After all the Facebook chitter chatter and mouthwatering pics of rare plants, Graeme Lyons decided he couldn't hold out any longer and asked for a tour of the New Forest specialities. No problemo, let's face it - he's shown me enough goodies in the past. This would be my turn to treat him to a few lifers. First up though, have a read of Graeme's account of the day on his blog at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/new-forest-gump.html

We met in the White...

There was still plenty of light in the sky as I headed southwards. Feeling like the day had more to offer I diverted towards an old favourite of mine - Farlington Marshes on the north shore of Langstone Harbour. I first came here in April 1987 with the YOC (happy days!) and saw my first ever Little Terns, Black-tailed Godwits, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. I came back the following winter and added Brent Goose, Red-breasted Merganser and Grey Plover to my birdlist. Then Spotted Redshank, Grey Phalarope and a pair of Penduline Tits. Other...

OK, so without wanting to sound like a stuck record (anyone even remember those?) I found myself back in the New Forest once more. Addicted. I aimed myself at Matley Bog, determined to find something good. Guess what, I did too! I headed into an area full of Bog Myrtle and heathers and soon spied a lovely female Thomisus onustus hiding on heather bells. I've only seen two of these before, both on Thursley Common last year. Stunning wee critters. So I was doubly pleased to find a second female a short while later, coolness! Far better even than that, I then found my first...

Can't seem to keep away from the New Forest at the minute, another spur of the moment traipse in search of a botanical delight with Tony Davis (led by Tony Davis, to be precise). This time our target was the ridiculously localised New Forest Bladderwort (Utricularia bremii). Its current known British distribution is a small pond and adjacent large puddle at Shatterford. That's it! For a plant believed to be native (it also occurs in Europe) that is one frighteningly tiny distribution. It was only recognised in the 1990s, I believe the chap that discovered it had to wait several years for...