Climbing with the Northponders.

Avon Causeway with the river spread out across its flood plain.











Note the new bridge!

 

 

Lewis in his new car! 

At last the forest has got its autumn colours and we had a sunny weekend day!


 

 

Today we went to a woodland event run by the Dorset coppice group. They are building an exhibition centre in the wood, made from timber harvested in the wood. There were several other woodland craft folks there. All the timber extraction is done by horses...it was a lovely mixed wood with deciduous coppice and dougas fir .


 

 

Seems to be Kestrel season! This time no dogs to scare off the quarry so I managed to get quite close...I guess he knew he was safe 1/2 way down a near vertical cliff. This was taken on an afternoon juant to Milford on Sea. 

Went Looking for Orchids in the forest, but only found this rather handsom Kestrel. Taken with my 70 -300 lens and cropped...........I was hoping to get closer as he didnt seem to mind me but some dog walkers happened along at exactly the wrong moment ...despite Richard pleading with them to wait a bit the edogs charged straight ahead and frightened the bird off. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Still I am pretty impressed with the shot I did get.
Didnt find any orchids tho!

Waiting for Pics of Lewis's Party....did his card and cheque arrive OK? 

"Lady in Red" Just heard this pic of a ladybird on an Autumn Acer leaf has won 3rd prize in the garden wildlife category of the R.H.S photo comp.
Its gets framed and exhibited at a Posh London gallery and at R.H.S Rosemoor and Wisley! 

Exciting day for wildlife! This buzzard didnt seem to mind me ...she had a rabbit in her talons and I guess was reluctant to fly off and leave her dinner behind. 

Victoria viper sunbathing by the hedge in the veggie plot. I guess she does well on the mice that eat my pea seedlings ! 

The last of a family of baby blackbirds in one of our old farm buildings. His brothers and sisters have already flown the nest, but he is still plucking up the courage. He left later today so I took this just in time. Not the softest material to choose for a nest! 

Scarlet Malachite beetle, one of Britains rarist beetles found today at Furzehill farm!!!! 

Pink fields at Bisterne...a tiny plant called Erodium (like a miniature geranium) has colonised where the grass has been sprayed off, presumably for a set aside grant.