Holmsley area - 14th June

A grey day with some sun. Highlights were Dartford Warbler, Snipe, Southern Marsh Orchid, Heath Spotted Orchid and a cream tea!!

As we left the car park a Mistle Thrush flew up and landed on some wires and a Magpie flew past. We walked up the road and out towards Holmsley Ridge. A group of small birds that kept flitting between some trees and the ground turned out to be House Sparrows. Meadow Pipits sang from the heather and a male Stonechat showed off quite close by. Looking at the ground we noticed several flowers. Lousewort, Tormentil, Heath Bedstraw and Milkwort were all quite common and both Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath were in bloom. We also saw a little Wood Sage in flower and plenty of Sheep’s Sorrel. A Dartford Warbler started singing from the top of a gorse bush and gave good views for a few minutes. As we walked down towards the disused railway line we passed some Heath Speedwell and a group of Heath Spotted Orchid, over 100 of them.
Once on the disused railway line we walked towards Holmsley tea rooms. We passed flowering Self Heal and some Swallows. A few birds started singing and we saw and heard Willow Warbler, Blackbird and Song Thrush. A Snipe also called from the boggy stream valley. In the damp ground by the railway line we saw some purple flowers. They were Southern Marsh Orchids, about 10 altogether, scattered over a little area. A little further on and we found some Ragged Robin in open damp woodland. For the rest of the walk we were accompanied by singing Robins and Blackbirds and there was a Grey Wagtail just before we got to the tea rooms.
Simon Curson