Quarry Hangars NR, between Merstham and Chaldon, Surrey ... 29th June 2011

A return visit to Quarry Hangars NR on the North Downs in the hopes of finding more butterflies than on the last visit.

I arrived at about 6.30 a.m. and soon found several magnificent Roman Snails.




A few Marbled Whites were on the wing, along with Ringlets and Meadow Browns and the occasional Large Skipper and a few Small Skippers. A Yellow Shell moth and a lot of Common and Garden Grass Veneer moths were also seen.



The panoramic view from this reserve is quite breathtaking.






I was soon joined by Richard Bartlett, who is very knowledgeable when it come to plants and moths.
We covered Quarry Hangars and moved across the bridle path to the adjoining Park Ham nature reserve. There were far more wild flowers present including a Bee Orchid, many Pyramidal Orchids and numerous Yellow Rattle.



A buck Roe Deer ran across the meadow and I had seen two hinds here when I arrived at the site earlier in the morning.

Several Silver Y moths were on the wing along with Six-spot Burnet Moths and one or two Cinnabars. We found a Six-spot Burnet larva and several cocoons.



Richard noticed a small reddish grass moth and he managed to get a remarkably good photo of it. It goes by the superb name of Rosy-striped Knot-horn Oncocera semirubella.



Hopefully, there will soon be some decent birds to report.

Graham & Richard