unhill Wood, there were glimpses of how the hillside might once have looked, with 

 sheets of Common Rock-rose and Wild Thyme, together with Pyramidal Orchids, Dropwort and 

 Squinancywort. The butterfly count slowly rose during the walk, with Brimstone, Meadow Brown, 

 Small Heath, Holly Blue, Common Blue and Speckled Wood identified. Most of the group then went 

 to the Bell at Aldworth for lunch, where a Large White in the garden was added to the butterfly tally. 



18 July 



The walk at Pamber Forest on 18"^ July, led by Jan Haseler, had been planned to coincide with the 

 peak flight period for the woodland butterflies, the White Admirals, Silver-washed Fritillaries and 

 Purple Emperors, but the sky was overcast and there had been an exceptional amount of rain in 

 the preceding weeks, so it was mud rather than butterflies which typified the morning. The walk 



15 



