2025 Hampshire Butterfly and Moth Field Trip's

All field trips start at 10:00am and led by Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266
mob: 07752 182340

Please bring a packed lunch

DSC02139 emperor moth by lure (1024x684).jpg

Message from the field trip co-ordinator

Footnote: If the weather looks inclement then please phone the leader of the field trip advertised. I will personally change the date of my field trips if the long range weather suggests the weather is going to be wet and windy, on the Hants Butterfly website page a few days before and also on the Hampshire Butterfly Facebook page also my

website www.purple-emperor.co.uk

April 2025

Sunday 27th April

Broxhead Common

Target Species: Emperor Moth

Meet at the entrance to the nature reserve on Broxhead Farm Road,

GU35 0NY, lay by parking B3004 North of Lindford OS Grid ref SU803374 what3words: navigate.adopts.strutting

Wednesday 30th April

Portsdown Hill

Early Butterfly and Moth Species

Meet at Fort Widley Car Park PO6 3LS off B2177 west of Fort Widley.

OS Grid ref SU66006 what3words: store.juror.lock

May 2025

Sunday 4th May

Butser Hill

Target Species: Duke of Burgundy, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper

Meet in the hilltop carpark at Butser Hill (Pay and Display) GU32 1QR

Strenuous walk over steep hillsides OS National Grid SU711200 what3words: checked.pods.vine

Sunday 11th May

West Wood/Crab Wood

Woodland Duke of Burgundy

Meet in Spindle Trees car-park SO21 2PA signed off of the Sarum road on Pitt Down one of several Farley Mount car- parks OS National Grid SU 420292 what3words: pull.dispose.clenching

Wednesday 14th May

Coulters Dean /Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Rare Orchids, Possible Duke of Burgundy, Green Hairstreak

Meet at the Halls hill car-park what3words: jogging.dumpling.sprinkling

A 20-minute walk along an old chalk track from the car-park to the meadow

Sunday 18th May

Stockbridge Down

Target Species: Duke of Burgundy, Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Small Copper

On the B3049 find the eastern end car-park of Stockbridge Down towards Winchester OS SU 387344 what3words: timer.mystified.flagged or alternatively use the western car-park OS SU 374346 what3words : pupils.moderated.nails

Wednesday 21st May

New Forest / Ivy Wood/New Copse Inclosure

Target Species: Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Meet in the Ivy Wood carpark what3words: empire.mainly.complaint on the B3055 SU 315024 about 1 mile east of Brockenhurst, hopefully a walk along the Lymington River in the afternoon looking for Dragonflies and other invertebrates.

Wednesday 28th May

Martin Down

Target Species: Marsh Fritillary, Adonis Blue, Small Blue, Rare Moths.

Meet at the main car-park on the A354 OS Grid ref: SU 036200 what3words : hiked.remark.spectacle 11 miles south-west of Salisbury.

Marsh Fritillary for Dan for Martin Down page.jpg

Adonis Blue Oxenbourne Down May 2024.JPG

June 2025

Sunday 22nd June

New Forest - Hawkhill Inclosure/Beaulieu Heath

Target Species: Dark Green Fritillary, Clouded Buff Moth, Silver-Studded Blue, Reptiles

Drive along the B3055 from Brockenhurst heading east until you get to the Hawkhill carpark what3words: nappy.vesting.onion opposite Beaulieu Heath.

Sunday 29th June

Alice Holt Forest

Target Species: Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver Washed Fritillary

Meet at the Abbotts Wood Inclosure carpark GU10 4HA off of Dockenfield Street just south-east of the old Half way house. OS Grid ref: SU 810410 what3words landowner.likely.splendid

July 2025

Wednesday 2nd July

West Walk

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Silver Washed Fritillary, White Admiral

Meet in West Walk car-park PO17 6JD (car-park charge) signed off of Hundred Acres Road East of Wickham along the B2177 OS National Grid SU 531096 what3words: rehearsed.translate.mindset

