Field Trip to Queendown Warren on 24th May 2014

Led by Irene Palmer.

View over part of Queendown Warren on 24 May 2014.

Although a stormy day had been forecast, I hoped we might be lucky and slip between the storms. This began to look extremely unlikely as we drove over Wrotham Hill in a deluge, for we could hardly see the road markings for spray. Selwyn Dennis, the honorary warden, who had offered to lead us around the nature reserve, had already arrived when we drove up and the rain had eased.

Fairy Flax, Linum catharticum.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

The reserve's name originated from its use in the 13th century. The rabbit warren supplied meat and fur to the royal household of Queen Eleanor, widow of Henry III. When rabbits were first introduced they were fragile little things that needed their burrows dug for them, or bunkers constructed, quite unlike the butch rabbits that survived myxomatosis. The reserve stretches over 80 hectares and different compartments are owned by Plantlife, Swale Borough Council and Kent Wildlife Trust, who is responsible for its management. It is largely open chalk grassland on the North Downs escarpment, fringed by woodland with some ancient beech trees.

Meadow Clary, Salvia pratensis.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

Our visit started well with Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) being spotted before we opened the gate. Selwyn then took us into the main area of grassland to see a single plant of Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum). It had appeared on the reserve the previous year. Apparently there are old records of its presence on the reserve. We were curious to see some fenced off areas that demonstrated how many more plants were flowering where the rabbits were excluded, including Fragrant Orchids (Gymnadenia conopsea). The ground was thick with rabbit droppings in some places.

Adonis Blue, Polyommatus bellargus.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

A number of Fragrant Orchids were just coming into flower, especially on the lower slopes. Many familiar chalk flowers were present including, Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Purging or Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum), Common Rock Rose (Helianthemum chamaecistus), Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) and lots of Dwarf Thistles (Cirsium acaulon), which are notably rabbit-proof. It was noticeable in the areas where the thistles were common and the sward was generally very short, the only plants standing tall and apparently immune to rabbits were numerous Yellow-wort plants (Blackstonia perfoliata). As a member of the gentian family, Yellow-wort has a bitter sap which rabbits don't like. Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) and Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella) are similarly rabbit-resistant.

A small grass moth, Thisanotia chrysonuchella.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

It was good to see some flowers of Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), the larval food plant of the Chalkhill Blue butterfly (Polyommatus coridon). Some other chalk specials included Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and a particularly fine group of Meadow Clary (Salvia pratensis). There were also several plants of Ploughman's-spikenard (Inula conyza) that would be flowering later in the season. Before entering the woodland fringe near the bottom of the slope, we passed a group of violet plants where a hybrid had been identified Viola x scabra (V. hirta x V. odorata.) Sue Buckingham kindly gave me its name and also mentioned that a scentless Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) grows further up the slope.

Flowers of Hound's-tongue, Cynglossum officinale.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

On entering the woodland we saw Fly Orchids (Ophrys insectifera) and during the woodland walk I saw some of the finest specimens of White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium) I have ever seen, as well as the leaves of Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), which flowers in later summer. Several other orchids grow here including Early-spider Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) and Autumn Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis).

The sun came out during the morning and we were able to enjoy our picnic on a sunny bank. If the day had been sunnier we might have seen adders sunbathing. Several stunning Adonis Blue butterflies (Polyommatus bellargus) were on the wing and were able to get close enough to see their distinctive black and white edged wings. It was successfully re-introduced in 2002 and its larvae also feed on Horseshoe Vetch. We also saw male and female Common Blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus), as well as Brown Argus, which resembles the female Common Blue but the latter has more blue on the upper surfaces of its wings.

A crab spider, Misumena vatia.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

Towards the end of the walk we saw a couple of Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi) but no sign of any Silver-spotted Skippers, another scarce species. An Orange-tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) was seen on its foodplant Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Bill Welch photographed several small day-flying moths, each with distinctive patterns. One of these, Thisanotia chrysonuchella, is considered scarce, very local and probably decreasing. A few Cockchafers (or May Bugs) (Melolontha melolontha) were lumbering about in the grass and small emerald beetles were sheltering in buttercup flowers, probably feeding on the pollen. Bill Welch also found a good specimen of Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) with a white body. It tends to hide in flowers; this one was on a blade of grass and posing nicely. Birds had been reluctant to put in an appearance.

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle, Pyrochroa serraticornis.
Queendown Warren, 24 May 2014.

Our walk circled back through the upper woodland and took us past a large patch of Rosebay Willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), where Elephant Hawkmoths (Deilephila elpenor) are often found later and a large patch of mulleins that flower later in the year. As well as plants of Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum), hybrids can usually be found. It would be a good spot to search for the striking black and yellow spotted larvae of the Mullein Moth. Apparently Sylvia Priestly found Heath Speedwell towards the end of the walk.

Grace Green, whose eyes tend to look birdwards, had looked in vain for the resident Harris Hawk, an escapee and also for a Buzzard. Then, as we reached the car park, the cry went up — Buzzard — all eyes enjoyed its soaring flight for a few minutes before it moved on. The forecast had suggested we might be lucky and have a fine spell until about 2.00pm and so it was. As the nine members of our group left the reserve the clouds were gathering and more rain fell on the journey home.

Other species recorded by Bill Welch:

Small moths: Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Scoparia pyralella, Cochylomorphia straminea
Larger moths: Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)
Beetles: Cantharis pellucida, Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis), Cryptocephalus sp. (probably C. aureolus), Cantharis rustica (in the car park), 14-spot and 7-spot ladybirds, weevils, Phyllobius spp.
Spiders: A nest of just-hatched Araneus diadematus, Tetragnantha sp.
Bee: Bombus pascuorum