Dorset Walks

Friday August 31st
Fontmell Down

list of species seen

Trip Report
Sunshine was at a premium this afternoon with some of the warmest weather as we first arrived. This produced a string of butterfly sightings the best of which was a fresh male Brimstone.
© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Wild Basil
Wild Basil 		Walking along the path to the down itself we found Wild Basil growing in some numbers.
Leaving the path by way of a very awkward stile we found ourselves on the hillside of Fontmell Down surrounded by an enormous diversity of wild flowers. Wild Parsnips and Wild Carrots were everywhere with a few Harebells hiding in the long grass. Autumn Ladies Tresses were growing in the grass but took a bit of spotting. © Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Wild Parsnip
Wild Parsnip
© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Adonis Blue
Adonis Blue 		A great many other plants were found (listed below) but nothing as odd as the yellow slime-mould or dog-vomit fungus.

Before the sun finally disappeared we found 2 blue butterflies - one Common Blue and one stunning Adonis Blue.
Reaching the end of our walk we just stood still and took in the amazing view. Below us a pair of young Kestrels practised their hovering skills in the updraft on the hillside and a Buzzard soared in the distance.

The day's list...

Birds

Buzzard
Kestrel
Wood Pigeon
Rook
Raven
 Butterflies

Adonis Blue
Brimstone
Common Blue
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood
Small White
 Plants

Agrimony
Autumn Ladies Tresses
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Black Bryony
Black Knapweed
Black Medick
Blackthorn
Bramble
Bristly Ox-tongue
Burnet Saxifrage
Carline Thistle
Clematis
Common Elder
Common Ragwort
Common Toadflax
Dandelion
Dogwood
Great Plantain
Harebell
Hawkweed Ox-tongue
Hawthorn
Hedge Woundwort
Hoary Plantain
Hogweed
Horseshoe Vetch
Kidney Vetch
Lesser Timothy
Marjoram
Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Vetchling
Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Musk Thistle
Purging Buckthorn
Red Campion
Ribwort Plantain
Rough Hawkbit
Salad Burnet
Slime Mould
Small Scabious
Smooth Hawkbit
Squinancywort
Stinging Nettle
Teasel
Wayfaring Tree
Wild Basil
Wild Parsnip
Yellow-wort

back to home page . . .