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I already have my own blog (accessible from my web site) which describes the walks that I go on - I generally walk 12-15 miles, two or three times a week, all over Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and the southern part of Oxfordshire. Here on my WAB blog I will just comment on the wildlife that I see on my walks. I love being out in the countryside and enjoy seeing all types of wildlife, but I am especially interested in birds and wildflowers.
Studham Common to Nettleden and back
Posted 15-12-2007 at 02:43 PM by Pete Collins
Today I did a shorter walk than usual, which only took 3.5 hours. I started at Studham Common, then took a bridleway that crosses the wide Gade Valley to reach Hudnall, before following a path to Little Gaddesden. From there I entered the delightful woods of the Ashridge Estate (National Trust), and followed a path through Golden Valley, a green swathe of grass along a valley bottom with woods either side (it was used for a few scenes in the BBC's wonderful 'Cranford' that ends tomorrow night - the church used for Cranford church is at Radnage in Oxfordshire, which I've passed on a couple of walks). I then took a path through the trees back to another bit of Little Gaddesden, then took a wonderful path that goes for almost a mile and a half along a valley without passing so much as a hedgerow. This took me to Nettleden, where I turned left and went uphill to St Margarets (passing the Buddhist Monastery) and then downhill To Great Gaddesden, in the Gade Valley. I continued on to Gaddesden Row and then to Clement's End, from where it was a short distance back to Studham Common.
I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees between Golden Valley and Little Gaddesden. I saw a Bullfinch as I walked between Nettleden and St Margarets - I have seen one five times in the last month, usually I don't see them many more times than that in a whole year.
As I was getting near Clements End, a Buzzard flew out of a tree, and I got a few distant photos of it (none very good). A second buzzard appeared a short distance away. As I continued along a hedgerow, I saw a Fieldfare and then two Jays. I'd already seen Redwings in two or three places.
This is the photo I took of some Fallow Deer on my walk on Tuesday, taken near Park Corner, Oxfordshire -
And this is a photo of a frosty scene near Studham Common that I took on my walk on Thursday -
I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees between Golden Valley and Little Gaddesden. I saw a Bullfinch as I walked between Nettleden and St Margarets - I have seen one five times in the last month, usually I don't see them many more times than that in a whole year.
As I was getting near Clements End, a Buzzard flew out of a tree, and I got a few distant photos of it (none very good). A second buzzard appeared a short distance away. As I continued along a hedgerow, I saw a Fieldfare and then two Jays. I'd already seen Redwings in two or three places.
This is the photo I took of some Fallow Deer on my walk on Tuesday, taken near Park Corner, Oxfordshire -
And this is a photo of a frosty scene near Studham Common that I took on my walk on Thursday -
Total Comments 2
Comments
 |  It's always nice to see Bullfinches, I don't see them anywhere near as often as I'd like to! |
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| |  I' m surprised I've seen them so often recently, I really don't see them too often at all. They were regulars in my parents garden when I was a child (I'm 50 now), but now they're seen in the garden only about once a year, if that. |
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Recent Blog Entries by Pete Collins
- College Lake (21-06-2009)
- Fowlmere (21-11-2008)
- Fallow deer at Ashridge (17-10-2008)
- A walk near Royston (10-09-2008)
- A very long Wildflower Walk! (04-07-2008)
