Cygnets - Here We Go Again!

Friday 4th July 2014

There are cygnets back on the lakes on Southampton Common again, one family with five cygnets on the cemetery lake and one family with three cygnets on the boating lake.  It's always easier to photograph the family on the boating lake as it's possible and much easier to get closer to them.  A small dog was giving one of the adult swans cause for concern as we got to the lake, by just getting close to the lake edge.  The swan was hissing and doing the aggressive wing arching thing but it soon calmed down once the dog had gone.   

Those feet!

Relaxed, happy and preening (warm in the heat too I would imagine).

The Boating Lake is much clearer this year, it's possible to see the bottom of the lake now, maybe because it was drained earlier in the year?

Forty winks - look at that little wing covering it's beak, it's hard to imagine that these cygnets will be as feisty and protective as it's parents.

The whole family - I hope they all grow up safely, we'll keep an eye out for them over the coming months.

We also saw a family of mallards and a coot protecting it's nest on the cemetery lake, there were at least two babies, possibly more but they were a bit too far away to be sure. 

Houghton Near Kings Somborne

Monday 23rd June 2014

Today's 3.5 mile walk was in the scorching heat on footpaths and bridleways (part of which was the Clarendon Way)  through farmland at Houghton, south of Stockbridge.  As we left the car I had a waft of 'the smell of summer' - well it is for me anyway - a privet hedge, yum!  It reminds me of summers back when I was a child because our next door neighbours had an enormous privet hedge across the bottom of their garden. 

The smell of summer, privet flowers.

 In the village was a phone box,

you can't make a phone call from the box any more but you can

borrow a book!

The edges of the fields were full of flowers.

This explains why.

It was just soooooo hot walking along here.

Just imagine the heat!

I do love fields of cereals, we saw a few types today but I especially like the look of barley (at least I think it's barley!), the whole field looked soft and fluffy.

Scabious.

We saw lots of butterflies, a kestrel and a couple of buzzards and heard lots of small birds  as well as a fair bit of rustling in the hedgerows as things scurried away.  

After this walk today, it'll be a miracle if we don't get a tick or two, they're a true sign of summer!

Stoney Cross and Ephemeral Ponds

Saturday 21st June 2014

The interest in today's walk at Stoney Cross was mainly about ponds - or the lack of ponds. Back in early May whilst walking in this area we came across a pond that we hadn't noticed before, and the reason for this is because it is an ephemeral pond.  An ephemeral pond is only there some of the time, as it dries up when the weather gets drier, they are important in the life cycle of many reptiles who breed in them and then move to dry land on maturity. (Thanks Rob for enlightening me with this useful info).

This was the pond on 05.05.14

This is it today.

We have obviously had more dry weather than I realised! Ocknell pond was the same.  This was Ocknell Pond on 2.2.14, full to overflowing.

This is it now

Almost dried up.

The rivers seem to be doing a little better, with far less water in than earlier in the year but still running.  This brook shortly becomes the Highland Water and after Brockenhurst it becomes the Lymington River.

Talking of dry weather, the mud has almost dried out everywhere, leaving many prints, including these deer prints.

This New Forest Pony foal was having a pleasant afternoon forty winks until a few motorbikes went by, then it

got up and went to mum.

The honeysuckle is out and smells gorgeous, ours in the garden smells particularly good in the evening. 

Last year we found wild strawberries out on the heath and we managed to find them again, perfectly formed tiny little strawberries.

This particular area stays boggy and wet most of the time, hence the green and lush appearance.  

3.5 miles walked and lots going on, just how I like it.

Hengistbury Head

Friday 13th June 2014

We had a lovely, if rather hot and muggy 4 mile walk around Hengistbury Head today.  We were surprised by how busy it was, with plenty of people about and several large groups of students on field trips.  

Looking towards Bournemouth,

and looking on the other side of the Head, Christchurch Harbour with Christchurch Priory on the left in the distance.

The trig point with Old Harry Rocks and Swanage in the distance.

A nice spot for a bit of lunch and a paddle.

The Isle of Wight and the Needles on the right - that sea is going downhill again!

Beach huts at the end of Hengistbury Head - and very nice they are too, but very expensive!

The interesting cliffs that the students have come to see.

There were a few of these cute little fishes, shame they were dead! (Toes are in the photo as a size gauge!)

A large blue jellyfish, unfortunately dead!

This raven, one of a pair on the beach, had found a bag of sandwiches, and at one point was carrying the bag about, being bombed by gulls who wanted a piece of the action.

The Itchen Navigation from Shawford to Hockley

Thursday 12th June 2014

Today we had a sunny warm morning for a walk along the Itchen Navigation from Shawford to Hockley, slightly under a 3 mile round trip.  We didn't see a great deal of wildlife but there was plenty of birdsong, particularly from a very tuneful thrush.  We saw fish of all sizes from tiny specks to those about a foot long,  fish identification is not really my thing so I have no idea what they were but as the water was so clear they were easy to pick out.  We saw a couple of fishermen in the river fly fishing but they didn't appear to be having a great deal of success, they should have been further up the river!

The Itchen Navigation with beautifully clear water.

An old lock, Compton Lock, there were people swimming here when we came back,

it looked quite inviting,

especially when your feet are hot in walking socks and boots!

A calm and relaxing place.

We walked as far as Hockley where there is a bridge under the M3 where swallows nest, there were plenty about but were too tricky to photograph as it was quite dark under the bridge. I was glad we saw them however as they are quite special.

The traffic thundering by above on the M3 obviously doesn't worry them.

Another quick walk done and dusted, just in time for lunch.

Lower Test Nature Reserve

Wednesday 11th June 2014

Today we returned to a place we visited  on November 5th last year when the whole area was badly affected by flooding, today it was very different, dry, green and lush.  

The plants were encroaching quite badly over the footpath to begin with, then we crossed the River Test and walked across the boardwalk towards Totton, with views of the docks and Redbridge Towers in the distance.

Today.

The same view on November 5th last year.

Looking across the reed beds towards Southampton docks and Redbridge Towers.

The River Test.

And from the other direction.

Six young cygnets on the river.

This was a very pleasant spot, with about 20 odd large fish close to the edge of the river that we stood watching for a while.  The River Test is tidal at this point and the tide was out; leaving a bank in the middle that the cygnets made the most of and had a little sleep on.  This area is close to houses, but is a great place, we'll definitely be back.

As we walked back along the same route we heard a cuckoo on and off for quite a while, I tried to record it but failed miserably, all that could be heard was a chiffchaff!