Brockishill Inclosure (South of Cadnam)

Tuesday 27th January 2015

It's been a long while since we last walked in the New Forest so it was high time we got back into it.  A newish geocache has been placed between Cadnam and Lyndhurst at Fair Cross near Brockishill Inclosure so we decided to give it a go.  It was good to get back in the Forest and back to the ........

water.........

forestry operations........

and mud! (Can't say I've really missed this one though!)

It was a dull old day with a colourless sky but it was good to get out walking in the country air.  We didn't pass another soul until we were practically back at the car, even better.

One very defined small animal track, I wonder who's been tromping through here on a regular basis?

A face in an old beech tree, it looks vaguely dog like to me.

Geocache number one of 2015 in the bag (so to speak, not actually in the bag!!) We're a long way behind our usual number of finds already but never mind.

This is the top of the beech tree that looked like it had a dog face on it, not looking too healthy!

We came across a couple of huge mounds of dead bracken, I have no idea what they are for, compost maybe?

We had a very pleasant walk of 3.5 miles but didn't see a great deal of wildlife.  A buzzard took off quite close to us in amongst the trees and there were a couple of big flocks of chaffinches flitting about but that was about it.  

RSPB Garden Birdwatch 2015

Saturday 24th January 2015

I carried out the birdwatch for the RSPB this morning between 8.30 and 9.30am,  It was a sunny morning, warmer than the last few mornings which have been very cold and frosty so we had quite a good result.

Goldfinch x 7
Greenfinch x 2
Robin x 2
Blackbird x 2
Wood pigeon  x 4
Jackdaw x 9
Starling x 5
Pied Wagtail x 1
Dunnock x 1
Chiffchaff x 1
Blue tit x 1
Pheasant x 1
Wren x 1

Pheasant!!!!!!!!!!!   What a day for him to choose to stroll on by, we've seen one  before in the garden but this one hung around for 45 minutes or so.  I think he was planning his next move and trying to decide how to get back to the fields (which in a straight line are probably quarter or a mile or so away).

Mr Pheasant.

Chiffchaff

Swanage Town Hall

Tuesday 20th January 2015

We have walked past Swanage Town Hall many times of late but today we made a point of stopping to have a proper look at it and as you can see it's quite impressive. There is information on the Town Hall and it's history here

We walked on into Swanage and to the beach, where I took more of the same old  photos, but I like them!

Swanage Pier.

Late afternoon colour.

Poole Quay

Thursday 8th January 2015

We parked at Poole Quay this morning after a very wet and dreary drive from home.  As the rain had stopped  we decided to walked along the Quay and into Poole for a spot of retail therapy - I'm not sure if it was therapy, I soon got fed up with the people so we had lunch and headed back along the Quay where the sun had come out and things looked a whole lot brighter than they did earlier in the day.  

A black headed gull, not sleeping overnight or cooking, just watching (and waiting for food no doubt!)

In the park next to the car park, wildfowl were making the most of the waterlogged grass, it was mainly Canada Geese,  

with a few Oyster Catchers thrown in at the back.

Then the sun came out and looking at these photos it could have been the summer, well, it didn't feel too much like the summer but it looked pretty good.

A large posh boat (I probably shouldn't call it a boat at all but some sort of cruiser?)

Nice!

Brownsea Island in the background on the far right and Sandbanks in the middle.

Looking towards Poole.

The geese are still here.......

well they were until some less than clever people let their dogs run at them in the park.

The geese took off and landed on the sea but soon gradually came back to the park where there must be something very appealing for geese to eat!

St Mary's Church - Swanage

Tuesday 30th December 2014

Due to a family bereavement we've been in and around Swanage a great deal lately, and this afternoon  having walked into Swanage for some shopping we decided to have a look around somewhere we haven't been to before, St Mary's Church.  The church was beautifully decorated for Christmas and it had some amazing stained glass windows, so I hope these photos show what a special place this is.

Before visiting the church we had a peek at the sea, well it would have been rude not to wouldn't it?  The sea was as calm as a mill pond and looked stunning but as temperatures went down to -6C last night it was still quite cold (and frosty in places out of the sun).

St Mary's Church from the back,

and from the front.

Beautiful stained glass windows.

The Nativity Window.

The Christmas decorations and arrangements were amazing.

An arrangement on a lectern,

and in rich Christmas colours, gorgeous.

There were even arrangements on the end of each pew.

More Christmas flowers, very effective in tall simple vases.

I'm so pleased we popped into the church on the spur of the moment, it was a very pleasant and peaceful place.

Corfe Castle Village Christmas Lights

Monday 29th December 2014

It was a definite effort this evening, leaving the warmth of the house for the freezing cold frosty conditions in the village of Corfe Castle but we did it!  The Christmas lights in Corfe Castle are always brilliant but this year there seemed to be even more so we had a wander around and tried to take photos. These photos show that we could have done with a tripod (not something we possess!) as we couldn't keep still enough.  The cottages looked really cosy and welcoming on such a cold night with their Christmas decorations and lights but we didn't walk far, it was just too cold.

The centre of Corfe Castle Village facing the Bankes Arms.

Corfe Castle lit up in the background behind the Greyhound pub.

The castle from another spot, eerie.

Back in the centre of the village, facing the National Trust shop with the Nativity scene in front of the Christmas tree.

The Nativity, it's been something of a tradition to stop off in Corfe and have a look at this for many years now!

The National Trust Shop.

Then it was back  to get warmed up and for a drink of hot chocolate (worth going out for!), incidentally it was -5C when we got back to Swanage at just before 8pm, brrrrrr.

Studland Beach

Monday 29th December 2014

It was a cold bright and sunny day so having earned a break we chose to have a 4.5 mile walk along Studland Beach and back to the Middle Beach car park.  This was obviously a good idea, walking off the Christmas excesses, as many other people had chosen to do the same thing, most with dogs.  

Looking back towards Old Harry Rocks,

and as a speck in the distance!

A lull in people!

A closer look at Old Harry Rocks.

We turned round and headed back into the sun.

Oh go on then..........if I must!!!  & leggy shadows.

More shadows, looking towards Bournemouth in the distance.

Back near the car park there was a thatcher making a fantastic job of a new thatch

The sun was beginning to set,

and this friendly robin decided to come INTO the car and search for food.

A lovely walk, it was just a shame there were so many people about!