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Hampshire - A Day with Moths, Butterflies & Reptiles (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR340A morning identifying the contents of a moth-trap and an afternoon searching for Adder, Grass Snake, Slow Worm and Viviparous Lizard alongside butterflies on a small private nature reserve in Hampshire. Both beginner and experienced naturalists are welcome!
£65
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Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Join us for a fascinating day out in Hampshire in search of moths, butterflies and reptiles with local naturalist Josh Phangurha. Looking through the moth-trap will reveal a range of species depending on the season from Elephant, Poplar, Pine, Lime and Privet Hawkmoths or one of nature’s wondrous masquerades, the Buff-tip. 36 butterfly species have been recorded on site including White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary, while other invertebrates may include Wasp Spider, Violet Ground Beetle and the predatory Glow Worm larvae. Working with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Amphibian and Reptile Group (HIWARG) we will also be surveying the site for Adders, Grass Snakes, Slow Worms and Viviparous Lizards and with luck we hope to find these species. The day will begin at 9am and end at 5pm with free parking and a 400m walk carried out on flat terrain.
- Adder, Grass Snake, Slow Worm and Viviparous Lizard all possible
- Identify the contents of a moth-trap in the company of an expert naturalist
- 36 species of butterflies have been recorded at this site
Throughout spring, summer and autumn a small private nature reserve in Hampshire bustles with life unbeknown to passers-by. By night, a plethora of moth species take to the air and four years of moth-trapping here has revealed exquisite species.
Moths recorded from July to September include the rare Light Crimson and Dark Crimson Underwings, influxes of Jersey Tiger, the shimmering Burnished Brass and migratory species such as Vestal, Dewick’s Plusia and more. From May to July, a variety of impressive hawkmoths can be seen including Elephant, Poplar, Pine, Lime and Privet, as well as the diurnal Hummingbird Hawkmoth, which can turn up at any time throughout the year. During this period the Buff-Tip, one of nature’s wondrous masquerades, can also been seen. In September, autumnal species start to appear with the possibility of such beautiful species as Merveille du Jour, Frosted Orange, Barred Sallow, The Sallow and more visiting the trap. Of course, these are just a few examples of what can turn up, as moth-trapping is unpredictable; nearly 2000 moth species, with varying flight seasons, have been recorded in Hampshire!
During the day we will take time to observe butterflies, of which 36 species have been recorded on site including White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary, while other unique invertebrates include the striking Wasp Spider, Violet Ground Beetle, predatory Glow Worm larvae and more. In addition, several years of reptile monitoring by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Amphibian and Reptile Group (HIWARG) has found healthy populations of Britain’s four widespread reptiles; Adders, Grass Snakes, Slow Worms and Viviparous Lizards all dwell in the reserve and we will take time to observe and photograph them while collecting records for HIWARG’s database.
While walking around this slice of valuable habitat, raptors such as Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk can be seen overhead, while more secretive passerines such Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest and Marsh Tit occasionally reveal themselves along the wooded edge. An old barn on site has been occupied by nesting Barn Swallows for many years and we will take time to view the nests from a respectable distance should they continue to return.
Small mammals such as Short-tailed Vole and Wood Mouse are regularly seen under the reptile refugia, while signs of Weasel have been found and Water Shrew was seen here for the first time in 2024.
Please note that this is a weather-dependent tour and dates may be rearranged in the event of heavy rain.
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Josh Phangurha
Josh has been passionate about wildlife as far back as he can remember. His mother has told him stories about his inquisitive behaviour towards nature even before he could walk, such as how he would crawl after insects on the ground as a baby. His first love was spiders and he held large collections of native and exotic spiders around the house as a child, and would collect orb web spiders on his way home from school to study during autumn. Since then he has developed a broader fascination into the world of herpetology and entomology, as well as becoming a keen birdwatcher and fungi finder!
This passion for the natural world spurred Josh on to study Zoology at Bangor University and then to study spider web-building ecology at the University of Bristol for his master's project. While studying, Josh assisted in the conservation research of the critically endangered Utila Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) off the northern coast of Honduras and he also volunteered as a research assistant in Guyana with the NGO Operation Wallacea.
As part of his undergraduate degree, he travelled to Arizona to complete a field course based on the ecology of herpetofauna in the Southwestern United States, where he would return to the following year to guide the new students through the course. Since graduating from both of these universities, he has been an expedition herpetologist for Operation Wallacea to survey reptiles & amphibians in Sulawesi, Indonesia, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico and Krka National Park, Croatia.
Josh has worked for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Hampshire County Council ecology team, and also joined the team for a short spell in the Naturetrek office!
Josh's main aim is to show people the little-known and currently less 'popular' species around world to raise awareness about their remarkable biology and the importance of protecting them.
Tour Leader: Josh Phangurha
Josh has been passionate about wildlife as far back as he can remember. His mother has told him stories about his inquisitive behaviour towards nature even before he could walk, such as how he would crawl after insects on the ground as a baby. His first love was spiders and he held large collections of native and exotic spiders around the house as a child, and would collect orb web spiders on his way home from school to study during autumn. Since then he has developed a broader fascination into the world of herpetology and entomology, as well as becoming a keen birdwatcher and fungi finder!
This passion for the natural world spurred Josh on to study Zoology at Bangor University and then to study spider web-building ecology at the University of Bristol for his master's project. While studying, Josh assisted in the conservation research of the critically endangered Utila Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) off the northern coast of Honduras and he also volunteered as a research assistant in Guyana with the NGO Operation Wallacea.
As part of his undergraduate degree, he travelled to Arizona to complete a field course based on the ecology of herpetofauna in the Southwestern United States, where he would return to the following year to guide the new students through the course. Since graduating from both of these universities, he has been an expedition herpetologist for Operation Wallacea to survey reptiles & amphibians in Sulawesi, Indonesia, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico and Krka National Park, Croatia.
Josh has worked for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Hampshire County Council ecology team, and also joined the team for a short spell in the Naturetrek office!
Josh's main aim is to show people the little-known and currently less 'popular' species around world to raise awareness about their remarkable biology and the importance of protecting them.
Tour Leader: Josh Phangurha
Josh has been passionate about wildlife as far back as he can remember. His mother has told him stories about his inquisitive behaviour towards nature even before he could walk, such as how he would crawl after insects on the ground as a baby. His first love was spiders and he held large collections of native and exotic spiders around the house as a child, and would collect orb web spiders on his way home from school to study during autumn. Since then he has developed a broader fascination into the world of herpetology and entomology, as well as becoming a keen birdwatcher and fungi finder!
This passion for the natural world spurred Josh on to study Zoology at Bangor University and then to study spider web-building ecology at the University of Bristol for his master's project. While studying, Josh assisted in the conservation research of the critically endangered Utila Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) off the northern coast of Honduras and he also volunteered as a research assistant in Guyana with the NGO Operation Wallacea.
As part of his undergraduate degree, he travelled to Arizona to complete a field course based on the ecology of herpetofauna in the Southwestern United States, where he would return to the following year to guide the new students through the course. Since graduating from both of these universities, he has been an expedition herpetologist for Operation Wallacea to survey reptiles & amphibians in Sulawesi, Indonesia, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico and Krka National Park, Croatia.
Josh has worked for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Hampshire County Council ecology team, and also joined the team for a short spell in the Naturetrek office!
Josh's main aim is to show people the little-known and currently less 'popular' species around world to raise awareness about their remarkable biology and the importance of protecting them.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
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