looks like a lovely stroll there Red, i still have 3 feet of snow in the front yard so walks like that will have to wait for a bit.
dean
dean
Images from Hampshire (2007)
- Thread starter British Red
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I kind of envy you that Dan - other peoples climates are always interesting! That said do love the Downs - they are truly Gods own country!
Red
Sunrise this morning - hard to capture but always beautiful as the red fades to pale blue. Must get up on the hill one morning and do it justice
Red
Sunrise this morning - hard to capture but always beautiful as the red fades to pale blue. Must get up on the hill one morning and do it justice
Sadly Ian no Reds left round here - I'll see what I can do next time I get up around Formby - Altcar range was the last place I saw my namesake 
I hope you managed to get out for a bit today - a truly lovely spring day!
Red
I hope you managed to get out for a bit today - a truly lovely spring day!
Red
Well a day of birds, beasts and body parts!
What a glorious day! We cut up to Beacon Hill today and then back over the Downs to home just as the light was failing. It was one of those glorious spring days where every tree is perfectly outlined against a sky so blue it seems a miracle after the winter.
I love this dead tree what a haven for invertebrates and what a texture
The hedgerows are really bursting open now blossom is everywhere, the hawthorn leaves are bursting open, gorse is in flower. The raptors are just breeding amazingly in these last two years if we saw one buzzard today we saw thirty. Two at least took off from trees above us!
Buzzard taking off
Elder Opening
Snowstorm Blossom
I love this avenue of beech trees majestic somehow
Im not sure what raptor had been feeding on this fence post but clear sign they are eating well
As we looped over the top of the rise towards Beacon Hill, we saw this hen pheasant I think she was a little over confident over her camouflage which was good but not that good she needed to move down amongst the beech and hazel more they regularly give me a heart stopping moment when Im looking one way and an old cock pheasant whirrs off from a few feet away.
If you havent been to Beacon Hill, pay it a call if you are up on the Downs. Its not perhaps quite as beautiful as Old Winchester Hill with its protected chalk, but the views down the Meon Valley are quite superb and you can swing down the valley and over Old Winchester if you allow enough time (which sadly I didnt have today)
Old Winchester Hill is the horseshoe loop you can see to the right of the thorn bush a fantastic spot which I promise to publish (more) photos of another time
Looking down the Meon valley to Meonstoke
A proper English spring farming scene!
View over a tumulus
There was even a field where I spotted that the farmer had moved his Highland cattle to. I have a real soft spot for hairy cows I just adore these gentle giants. Now I know where they are again, Ill find many excuses to check in on them
There are plenty of great trees too standing ash covered in cramp ball
And Yews springing into life
As we wandered back, we saw a lovely sight our first Lapwing looping and doing aerobatics over the fields stunning we stood and watched for a good 5 minutes. No photos sadly as the loops and dives were too quick but youll know what I mean if youve ever seen it.
Did see this cute fellow though. Im tempted to say Yellowhammer but Im rubbish at birds
On the turn back into the farm, I hissed through my teeth to BB. Fortunately we know each other well enough not to do the why are you hissing at me thing. She froze, turned slowly and then moved softly to one side as this wary lady was staring at us from about 10 feet away
We are so very lucky to live here
Red
What a glorious day! We cut up to Beacon Hill today and then back over the Downs to home just as the light was failing. It was one of those glorious spring days where every tree is perfectly outlined against a sky so blue it seems a miracle after the winter.
I love this dead tree what a haven for invertebrates and what a texture
The hedgerows are really bursting open now blossom is everywhere, the hawthorn leaves are bursting open, gorse is in flower. The raptors are just breeding amazingly in these last two years if we saw one buzzard today we saw thirty. Two at least took off from trees above us!
Buzzard taking off
Elder Opening
Snowstorm Blossom
I love this avenue of beech trees majestic somehow
Im not sure what raptor had been feeding on this fence post but clear sign they are eating well
As we looped over the top of the rise towards Beacon Hill, we saw this hen pheasant I think she was a little over confident over her camouflage which was good but not that good she needed to move down amongst the beech and hazel more they regularly give me a heart stopping moment when Im looking one way and an old cock pheasant whirrs off from a few feet away.
If you havent been to Beacon Hill, pay it a call if you are up on the Downs. Its not perhaps quite as beautiful as Old Winchester Hill with its protected chalk, but the views down the Meon Valley are quite superb and you can swing down the valley and over Old Winchester if you allow enough time (which sadly I didnt have today)
Old Winchester Hill is the horseshoe loop you can see to the right of the thorn bush a fantastic spot which I promise to publish (more) photos of another time
Looking down the Meon valley to Meonstoke
A proper English spring farming scene!
