Arne RSPB Reserve, Deer, a Fox & First Cuckoo of the Year

Thursday 28th April 2016

We had a lovely day full of fabulous wildlife, a day truly full of excellent spots. This morning we went back to Middlebeare Heath near Corfe Castle (we visited here a couple of weeks ago on a dull day) to one of the bird hides overlooking part of Poole Harbour.  It was cold and sunny and out of the wind it was a lovely place to just sit and watch wading birds.  

After a pub lunch we drove to Arne RSPB Reserve this afternoon where it was a hive of activity. Wood ants were extremely busy building and repairing their ant hills, there were many sika deer out grazing, we heard a cuckoo - the first this spring - the swallows, who are returning in larger numbers now were swooping and feeding above a cattle field and a fox passed us within about 4 or 5 feet - brilliant.

I couldn't stand watching these wood ants for long, just looking at them made me itch!!  However, they were amazingly busy, on a different ant hill some ants were carrying about small twigs and bits of fern far bigger than themselves.

This old oak tree has obviously been home to a few birds, whether these holes are in use this year we couldn't tell, despite waiting around for a while to see if anyone returned home!

The view across Poole Harbour from one of the view points.

This is the view from one of the bird hides.  We had to use our best stealth skills to get to the hide as a large herd of sika deer were feeding in front of the hide.  They were definitely aware we were there but just kept an eye on us and carried on eating.

I'd like to claim this photo as my own, but in the one I took, the deer had already landed! My husband with a far superior camera and lens took this.

Eventually we had to tear ourselves away from the hide but as we left the hide some of the deer had moved round to this side so we had a great close up encounter, again they weren't phased by us, they are obviously well used to people.

Back near the visitor centre in the car park we were lucky enough to have a close encounter (within 4 -5 feet)  with this beautiful fox, who appeared to have been eating seed from under the bird feeders - and is licking his/her lips in the photo!  Again, I think it must be used to being around people as it wandered past us as if we weren't even there.  Unfortunately the poor thing was limping on a back leg but it looked in good condition apart from that.

There were a number of well used large feeders around the visitor information centre and once the fox had left the little birds returned.

A fantastic place to visit, taking in various habitats including heathland, a beach, an estuary and woodland, I can thoroughly recommend it.

Kimmeridge Bay

Tuesday 26th April 2016

Well, it's been cold the past few days but today was on another level, it was like being back in January, the wind was that strong and freezing.  We walked from Kimmeridge Bay up past Clavell Tower and on along the south west coast path for a couple of miles.  Some of the footpath is a bit too close to the edge of the cliff for my liking in places, especially in a strong wind!  We were lucky enough to see a pair of peregrine falcons swooping about above us as we set off so that was a bit of a highlight.  

Kimmeridge Bay

Clavell Tower - for info see here

Walking towards Chapman's Pool

We then returned to Kimmeridge for a good old mooch about on the beach looking for fossils/

Around lunchtime, unbelievably, we had a quick flurry of snow and sleet and it came over very dark but the afternoon brightened up but it remained icy in the wind.

Alpacas, an Adder and Rabbits

Monday 25th April 2016

This afternoon we walked from Corfe Castle along a line of hills to meet up with where we walked to yesterday.  The views were just as dramatic and the weather even colder (gloves and hats were needed in the cold wind again today.)  We were lucky enough to see the steam train, heading for Swanage, passing over the bridge in Corfe, a lovely sight. 

Just before we joined the footpath we came across three alpacas in a field, very cute and very fluffy!

The footpath started out quite narrow for about half a mile or so.  I would imagine it's a bit claustrophobic in the summer with leaves on the trees and bushes closing in on what was already pretty narrow.  We saw many little birds today including notable ones like chiff chaffs, yellow hammers, thrushes, stonechats, and a wren.

The sun put in a brief appearance, just long enough for me to take a photo of Corfe Castle in the sunshine.

Poole Harbour from Rollington Hill.

Spot of the day today was this male adder all coiled up, surprisingly out in such a cold wind.  It looks like he's had a meal and is sleeping it off.  

As cute as ........ a rabbit!  There were rabbit burrows everywhere and one or two brave souls were out feeding in that cold wind.  

A nice spot for a coffee - the only seat we passed today and it was just as we fancied a stop - just the job. It was mostly downhill from here back into Corfe, another lovely walk completed and three geocaches successfully found.

A Short Walk Through Bluebell Woods

Sunday 24th April 2016

Yesterday we had a look online for bluebell woods near Swanage and came up with Brenscombe Woods near Corfe Castle, so we decided to visit it this morning.  We didn't have to drive far but in that short distance we found every cyclist in the area seemed to be out on the roads - but then I suppose that would happen on a sunny Sunday in such a nice area.  We parked the car under an oak tree and soon realised that a pair of blue tits were nest building in it in a little hole. 

Oak tree + hole.

Oak tree + hole + blue tit disappearing into it with what looked like horse hair in it's beak - I tried to take a photo as it came back out but it was too fast and by the time the camera clicked it had well and truly gone.

A carpet of bluebells.

Violets.

The views from Brenscombe Hill were amazing, looking across Poole Harbour in one direction and Swanage and Corfe Castle in the other.

A steam train en route to Swanage from Corfe Castle.

A few nosey locals - I was the other side of the fence, not in with them like yesterday!

A solitary orchid, which I think is the early purple orchid.

To the left of this photo the slope was a mass of yellow, hundreds of celandine flowers,

and this bank was a mass of primroses.

I'm glad we chose this spot today, it was definitely a cheery place full of colour and flowers.  We also saw plenty of the usual little birds but a couple of highlights were a chiff chaff close up and a pippit of some sort but I have no idea which one they all look very similar in the bird book! We also saw this rabbit having a wash and brush up - a long way off but very cute nevertheless.

A Circular Walk From Tyneham

Saturday 23rd April 2016 - St George's Day

Although it was sunny and bright today, there was a bit of a return to colder temperatures from a chilly wind.  We had a look round Tyneham Village on 23rd January but as we were short of time we couldn't spend long there so we returned today to see some more of the area.  

  In 1943 the villagers of Tyneham were moved out by Winston Churchill so that the area could be used in preparation for the D-Day Landings.  The villagers never returned and the area is now part of the MoD Lulworth Range  and can only be accessed at weekends and holidays.

Get straight to the point why don't you?!!!!

Cowslips and bluebells - lovely.

The view from Lawford Sheard.

The outskirts of the hill fort.

We left the village and walked up a steady climb to Lawford Sheard, and along Whiteway Hill to the ancient hill fort at Rings Hill.

The view from Flowers Barrow across Worbarrow Bay.

Looking towards Portland in the distance.

From here we had a very steep descent (pretty hairy when it's wet I would imagine as it was bad enough in the dry today) to Worbarrow Bay.

Epic little violets.

I quite like cows (not those with horns) but not when the footpath goes through a field of them.

But it's ok to blow up cows??

Beautiful Worbarrow Bay - just the spot for a bit of well earned lunch.

The next cove along was Pondfield Cove, another lovely place.

It was then back uphill to Gad Cliff, where there were even more fabulous views across to St Aldhelms Head and Kimmeridge.  The path then took us back into Tyneham Village via a field of cows - some of which were blocking the path completely and as we didn't want to get blown up or worse by straying off the path, we had to find a way through them - luckily they started to walk on and it felt like I was living the life of a cowboy rounding them up!!  The cows wandered down to join the sheep - a far less scary bunch.

We returned to the village and had a look round what remains of Tyneham Farm and the exhibitions there, then it was back to the car. 4.5 miles walked in a lovely area taking in some amazing views, you can't get much better than that.