where did you walk today?

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Love your shots Claire, especially the reflections in the first one

Meant to say that about (No 1) of Claires too Sunny.

Wonderful Claire

[agrumpycow]

Thanks, both of you, it certainly was the weather for taking water reflection shots

[ChrisJB]

Today's walk was in one of my favourite areas, the Forest Of Bowland. It was another early start for me as was hoping to maybe catch sight of some early morning upland raptors. Alas, the weather was far too windy and cold, though I did find a rather exotic looking Reeve's Pheasant (too cold to stop and get my camera out to photograph it).
The route was from Dunsop Bridge, up the lonely valley of Whitendale to Whitendale Farm, up the fellside to the trig-point on Burn Fell, then a spot of tresspassing to Beatrix and back down the lane to Dunsop Bridge.
On the way 'wom', we took a rather large detour to the top 'ressy' at Foulridge to see a Red Throated Diver.
All in all, a good walk, but disappointing for birds.

Whitendale, Forest of Bowland

Whitendale from near Dunsop Head, Forest of Bowland.

Regards, Chris

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

then a spot of tresspassing...

Phew! Thought I was the only one who can't read signs that say 'Private'!

Looks lovely scenery Chris. Shame there weren't many birds around though

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Phew! Thought I was the only one who can't read signs that say 'Private'!

I do it all the time Sunny. In fact whilst I'm doing it, I talk to myself, planning a tissue of lies should I ever get confronted by an angry farmer and a nasty Border Collie that can lift its own nose up and show its front teeth.

Regards, Chris

[redandshane]

I took a walk today with my daughter
We were off to look for frog spawn in a resevoir near Northend just outside Bath
We didn't find any but it was really such a nice day we proceeded to head up onto Solisbury Hill

On the approach "ascent" saw two things of interest to readers of this forum
First was a well used Badger latrine feet away from footpath on the edge of some scrub/narrow woodland and the other was my daughter saw what she thought was a dead bird. On inspection I identified it as the hind quarters of a rabbit.Thinking no more about it we proceeded on up the hill and just before a gate we saw the head of I guess the same rabbit stiill with eyes in
My guess is it was a fox which had taken the rabbit but interested to know what others may think
Didn't take any pics which I now regret
There you go faeces and death in one post
I am a nurse by the way

[The Woodman]

Disappointing -ChisJB? A RTD at Foulridge? For such a detour, you must have known it was there? That's a nice find.

Redandshane - sounds like you had a good day out and spotted some interesting stuff. Being a Nurse you'll have an enquiring mind about what you see but keep an open mind about the rabbit cadaver. The cause of death cannot be known and there may be secondary predators to consider, mammalian or avian.

Faeces are not the most popular subject in the world but much can be gained by careful examination of them, their conformation, smell, attitude (position) etc.

[Pete Collins]

Another local walk for me this morning, a route that took about three hours, from Kensworth to Roe End, Studham Common and Whipsnade. Apologies if I'm starting to repeat some of my photos!

Looking back at the path junction where I joined the 'public highway' to Roe End. This 'green lane' connects two stretches of lane, and there is evidence that it was once surfaced. The green signs either end say 'public highway', rather than footpath or bridleway.

Looking back towards Studham from the 'Public highway' to Roe End

Looking back to Roe End

Track through Gravelpit Wood

Path through Great Bradwin's Wood - I saw some Wood Sorrel here, which had been the aim of the walk having seen pressld2's lovely photos on the Flower of the Day thread yesterday

Path through wooded section of Studham Common

Footpath near Studham church

Footpath through Church Grove, Studham

Old lane between Holywell and Whipsnade (closed to traffic about 20 years ago)

Path through Whipsnade Heath

I saw a Buzzard near Oldhill Wood, and heard another one later on between Studham and Whipsnade Zoo. There were Skylarks singing in several places too. Apart from the Wood Sorrel (which I'd set out to see, Great Bradwin's Wood being the only place locally that I've seen them before), there was Lesser Celandine everywhere and lots of Dog's Mercury and a few Violets. I saw Wood Anemones in a couple of places, one site being new to me. I saw Coltsfoot in three places, again one of them a site where I'd not seen it before. There was just the odd Bluebell flowering in Byslips Wood, then I saw a small clump beside the path along the edge of Whipsnade Zoo.

But the highlight was getting my best Muntjac deer photo so far - a female crossed the track 80 yards ahead of me as I walked through Gravelpit Wood (I've also put the photo on the Mammal of the Day thread).



This was a really nice walk, on a lovely warm and sunny morning. All the paths were very familiar to me, but I'd never walked this actual route before. The wildflowers, birds and the muntjac deer all added to my enjoyment of the walk.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Disappointing -ChisJB? A RTD at Foulridge? For such a detour, you must have known it was there? That's a nice find.

.

I knew it was there. It's been there for weeks. My bitter disappointment stems from not seeing my Bowland target species. The diver was a nice bird though, just coming into breeding plumage as well.

Regards, Chris

[tameblackbirds]

some lovely walks thanks everyone