Signs of Autumn

Wednesday 26th August 2015

Summer is just about hanging on, although the last few days have been a bit challenging at times, with much cooler temperatures and torrential rain. This afternoon the sun made an appearance for a while so we headed off to Durlston County Park for a quick walk.  It seemed as though many people had the same idea as it was busier today than it has been all summer. We started off in coats as the wind was quite cool off of the sea and once we were out of the wind the coat came off ........ and almost immediately I got bitten by a horsefly!  

Anvil Point Lighthouse (plus annoying telegraph pole!)

The signs of autumn were there, this tree was loaded with pears (or at least I think that's what they were, they had a distinctly pear shape in a very small way)

There were a few sloes around but not many, a bad year maybe?

Masses of Old Man's Beard as usual in a favourite spot.

Fungi in a circle, maybe a fairy ring?

Anvil Point Lighthouse (without the telegraph pole this time!)

At the Tilly Whim Caves - the location of the horsefly bite (the second one of the summer, they are a right pain, resulting in a very hot, aching, swollen tight bursting sausage like feeling in my arm for a couple of days).

It was nice to see a bit of swell on the sea for a change.

Pirate ship ahoy on the horizon.  I hope the people on it weren't prone to sea sickness as it was bobbing up and down big time, it made me feel a bit queasy just watching it.

Just lovely.

Last sign of autumn for today, blackberries - yum!

A Bird in the Hand Followed by a Toad in the Hand

Sunday 23rd August 2015

Summer has gone of that I am fairly sure - not that it ever really came in the first place this year! This morning the weather was dire, dark with heavy rain and Winnie the wood pigeon is proof of just how wet it was.  She seemed pleased to see me on our back steps, or rather seemed very pleased to see the suet I gave her, in fact once she'd eaten it she shook like a wet dog and sprayed me with water - several times.

This afternoon it dried up and the sun came out for a while so we got out for a walk in Hiltingbury, where I came across this little toad on the footpath.

Tiny and perfectly formed - a nice day for little toads I would imagine, there was no shortage of water that's for sure.

Last burst of Summer in the Garden

Saturday 22nd August 2015

This is just a quick post to show off the last bit of colour in our garden at the moment. 

I was admiring this begonia in my next door neighbours garden yesterday, by this morning it had been blown off in the heavy rain and my lovely neighbour left it on the wall for me - I put it in a saucer of water, where it stayed fresh for a good few days.

One of my standard fuchsias, this one is checker board and it's still covered in these long elegant flowers.

Swing time, a proper showy fuchsia, one of our favourites.

Another epic standard, Empress of Prussia.

Victoria plums.

Buddleia, much loved by butterflies.

Finally, braeburn apples.

A Visit From A Slow Worm

Sunday 16th August 2015

Whilst sweeping up leaves in the garden I came across this very attractive slow worm (about 14 inches long), glinting in the sunshine.  I swept over it twice before I realised that there was something there.  It didn't seem to be any worse for wear so I grabbed the camera and took a few pics.

After a while it moved off slowly, looking for an escape then disappeared through a hole in the wall.  Maybe it lives in or around the garden, I'll have to keep an eye out for it.  (I believe they eat slugs and there are masses of them around, so yes please, do hang around and feel free to dine on slugs!!)

Nine Barrow Down

Thursday 6th August 2015

We had a lovely walk this afternoon from Ulwell in Swanage along the Purbeck Way towards Corfe Castle.  We parked the car in a large lay-by that has what looks like a spring flowing into a ditch along the edge of it, the water looked so clear and clean I had to take a photo of it.

After last night's gloomy weather, a bit of blue sky and sunshine was very welcome.  Looking towards Swanage Bay.

The rolling chalk hills.

We spent a while seeking out different places in Swanage, everything looked so small!

Dead trig point, live cow!  This trig point no longer appears on OS maps so I guess it has been decommisioned or whatever it is that happens to ex trig points!

Guess which way the wind normally blows!

Shorn!

We walked for about 2 miles to some tumuli where we successfully found a geocache then walked back more or less along the same route.

We saw a kissing gate like this a few weeks ago in this area, this one though.....

.........has City of London on it, I wonder what the story is behind it?  London isn't really on the doorstep.

Four miles walked, lots to look at from a great height including fantastic views of Poole Harbour and Swanage. 

Summer.......Really?

Wednesday 5th August 2015

It's not been very summery of late, in fact this evening it was more like late autumn it was so dull, dreary and blowy on the coast. We had a walk along the north end of the beach in Swanage - in coats, for goodness sake it's August, what's going on? There weren't many people about, and even less at this end of the beach away from the hustle and bustle of the town.  There was drizzle in the air along with rumblings of thunder and the odd strike of lightening out to sea, which together with a dark grey sky was quite moody .  It was quite fascinating looking at the many styles of beach huts built over the years, most of them traditional with modern ones thrown in. We walked on beyond the beach huts and groins further than we've walked before along this section of beach, where large parts of the sand were perfectly untouched, not a footprint in sight.  

Looking towards Ballard Down.

The lifeboat was on the move out in the bay, we wondered if it was a training evening?

A brisk walk and plenty of fresh air then back to watch the Great British Bake Off!!!

Swanage Regatta and Carnival Week aerobatic

Wednesday 29th July 2015

I realise this is not nature related in any way but it's an observation that I really want to record.

We have just come back from spending a lovely relaxing week in Swanage.  We have been visiting Swanage regularly for over 20 years and have heard about Carnival Week but never experienced it.   Carnival week started last Saturday and we couldn't believe the amount of activities going on every day all day from late morning until late in the evening, catering for every interest for adults and children, it was truly amazing.  The Carnival Committee have to be congratulated for organising a tremendous week and for hopefully raising lots of money for local charities (according to the programme last year £195,000 was taken and about £22,000 was donated to charities). The Carnival Programme was full of every activity to take part in or to watch so we had already planned those things we didn't want to miss.  

On Saturday we watched the Aerostars Aerobatic Display team above the bay, then later in the evening watched a stunning firework display (there were two more during the week), both events were well worth watching.

Truly lovely.

Sunday was the day of the main Carnival Parade.  It was a wet and miserable day but the forecast was of improving weather by about 3pm, the time of the parade.  The committee made the decision to delay the start by an hour and it turned out to be a good move as the sky began clearing at 3 and by 4 it was drying up and brighter.  The parade was really good and these photos don't do it justice,  There were masses of people lining the route but we managed to find a quieter spot along the front.  Here are some photos of a few of the bands and floats, there were many more and the whole procession took about an hour to pass by.

I can't help thinking that this just wouldn't have looked as good in the rain!

We took part in an adult treasure hunt that used rhyming cryptic clues to lead us through the centre of Swanage and into areas that we haven't been to before,. We also started another competition around the shops of Swanage but there were just too many people on the same mission and I lost the will to live so we decided to give it a miss (especially as over 80 shops were taking part!)   All week there were live bands playing during the afternoon and evening and we managed to get to one on Tuesday afternoon at Prince Albert Gardens where we sat high up on the hill overlooking Swanage Bay on a sunny warm afternoon listening to a jazz group for a lazy couple of hours, it was just perfect.  We left Wednesday so missed out on the rest of the week which was a shame but next year we are planning to make sure we are around for the whole week (the wheelbarrow race looked great fun last night from snippets I have seen on Facebook!