An Observation

Friday 4th October 2013

This has nothing to do with nature but it is an observation!  This evening just as it was getting dusky we had a swift two mile walk around Southampton Common and I hope I don't sound a bit obsessive but we saw 59 joggers  ( I don't think there were any duplicates in that number!) Last week it was all dogs, whereas today we only saw one along the path.  What was going on?We saw 12 people jogging in the first 3 minutes!!!   I suspect they were all trying to get their exercise in before it got dark.  We didn't manage our walk before it got dark but it didn't matter.

On a nature note, we did hear an owl doing it's thing and the swans were all present and correct on the boating lake.  It was a very muggy evening and strangely warm so we walked without coats and jumpers - nice.

Here and There in Romsey

Wednesday 2nd October 2013

Here are a few pictures from a quick walk around Romsey this morning.  We walked through the Memorial Park where there were a few signs of autumn. 

The bandstand in Romsey Memorial Park

We then cut through to Sadlers Mill and walked briefly alongside the River Test.  There was a field of cows close by and there were two very lovely young calves frolicking about (do cows frolick or is it just sheep?) they were having fun anyway.

The two calves are in the foreground.

We walked back through the centre of Romsey and through the garden at King John's House, where there were a few things worth photographing.

Bunches of grapes.

Through an archway.

Love lies bleeding.

and finally a reminder that this lovely well maintained garden is in the middle of the town and right next to a car park!

Fritham and an Adder

Friday 27th September 2013

Today's walk was a 5.7 mile circular walk from Fritham in the New Forest.  We found two geo-caches successfully, one of which was in the middle of nowhere and we were a bit dubious about finding it but to our surprise we went more or less straight to it.  We started off walking across the heathland where we came across a youngish female adder.  I don't think she was dead keen on having her photo taken because as soon as I had I taken this over exposed little number she disappeared into the heather.

A female adder.

Latchmore Brook with a few fallen leaves at the dam.

We stopped for a bite to eat at a very convenient wooden seat dedicated to Eric Ashby MBE, 1918 to 2003, naturalist, pioneer wildlife film maker and president of the New Forest Badger Group. 

A very comfortable chunky wooden seat carved with a badger and a fox, just right for ..........

dangling my feet off!

During our walk we came across a variety of fungi, here are some of the best.

I think this is an ink cap, but I have no idea what the previous two fungi are.  I have looked at fungi books before but identifying them seems a nightmare as there are many similar species.

Colourful ferns.

Autumn is Coming

Thursday 26th September

Autumn, as I said a few days ago is definitely on the way.  We had a swift two mile walk on Southampton Common this morning and the signs are there.

The oak tree leaves are turning and the acorns are dropping - luckily not on me!

Half way round the circuit of the common we stopped off to see the swans on the boating lake.  I wrote about this lovely family last on August 15th, less than a week later on a walk we noticed one of the cygnets was missing.  There were five cygnets when we first saw them back in June, there were still five in August which I was surprised about but now it seems there are only four. Today the family were still there, the adults and four cygnets on a lake that did seem very murky.

Leaves are beginning to fall and there is a real earthy smell of autumn.  This morning it was a bit misty too.

Anyway, dogs........... how many dogs did we see on the common in just over two miles taking forty minutes?  Forty...... forty dogs of different breeds, sizes and ages!!!!!  It has to be said that black labradors seemed to be the dogs to take out on a Thursday morning - lots of them about.

Almost back at the car we noticed this bit of a fairy ring.

Durley

Tuesday 24th September 2013

We walked just over three miles on a circular route around Durley this morning in an attempt to find fifteen geo-caches.  We failed to find the first two so were a little down hearted but things began to look up when we came out from under the trees and the GPS began working again - it doesn't like it under heavy leaf cover - the joys of modern technology!!  In the woods there was lots of badger evidence some of which was recent, I would think one badger had a good old spring clean in it's sett last night.

Badger sett.

We then walked on various footpaths over farmland and along little lanes and successfully found the remaining caches, most of which were in quite unusual containers which made a pleasant change.

The maize fields looked good, there are fields and fields still to be harvested.

More colourful berries in the hedgerows.

By midday we were all getting a bit hot under the collar in the hot September sunshine - but it made a change after the rain in Cornwall last week!   However, autumn is on it's way as here and there the leaves are just beginning to change colour.  We also came across a few parasol mushrooms in a field.  These mushrooms are found from July to October and they start off egg shaped when young and flatten out with age, these were massive. 

A parasol mushroom (with a hand to show just how big the mushroom is).

We had a lovely walk, saw plenty and found our 900th geo-cache - epic,

Go! Rhinos - Part 3 - Final Part

Saturday 21st September 2013

Today I managed to take photos of the last two remaining rhinos on the Go! Rhinos trail (see previous posts on 17th July and 1st August).  We drove to Marwell and on to the Holiday Inn in Winchester to find the final two.  The trail finishes tomorrow and it seems to have been a great success - apart from the mindless vandals that have to ruin things for everyone (some rhinos have had to be removed from the trail and housed in Go! Rhinos HQ in the Marlands due to damage and vandalism).  I have really enjoyed wandering about re-visiting places I haven't seen for years looking at the fabulously painted rhinos.  They have brightened and livened up the town centre that's for sure and looking back over the photos we did have some really good weather too.  

Ronnie at the Ageas Bowl (Hampshire Cricket Ground).

At Skandia House.

RhinOSeros - the OS rhino (with map symbols on it) at the Civic Centre.

Reveal - Civic Centre.

Erica an interactive 'cyber-rhino' in The Marlands.

Bunty was also in The Marlands.

Stylo-Rhino was relocated to Go! Rhinos HQ in the Marlands from Southampton Airport.

Seymour is here in Above Bar Street but was later relocated after vandals ripped his clothing and stole his hard hat and ear defenders. 

A quick trip to Marwell today.

And a visit to the courtyard at the Holiday Inn in Winchester, which doesn't look much from the outside but is lovely inside (we had to go through the hotel to get to the courtyard).

The Rhinos all return to Marwell Zoo from the 10 - 14 October apparently for a rhinotastic weekend!  Later in October the rhinos will be sold at a charity auction with proceeds going to Marwell's rhino and other conservation projects plus two local charities.  

Great stuff.

Harlyn Bay

Friday 20th September 2013

We had to vacate our holiday cottage by 10am today so we decided to make the most of the last day in Cornwall and have a final walk along the beach at Harlyn Bay.  What a lovely relaxing place.

Too cold for bare feet but ideal in wellies!

The rock pools were fascinating and colourful with lots of anemones on the rocks and little fish flitting about in the pools.  

Rock pooling.

Wellies may be good in the cold sea but they are not ideal for scrambling across rocks, it's more like ice skating!

There is a man made hole in the rock at the end of the beach, I have no idea what it's all about but it was worth looking at!

So ends another lovely week in Cornwall, it's not been the best weather but we've made the most of it and I can't wait to return.