Ramble - 11th Nov 07

Helped a friend out with a 10 mile Ramble she was doing for the public today.
We started off from Knightwood Oak car park at 10am, went across Warwickslade, White Shoot, White Moor, Broom Hill, up onto Acres Down, round the outside of Highland Water Inclosure, past Stonard Wood, Fox Hill, Andrews Mare car park, Lucas Castle, followed the stream that turns into Highland Water Inclosure, then out at Bolderwood where we had lunch at about 1.30pm, down through Bolderwood Grounds, Mark Ash Wood, Anderwood Inclosure, Knightwood Inclosure, had a quick look at the Eagle Oak & then back to the car park at 4pm.
Along the way there were'nt many birds about due to the wind & splash of rain, but Redwings were constantly flying over with the odd Fieldfare, Couple of Meadow Pipits & Wrens on the heathy parts, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Robins, Siskins, Buzzards, Crossbills, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the Woods & Inclosures.
About 20 Fallow does & one pricket were showing at Bolderwood & there was a doe & fawn near the Eagle Oak.
I found a single plant of Lousewort out at the run up to Acres Down, a few Milkwort plants in flower on the top, Butchers Broom along the highland Water & Mark Ash, Wood Spurge, Catsear, Lesser Hawkbit, Tormentil, Lesser Spearwort, & Common Water Starwort throughout the walk.
A Migrant Hawker dragonfly was happily hawking up & down a track in Highland Water Inclosure.
Also quite a few mushrooms still about. Some Giant Flame Caps at the car park, Wax Caps & Fairy Clubs in the grass at lucas Castle, Giant Funnel Cap & Blushing Bracket in Anderwood Inclosure, Glistening Ink Caps in Highland Water & Mark Ash, Wood Blewit & Red-cracking Bolete in Mark Ash, Amethyst, Decievers, Common Puffballs, Decievers, Butter Caps, Russulas, Sulphur Tuft, Honey Fungus, Razor Strop, Ceps, Fat Polypore, Turkeytail & False Death Caps throughout.