Wednesday 9th July

Whiteley Walk

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak

Meet at the Whiteley Outlet Village carpark PO15 7PD opposite Marks and Spencer. Max 3 hours carparking free. Reached off of Whiteley way M27 Junction 9. OS National Grid SU 531096 what3words: dares.rationing.listening

Sunday 13th July

Farley Mount

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Scarlett Tiger Moth, Dark Green Fritillary

Meet in Spindle Trees car-park SO21 2PA signed off of the Sarum road on Pitt Down one of several Farley Mount car- parks OS National Grid SU 420292 what3words: pull.dispose.clenching

Wednesday 16th July

Micheldever Wood

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Silver-Washed Fritillary,

Dark Green Fritillary

Meet at the Micheldever Wood car-park SO24 9UB off Chillandham Lane south-east of Micheldever OS National Grid: SU 530362 what3words: turkey.grumbles.strapping

Wednesday 16th July

Abbotstone Down (afternoon) Meet 1400 – 1430

Target Species: Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Scarlett Tiger Moth

Meet at the Abbotstone Down car-park off of the B3046 what3words: cassettes.voter.people

August 2025

Wednesday 13th August

Soberton Down/ St Claires Meadow/ (afternoon) River Meon

Target Species: Brown Hairstreak

Meet at the village hall car-park SO32 3PF which is sign-posted off of the A32 at Warnford, steep hillsides in places. OS National Grid:

SU 611166 what3words:paler.inhaled.luxury

Sunday 17th August

Broughton Down

Target Species: Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Silver Spotted Skipper

Park in Buckholt road SO208DA west out of Broughton or in the village which you walk along Queenswood Road bear right along the B3084 then go left along Buckholt road, where this ends take the middle of the three ongoing tracks to climb to the reserve. OS National Grid: SU 304327 what3words: them.culling.huts

Wednesday 20th August

Shipton Bellinger

Target Species: Brown Hairstreak, Wall Brown, Magpie Moth,

Oak Eggar Moth

Meet at the village hall car-park SP9 7TL OS National Grid : SU 229456 what3words: headlight.panning.smooth

Wednesday 27th August

Portsdown Hill

Target Species: Possible Wall Brown and Brown Hairstreak, Oak Eggar Moth

Meet at Fort Widley Car Park PO6 3LS off B2177 west of Fort Widley.

OS Grid ref SU 66006 What3words: store.juror.lock

Sunday 31st August

Old Winchester Hill NNR

Target Species: Adonis Blue, Silver Spotted Skipper

Meet at the Nature reserves car-park GU32 1HW which is signposted off of the A32 at Warnford. Steep hillsides in places. OS National Grid SU 645214 what3words: overhear.dramatic.handyman

September 2025

Wednesday 3rd September

Beacon Hill NNR

Target Species Silver Spotted Skipper, Small Copper

Meet at the reserves car-park SO32 3LG Beacon Hill Lane west of Warnford and North-west of Exton National Grid: SU 598227 what3words: credible.swordfish.rocky

2024 Field Trip Highlights

Two male Pearl Bordered Fritillaries New Forest May 2024_edited.jpg

Field Trip notes 2024

The field trip programme in 2024 was severely interrupted by the weather with several cancellations and re-scheduling of some as well. The Duke of Burgundy was seen at West Wood and a female was observed laying eggs, and at Butser Hill the species were evident but very low in numbers.

Again, one of the highlights of the season was the New Forest trip to see the Pearl Bordered Fritillary and in the afternoon the Emperor Moth. On Martin Down it was rare to see the sunshine, but once it did shine there were good amounts of butterflies including our target species the Marsh Fritillary with the added bonus of Emperor moths.

Into the summer the weather again played a big part in the season and several target species were well down in number or not seen at all. On Broxhead Common the Silver Studded Blue was seen in good numbers, and the highlight of the field trip was seeing a lovely Emperor Moth caterpillar feeding on Heather.

On other summer field trips the Purple Emperor was seen in good numbers in short bursts of sunshine, at Alice Holt Forest and seen in singletons at West Walk, and Micheldever Wood.

