Sights of Summer on Old Winchester Hill

This morning we joined a few other members of our local RSPB group on a visit to Old Winchester Hill. It is a National  Nature Reserve on chalk downland, which  includes an Iron Age hillfort. It is actually  not very close to Winchester,(11 miles away) and is nearer to Warnford and the Meon Valley.  The walk was  entitled Sights of  Summer and, avian -wise, we were treated to an aerial display by four Ravens, tumbling and formation- flying, and good views of Yellowhammers, and  Red Kites. We found  plenty of wildflowers, and especially spectacular  were drifts of Round -headed Rampion (Phyteuma orbiculare), blipped here. Although common on  Old Winchester Hill, it is a plant found only on chalk downland, giving it its other name of Pride of Sussex. It is in the Campanula family and each  head comprises a cluster  of  20 -30 individual flowers.
My extra shows the hillfort with Wild Marjoram in the foreground .The rich flora was attracting lots of butterflies: Chalkhill Blue, Small Skipper, Hedge Brown, Meadow  Brown,  Ringlet, a few examples of Dark Green Fritillary, and  one Clouded Yellow. 
Altogether, a wonderful  morning spent in a special place.