Images from Hampshire (2007)

[British Red]

Well, Spring is here with a vengeance on the Downs. The difference in the woods is incredible! That said heres a photo of hail from earlier in the week – hail and daisys – kind of sums up this spring!

It was bright but very windy day best summed up by this picture of one of the rides

The wind was so bad even amongst the trees we had to improvise a windshield for the stove – BB knocked this up from cypress bark – pretty nifty wot?

There were lots of wood anemones out – none last week that I saw and stacks now – still plenty of violets and the lesser celandines are out everywhere

Wood anemone

Violets

The other thing I noticed was the amount of leaf buds bursting open. Heres two I found particularly attractive –

A cherry

And a Wayfaring Tree

Saw a few interesting bits and bobs today

“Thug Robin” who loves to see us off from one patch of woodland

Some lovely Tramates Versicolour fungi

Heres an interesting thing – some sort of growth – there were lots of these on the same Birch – maybe 10-15mm across – all with that dimple. Looked like a gall to me but I have no idea what sort – anyone have an idea what it is?

I’ll link to this – don’t look if you are squeamish!

More evidence of our buzzard population doing their job – this rat had clearly had a fairly close encounter

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/442446817_d442ad5834.jpg

To round off on a nice note – found a patch of wild strawberries

Red

 

[JonnyP]

Lovely shots...As per usual......
It was windy over your way this weekend, was glad I had the big tarp with me, so I could pull the wind side right down to the ground, to keep the wind off us...
Not sure on that gall....

 

[British Red]

Weird thing isn't it? Bout the size of a .44 pistol ball (shooting black powder this morning )

There must be...a dozen? More? on one tree. Very like oak galls in size but looks like bark over the top (although a different texture). Logic said to me something had burrowed through the bark but thats just guessing

Ahh well - hopefully someone can help - I'll show them to you when come for a stroll. Saw some fascianting Roe droppings too, but not really a subject for photos! Rather like that rat - I don't think he'll recover (although I suspect it cured his headache). We like Buzzards!

Red

 

[hanzo]

Nice Red. More please!

I just met a cute photographer at a wedding today, so I am going to take her out to lunch to pick her pretty brains.

 

[Tony]

We should have a spring photo thread

Good stuff BR, spring's a lovely time of the year.

 

[British Red]

Actually thats not a bad idea Tony...I may make something "image" based the next comp I put together. I always try to get to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and enjoy all the other "nature" based comps from Countryfile Calendar onwards! Trouble is they make me want to throw my camera away since there are so many fantastic photographers out there...but I still love seeing their work!

For me, a lot of the time, the pictures are a great way of recording things I've seen - often to help with identification or comparison when I get home. This thread is always good for me since I can ask the clever people when I'm stuck!

Red

 

[British Red]

Well Spring is just all over today. Just a few piccs of a glorious day

Cherry Blossom

Lesser Celandine

Whit Dead Nettles in flower

Tonight's sunset

Peregrine Falcon Falcon Flying

Red

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

Look like you had a wonderful day mate

I was grafting most of the day and would have loved to have been out in a sunny Spring day - hope the weather holds

Phil.

 

[British Red]

Never left the farm Phil

The Peregrine was eating me spadgers (not that I mind - she's beautiful - something to behold out of your bedroom window when she swoops in like an Exocet)

Damn I am a lucky, lucky man to live here!

Red

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

Damn I am a lucky, lucky man to live here!

Red

You sure are

Although I'm just as lucky, but in a different way, with where I live.

Could just use some more freetime to get out there at the moment

Still, here's to a great weekend

Phil.

 

[Butchd]

Isn't that a white dead nettle? Not that I would expect you to test it of course! Stinging nettles have small green flowers I think from memory without checking.

 

[British Red]

You know I think you must be right. The leaf structure looks like a stinger for a ll the world and its the size of a stinger too - much larger than a red dead nettle. Unless anyone can tell me otherwise, I'll have to try the test

Red

 

[Butchd]

The leaves really do look like a stinger and without the flower I'd have said it was a stinger for sure! Good luck with the test!