The new member’s day at Magdalen Hill down was a success today despite the weather being very cloudy and drizzly at times. In the morning, we had talks about Gardening for butterflies, Butterfly and Moth recording, Photographing Butterflies and Moths, Introduction to the BC reserves, Volunteering for the branch, and then Butterfly Walks. We then had lunch on the down and then we all split up for a wander around the site. We saw several Adonis Blues many Chalk hill Blues, Brown Argus, Common Blues, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, Six Spotted Burnet Moths, Silver Y Moths and an Oak Egger Moth. A very enjoyable day and hope to see some of you on the next set of walks scheduled for this month and September.

Shipton Bellinger was a treat with Brown Hairstreak Wall Brown and Magpie Moth, and of course the other sites like Old Winchester Hill Silver-Spotted Skipper put in and appearance, along with Adonis Blue, but our last trip to Portsdown Hill was marred by cloudy weather , but it was good to see some fresh faces and hope I will see them again in the future.

it was always good to welcome some new field trippers this year and long may it continue…I like to thank all who came on this year’s field trips and hopefully 2025 will be a better year!

Knot Grass Caterpiller Nic Burns_edited.

2023 Field Trip Highlights

2025 Butterfly Field Trips

The weather played a big part in the field trip programme again in the spring and several trips were cancelled, but several went ahead despite the weather being less than adequate. One of these was the first gathering at Broxhead Common, where we managed to see one Emperor Moth, and the weather was no better at Butser a week later where the cloudy conditions made the counting very easy as there wasn’t anything to count. However in the afternoon the sun did come out and it was a totally different day with lots of Duke of Burgundies, and other chalk downland species to see, and with that two Emperor Moths were also seen!

In the New Forest the Pearl Bordered Fritillary was seen in reasonable numbers, with a visit in the afternoon to Pig Bush Inclosure and hey-presto 20 or more Emperor moths visited us! At Coulters Dean there were excellent counts of Green Hairstreaks, and Small Blue amongst the rare Orchids. Into the early summer the sun was now sizzling, and brought out many summer species early including Grayling, Silver-Studded Blue and the Purple Emperor, which was seen at West Wood and Alice Holt Forest, and a new site for many at Micheldever woods, where Assembly Points became the centre of attention. One of the highlights for me was seeing two aberration Silver-Washed Fritillaries on one field trip, at Alice Holt Forest. The 'Valezina' which was a very fresh specimen, and a very rare 'Ocellata', which got everybody's attention, this is what field trips are all about everybody seeing something new and unusual.

A good turnout at West Harting Down saw several female Purple Emperors which were searching good areas of Sallow to lay their eggs. Unfortunately the weather turned again and the summer became quite damp, but the later target species like Brown Hairstreak still appeared at Shipton Bellinger in good numbers along with Wall Brown, this site is a very popular field trip, and I always look forward to it, as it a site where being flat makes the trip a bit more enjoyable, looking for that elusive Brown Hairstreak. Unfortunately we haven’t seen the Magpie Moth for several years now which is quite worrying.

The weather at the end of August turned back to summer and the beginning of September it was clear blue skies and was very hot. The last of the walks were done with plenty of water to hand and the butterflies were flying in a frenzied manner especially the Silver Spotted Skippers which I love to see. Several females on Old Winchester Hill were observed laying eggs and also mating. The site has now managed to save the Adonis Blue from disappearing from the Meon Valley, and can be found now at several other sites like Butser Hill, Oxenbourne Down, but it seems to be reluctant to breed on Beacon Hill, maybe the grazing regime can reverse this trend.

I would like to thank all who made the effort to come and join me on my walks and look forward to seeing some of you again in 2024.