View over a tumulus
There was even a field where I spotted that the farmer had moved his Highland cattle to. I have a real soft spot for hairy cows I just adore these gentle giants. Now I know where they are again, Ill find many excuses to check in on them
There are plenty of great trees too standing ash covered in cramp ball
And Yews springing into life
As we wandered back, we saw a lovely sight our first Lapwing looping and doing aerobatics over the fields stunning we stood and watched for a good 5 minutes. No photos sadly as the loops and dives were too quick but youll know what I mean if youve ever seen it.
Did see this cute fellow though. Im tempted to say Yellowhammer but Im rubbish at birds
On the turn back into the farm, I hissed through my teeth to BB. Fortunately we know each other well enough not to do the why are you hissing at me thing. She froze, turned slowly and then moved softly to one side as this wary lady was staring at us from about 10 feet away
We are so very lucky to live here
Red
Never been to the nature reserve - they are all over the Altcar rifle range though. I remember trudging down for my turn on Butt duty and seing the most perfect fellah sat with an acorn in his front paws nibbling away. The things you see when you don't have a camera
Red
Red
A short post this week - the "clematis hunting by torchlight" last night took its toll on me today!
Went for a nice walk along the ridgeline with BB to blow out the cobwebs. Saw this fallen ash that had clearly remained viable despite falling and was doing a fair impression of a Banyan!
For anyone who reads Pratchett and enjoyed the "Hat Full of Sky" series, they will be pleased to see that there are still shepherds huts on the high chalk - I'll look out for "Jolly Sailor" packets
I was very surprised to stumble over this many berries at this time of year. Im a bit stumped on the tree Siberian Crab Apple maybe?
Lastly some ground ivy no reason I just think its pretty!
Went for a nice walk along the ridgeline with BB to blow out the cobwebs. Saw this fallen ash that had clearly remained viable despite falling and was doing a fair impression of a Banyan!
For anyone who reads Pratchett and enjoyed the "Hat Full of Sky" series, they will be pleased to see that there are still shepherds huts on the high chalk - I'll look out for "Jolly Sailor" packets
I was very surprised to stumble over this many berries at this time of year. Im a bit stumped on the tree Siberian Crab Apple maybe?
Lastly some ground ivy no reason I just think its pretty!
Hey Red,
Did a quick tour of Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill myself yesterday. Fantastic weather and great to have a bit of time to myself.
Got up early and cooked my porridge on top of Old Winchester Hill, before bimbling over to Beacon Hill and back into Exton for a beer with my Dad in The Shoe!
I'm so lucky to be a short drive away from somewhere so beautiful!
Mat
Did a quick tour of Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill myself yesterday. Fantastic weather and great to have a bit of time to myself.
Got up early and cooked my porridge on top of Old Winchester Hill, before bimbling over to Beacon Hill and back into Exton for a beer with my Dad in The Shoe!
I'm so lucky to be a short drive away from somewhere so beautiful!
Mat
Fantastic isn't it Mat?
I'm luckier still - the car stays in the drive (I live right on the Wayfarers Walk)
Red
I'm luckier still - the car stays in the drive (I live right on the Wayfarers Walk)
Red
Great pictures Red! What kind of camera do you use?
I may not be able to have your photography skills, but maybe I can get a camera like yours, if I can afford it.
I may not be able to have your photography skills, but maybe I can get a camera like yours, if I can afford it.
you people are very lucky lincolnshire good but the farmers wont take to well going off any 'normal' footpath and your countryside is beautiful just one question how much does a good pint of ale cost over there?
Hanzo mate - mine is a cheap and cheerful Kodak (Z740) - good zoom on it for wildlife but thats it. No skill involved - nature and God provide the artwork - I hit the shutter release!
WW - not too sure as we make our own - one of the top three pubs in the country is on my wanders so I'll have to call in and check!
Red
WW - not too sure as we make our own - one of the top three pubs in the country is on my wanders so I'll have to call in and check!
Red
nice pictures mateBritish Red said: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, Im 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 hell 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. Theres 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!
Im 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
Just one tonight of "blood on the sun" as the old saying goes....
Not the best picture in the world but a lovely sight
Red
Not the best picture in the world but a lovely sight
Red