 

[British Red]

Your right I'm wrong!

White dead nettle for sure - I'd have bet money on it - still - thanks Butch!

Okay, can anyone help me with an identification on this - a lowish growing shrub (3') with tiny white flowers - really tiny - just a couple of mm across. Beautiful to look at. I've put a SAK in for scale since you could almost say "miniature blackthorn" if you din't have the scale!

Anyone?

Red

 

[British Red]

What a beautiful day!

Was this really an English bank holiday weekend?

Well, today was a day of pilgrimage for us – to some of the most peaceful and beautiful places we know – a time for memories, beauty, celebration and soft sadness.

We walked to Old Winchester Hill – those following this thread will know we visit this Bronze Age hill fort frequently for lots of reasons – its one of the few completely protected areas of high chalk left. It houses barrow sites from before Julius of Claudius touched these shores.

This is the land that I love

If you remember the shots from earlier in this thread from Beacon Hill (named after the Armada beacons) this shot looks back the other way from the fort to Beacon Hill

There was some fantastic flora and fauna around (as always in this spot)

Perhaps the most stunning was this Bee-Fly – note the amazingly long proboscis. I’m kind of hoping Jon Pickett might like this one!

The Gorse was beautiful – that weird smell – I think coconut with a little aniseed

Cowslips were just coming into bloom everywhere

There was this LBJ flying around. A beautiful three-note call. It sat high in the goat willow and birch – flitting from tree to tree and calling repeatedly. I really have no idea what it was – some sort of warbler perhaps?

The inevitable “Santa’s watcher was of course keeping an eye on my behaviour”

This Garden (?) spider was spinning from one bud of a Wayfarers tree to the next

We went from the hill to Corhampton. I don’t know how old this village is. Saxon for certain. The ducks as always swam in the stream

The Harebells in the woods were starting to show through

A thrush was making nests – I love these birds and its always a joy to see them

What is it with churchyards and rooks and jackdaws? Either way – more nests are in progress in the Saxon Churchyard

Here is the most peaceful, beautiful, calm church in the world. Forgive the sepia but the church demands a feeling of history, it has stood on this spot for over a thousand years

The “brick graves” need to be seen to be believed

The church Yew is a magnificent old man

Look at this for living wood!

A day to be close to God – however you see him and wherever you find him

Red

 

[stovie]

Wonderfully evocative pictures Red...keep it up

 

[British Red]

Today was a day of flowers , it was just glorious, the apple and cherries were in full flower at the cottage. The hedges and woods have all the spring flowers out now. Rather than do my normal descriptions, I'll just show you the pictures

The apple tree behind the cottage

One of my "bleeding heart" plants - I adore these perennials

One of the cherries in bloom looking down on the cottage

One of the early perennials in flower

Black Bryony growing already to 6'

The woods were full of bluebells

Greater stitchwort growing on the banks

Herb Robert

Just for Spike! a Monkeyflower!

Common lungwort

Loads of solomons seal coming up

Amazing willow seed pods

I love Wayfaring trees – and the flowers are just coming out

Still loads of violets around

The wild strawberries are in flower

A great day - I hoped you enjoyed yours

Red

 

[JonnyP]

Wow, you have some stunning photo's there Red, I missed your last lot somehow.... Love the bee fly, think I have only seen 1 before. Your tree top repetitive bird is a chiff chaff, loads around now. Must pop over for a bimble soon...

 

[British Red]

You should for sure Jon. I have found a lovely spot for Hares - I see one probably one walk out of two in a certain spot. We stood watching a big old boy today - too far for photos but a fantastic sight. Found a spot for bank voles too - again much too quick for photos but lovely to see.

Thanks for the ident on the bird, I'd love to show you the "haunts" - I'm sure I would learn a lot!

Red

 

[British Red]

Just liked this guy today - he was right up for a game of "peek a boo"

Red