Ashley Whitlock Hampshire Field Trips Organiser

Photographs of field trips in 2023 by Donald Simcox

2022 Field Trip Highlights

Photo: Bryn Jones

2022 had a full programme of walks starting in late April in the New Forest with a look at the Emperor Moth where we saw several fresh males on the heathland. Into May and the Duke of Burgundy was seen at two sites visited in one day, Beacon Hill and Stephens Castle Down, we also saw another (14) species of butterfly. One of the best spring field trips was at West Wood looking for the woodland Duke of Burgundy and a count of (25) were seen in the small clearing where they breed on Primrose. Stockbridge Down turned out to be sublime, with another impressive amount of species counted (19). Cool overcast weather greeted us at Martin Down in the last week of May but we managed to see our quarry the Marsh Fritillary and Adonis Blue.

The summer field trip programme started in Bentley Wood, but we were unfortunate not to see our target species, the Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary and the Argent and Sable Moth, however later in the month the Silver-Studded Blue impressed at Broxhead Common. The biggest prize in the field trip calendar, the Purple Emperor turned in a good performance at West Wood with up to (8) individuals being seen, along with Silver Washed Fritillaries, White Admirals, and Scarlet Tiger Moths. In the afternoon we were entertained by good counts of Dark Green Fritillaries skimming over the tall grasses at Pitt Down. Now we were into a long hot summer and we all sweltered at Pamber Forest although not seeing our quarry, the Purple Emperor. Although hot at Creech Wood we were luckier and saw the Purple Emperor at one of the Assembly Points.

West Harting Down is a walk not for the faint hearted, but the view and the species count is well worth the effort, we had a good count of Purple Emperor for once, with two on the ground, and other species making it an impressive (20) species in total. Several field trips had to be rearranged as the heatwave broke due to low pressure systems. However at Shipton Bellinger, the Brown Hairstreak and Wall Brown were counted in good numbers and at Broughton Down the Silver-Spotted Skipper was whizzing about keeping everybody happy. Butser Hill NNR turned out to be a triumph as the site was covered in a veil of cloud at 10:30 but as the morning wore on the sun came out as the mist lifted, and the butterflies were flying in droves, including in the list were Silver Spotted Skippers, Clouded Yellows and Adonis Blues.

2022 was a successful year and I would like to thank all of you who came and hope you will join me again in 2023, my 10th anniversary year of arranging field trips.

Ashley Whitlock Hampshire Field Trip Organiser

2021 Field Trip Highlights

Abbotts Wood Inclosure Field Trip July 2021

Another season of field trips, several of which had to be cancelled due to the inclement weather we have encountered in 2021.

We started in the New Forest in April looking for the Emperor Moth, this was during the period when only 6 people could meet outside due to Covid. We were successful in attracting one fresh male with my ‘lure’. In early May the Duke of Burgundy's were beginning to emerge in reasonable numbers on the slopes of Butser Hill and later in the month the rearranged Bentley Wood and Martin Down trips turned out to be rescheduled luckily for the better weather.

At Bentley Wood Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries were past their best and we didn’t see the Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary as to was too early, but the Martin Down trip on the last day of May was a triumph, seeing the Duke of Burgundy at this site for the first time and also plenty of Marsh Fritillaries and Adonis Blues plus other flora and fauna.

In mid-June Dark Green Fritillaries adorned Abbotstone Down which also appears to be one of the best sites for the Green Hairstreak. However due to the wet weather several summer walks were rearranged but this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the Purple Emperor was late to emerge in 2021!

In July we had two Purple Emperor field trips to Alice Holt Forest and West Wood in the space of three days and saw an extraordinary (24) Purple Emperors, and also another male of this impressive species was seen at West Harting Down the following week. In addition the beautiful Silver-washed Fritillary Valezina was seen in Crab Wood on the West Wood field trip.

August was no better weather wise but we managed to get in one of the best Field Trips at Shipton Bellinger where all the target species were seen. The Brown Hairstreak was noted about a dozen times despite the weather being cloudy with short periods of sunshine, and the elusive Wall Brown was encountered at least three times, along with good counts of Magpie Moths.

The New Forest at Beaulieu Heath produced the Grayling and in September the Adonis Blue and the lovely Silver-Spotted Skipper were seen in reasonable numbers at old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill.

I would like to thank all those who joined me in 2021 and hope to see you all in 2022.

Ashley Whitlock

Field Trip Co-ordinator