Images from Hampshire (2007)

[British Red]

Had a few nice outings lately and, chatting to a friend today who is at home looking after his lady, I took some piccs for a "virtual walk"

So today we went to the pub! No great adventure - but its a nine mile or so round trip through the woods (great pub too - we could smell the smoke from the fires as we got near - its just extended beyond the original four tables - all beer from micro breweries from "the wood"...oh yeah - and a full size archery course in the garden with four "butts" - for the patrons use)


It felt like the first day of spring today.... bright sun and sudden heavy showers. Certainly weather for gaiters! The sun coming on the raindrops caused rainbows and "jewels" on the trees and flowers though - birds, bees and spring blooms were everywhere. The world smells fresh, clean, and very, very young

The bees were hugely noisy - great "Zeppelin" bumble bees on the cherry blossom

And also loving the goat willow that is just opening up

The rain made beautiful patterns - on each individual Birch tree

and on whole stands of them

Flowers were really starting to show in small, brave patches....

Primrose...

Blackthorn

and Wood Violets

Some fascinating galls on oak leaves

Birds were everywhere - woodpeckers tapping, chaffinch "pinking", the chip of bullfinches. This fellow wanted to see us off...

And this one was waiting for a bed time snack (Sparrowhawk)

A truly lovely day to be out and about!



I got this shot the other day, but I do like it so its shamelessly included

Red

 

[oldsoldier]

Those are some absolutely stunning pictures. We're still blanketed in snow...anxiously awaiting spring!

 

[chrisanson]

good stuff Red, nice one m8

 

[JonnyP]

When you go walking Red, you obviously do not just watch the path in front of you, as so many people do, some great images there. Esp like the water on the trees shot, looks like a big cob web......

 

[British Red]

Thats exactly how it did look Jon! No its why I generally only walk alone or with BB - she's patient enough to not mind me seeing an interesting leaf and spend 5 minutes tring to photograph it . Its always more a journey of exploration than a stroll for me - there are so many things to see. Tracks are my latest interest ...found two new badger setts this walk. Lovely

Red

 

[JonnyP]

Thats exactly how it did look Jon! No its why I generally only walk alone or with BB - she's patient enough to not mind me seeing an interesting leaf and spend 5 minutes tring to photograph it . Its always more a journey of exploration than a stroll for me - there are so many things to see. Tracks are my latest interest ...found two new badger setts this walk. Lovely

Red

Fantastic....Its often about the journey, rather than just getting to where you are going....Sadly, we are often in such a rush that we miss out on so much along the way....

 

[AndyW]

Great pics Red. I'm the same. My little boy (nearly six) doesn't mind me stopping around to get pics as he's really interested to know what I'm finding so interesting

Otherwise I prefer to be out on my own too and can just bimble around taking it all in.

 

[fred gordon]

Fantastic pictures Red. One of my sons lives in Fleet and I think Hampshire is a lovely part of the country. So different from where I live.

 

[Aragorn]

nice pictures red, what camera do you use ?

 

[Snufkin]

Nice pics mate, but most importantly where's this pub! Real ale and archery butts. Sounds great .

 

[British Red]

Hi Guys - just uploading a few more since today was so glorious.

The camera is a humble Kodak z740 Aragorn - nothing fancy but a good zoom at 10x optical!

Snufkin

The pub is the "Hampshire Bowman" - fantastic pub - all beer from the wood and archery on site. A few of us are getting together in a couple of weeks for a "pie and a pint" there if you would care to join us?

Red

 

[British Red]

Had another lovely day today. We set out the other way from the cottage to last week. As we entered the woods at the end of the closed field, the Norwegian Spruce we beautifully lit

Inside the wood the world was really waking up in the warm weather. There was real evidence of predation in the Scots Pine. Note the chewed off tips on the needles on this removed branch (one of many)

Now, I’m poor at woodpecker sign. There are greater and lesser spotted and green in these woods – not sure which made these holes ?

A few trees further on – a till living Silver Birch – not sure how well he’ll do with the rather lovely polypore living on him though

As we left the woods and cut across to the next farm, we saw five common buzzards on the same spiral. There’s a patch of woods that must have three of four nesting pairs within feet of each other. They clearly feed along one particular fence line – the evidence is everywhere!

I’m rubbish at birds on the wing – this is the best I could get

The fields themselves were full of wild flowers – loads of dead nettle and many others

As we came into the farm, it was clear that calving was well underway. The calving pens were packed. This young man was a couple of days old, but had we waited an hour, he would have had a playmate!

Walked on over the high downs and saw a perfect “oak apple”. There are going to be plenty of gall wasps round here!

Time for tea and a picture since BB has sewn the badge on!

Saw loads of “Ramsoms” as we walked back down the path – omelette for tea!

As we cut back over the home field we saw the March Hare at play – lovely!

Home to BBs mate (the blackbird we know from his odd white feathers) singing us in on evening chorus!

Red

 

[JonnyP]

fantastic....Nice set of images and nicely narrated......
It could of been a nuthatch making them holes, and I have even seen great tits tapping away at trees...

 

[British Red]

Interesting...could well be ..we certainly get plenty of nuthatches and tree creepers round here. Fenlander mentioned that, if that really is hawthorn I saw earlier, its hellish early! Theres cloud of the stuff along the lanes and I must say I'm 90% sure hawthorn over blackthorn...has anyone with better skill than mine got an opinion? Anyone else seen Hawthorn in flower?

Red

 

[Floyd Soul]

I haven't seen hawthorn in flower yet. Are the leaves on it out? With hawthorn the leaves come out first and then the flowers after. Blackthorn (sloe) has the flowers coming out first before any leaves and then leaves after.

Could you identify the purple flower in this picture for me? Its all around my area and I've been wondering what it is. Ta!

 

[British Red]

Thats a red dead nettle Floyd ( Lamium purpureum).

I'll have to nip back and have a look but the leaves then flowers or flowers then leaves is the sort of identitfication tip I like on the hawthorn / blackthorn - foolproof. Thanks mate

Sadly, I trust Fenlanders skills over my own so I suspect he's right. The seasons are so screwy though - its hard to tell! Although, on investigation - Its Blackthorn!

Red

 

[bushwacker bob]

We walk the same paths
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=19688

 

[British Red]

Why am I not surprised mate ?

Saw this big old bumble bear tonight

Verry old...verrry slow - sweet!

Red

 

[Gailainne]

The weather your having is amazing, lucky you, looking at your photos (very nice compositions BTW ) I would relate them more to late May than March !, I drove through a minor hail storm on the way to work on friday, and the Ochills had a fresh covering of snow, did'nt last long thou.

However on a happier note the snowdrops have been out for weeks, daffs are following, and quite a few trees are in blossom, early cherry I'm told.

I've been out on a few "bimbles" (what a brilliant word, had'nt heard it before I came on these forums ), still havent found any Crampball fungus, but plenty others to keep me guessing, and is'nt looking, observing really what its all about
?

BR keep up the good work mate, your an inspiration, among others on this site, who have inspired me (at least) to get out there again and enjoy the simple and the complex that is nature.

Regards

Stephen

PS BIIIIG rep for adding your Cegga to Karens fund.

 

[British Red]

Come for a "bimble" when you are passing Stephen - loads of fallen Ash round here covered in cramp ball - plenty of horses hoof (false tinder) and more borch polypore (razorstrop) than you can shake a stick at

The only one I risk running into is Bushwacker Bob (although oddly that's mostly at the local viallge supermarket rather than in the woods - I think he spots me coming and hides )

Red