White Sheet Hill, Wiltshire, 31 May 2026

Above: Bath Nats group at White Sheet Hill © Phillip Delve

Leader: Phillip Delve

Having assembled with sun hats, walking poles, and stout boots, 15 members divided into two smaller groups. From the car park, I led the first group down the steep and rugged way to the lower part of the hill, followed by Glen Maddison’s second group. Inevitably, while spread across the lower slopes, everyone saw different things. In the first group, young Sebastian Mander quickly took the lead in identifying plants: Rock Rose, Kidney Vetch, Mouse-eared Hawkweed, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Thyme, Common Spotted Orchid, and Hoary and Ribwort Plantains.

There was some discussion regarding the difficulty in identifying the Five-spot or Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets seen flying in the cool conditions. Mike Williams found an interesting small spider in his sweep net here. He has identified this as  Neoscona adianta. There are only a handful of Wiltshire records, and it is mainly confined to the south-east of England, and a few coastal sites elsewhere.

A Buzzard, Red Kite, and Kestrel flew overhead. Other birds sang from the cover: Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Goldcrest, and Green Woodpecker.

It was some time before the sun and enough warmth brought out the Lepidoptera. With warmer air and sunny intervals, we began to see butterflies and moths: Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common and Adonis Blues, Small Heaths, and Grizzled and Dingy Skippers. The newly emerged Meadow Browns and fast-flying Painted Lady butterflies teased us in our search for Fritillaries. Moths included the Silver “Y”, Large Yellow Underwing, Mother Shipton and Yellow Shell.

My group made a longer walk to see Bee Orchids where they had been found previously. We were rewarded on our return with our first Glanville Fritillary butterflies.

After collecting our packed lunches back at our cars, we all headed towards the top of the hill and a chalk quarry sheltered from the strengthening gusts of wind. Here, we found more Bee Orchids and some spikes of Common Twayblade. Then, cameras in hand, we chased our only Marsh Fritillary. A Large Skipper and an additional Glanville Fritillary showing the underwing pattern were spotted. Tom Rogers saw a Yellowhammer close by in full view. A Bullfinch piped softly from cover.

Braving the gusting wind, we finished the meeting on top of the hill with panoramic views, including Stourhead House and Alfred’s Tower in the distance.

Phillip Delve

Records from White Sheet Hill by Mike Williams

Quarry area
Plants
Common Twayblade
Bee Orchid
Common Spotted Orchid
Horseshoe Vetch
Kidney Vetch

Insects
Lepidoptera
Marsh Fritillary
Dingy Skipper
Glanville Fritillary
Common Blue
Cinnabar
Brimstone
Large Skipper