Lower Test Nature Reserve

Well its raining again! So here are a few more photos from yesterday. The general view from one of the screens shows the houses and high rise buildings on the outskirts of Southampton. if you look really closely you can see several Little Egrets in the distance.

Lower Test Nature Reserve

This Morning Karen and I went to the Lower Test Nature Reserve.
Until a few weeks ago I did not know it was there. Tucked in behind a housing estate and bordered by the A35 going into Southampton, this little reserve is one of the best places in Hampshire for spotting Kingfishers. We did see one but it was gone in a flash of blue.
As we walked down the board walk toward the hide the heavens opened and although we sheltered under a tree we got very wet. When the rain eased we turned the corner to find the hide was less than 20 yards away!
We saw a Shelduck and a Green Sandpiper (a bird watcher told us what it was.) We were also lucky to see the little egrets at one point we could see 6.
There were also coot and ducks and although we didn't see one apparently sparrow hawks frequent the area.
The area is also known for its wildflowers but as we left the hides the rain started again so we will save them for another day. Because the Reserve is right on our doorstep we will be able to make regular visits!

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Shelduck

Green Sandpiper

Stretching the legs at Fritham

After yesterdays long trip to Norwich, we were glad to go for a walk at Fritham and stretch our legs. These three little foals were having good play together, whilst their mothers looked on. We saw several groups of deer as we walked.
it was quite windy out and dull, but we haven't had any rain yet, although the weather forecast is not promising any return to summer in the near future.

Fallow deer seen on our walk at Fritham this morning.

Rain Rain Rain....It must be Wimbledon!

Beaulieu River at Pigbush

Missy waiting for her ball and below Raffles hoping for biscuits



Well it must be the start of Wimbledon , It rained almost nonstop over the weekend and Monday and today we have heavy showers. We took a walk at Pigbush this morning and were lucky to only have a little bit of drizzle. As soon as we got back in the car it poured!

Cross Stitch

Its been a while since I did any cross stitch, but this is for baby Eva Lilly

Heavy Showers

Over the last few days we have had some very heavy showers, so the camera has not been out much. This morning we walked from the Canadian cross and just managed to finish the walk before the next heavy shower came along. As we got to the pond at the top of Mogshade Hill we saw a heron flying off. I did not have the camera ready so didn't even try and get a photo.just gazed up at it as it slowly flew off.

Midweek

Recent Rain has raised the level s of the streams.

Good Dogs deserve biscuits

Daisy has a roll


At Eleven years she is looking good.

Traveling in Style

These dogs were having a great time , traveling in style.

This Morning at Busketts

Its Hot and muggy this morning. We walked at Busketts and the dogs decided to pose amongst the Purple heath Orchids. They are springing up all over the Forest right now. Such pretty flowers. This afternoon we had some big thunderstorms , even had a power cut for a few minutes....now it is just hot and muggy again.

The sun Came Out

High in the sky a Lapwing is calling

The sunlight catches the dead tree at Mogshade

Missy Loves to play in the pond


and even Raffles likes to have a paddle

After I posted yesterday the sun came out so I taook the dogs for a walk at Mogshade.

More from the Raptor and Reptile centre.

Its raining today so no photos from our wet walks..but here are some more pictures from Libertys Raptor and Reptile Centre .

Watching the Deer at Ocknell

This morning we walked at Ocknell, It was a little cooler than of late and once again it was threatening rain, but it stayed dry. During the walk we spotted several small groups of deer. The bucks are growing their antlers and we could see the velvet covering the new growth.I could stand and watch the deer for hours.
On the way back to the car I spotted some Scarlet Pimpernel in the grass. These are tiny little flowers but so brightly coloured.

I could watch the deer for hours

The bracken is growing up and the deer can hide in it now.

You can see the velvet covering the growing antlers.

I think they have seen us!

A Walk at South Bentley Between the Showers

The heavy rain that is affecting much of the Country is mostly avoiding The New Forest. We are getting short sharp showers and then sunny spells. It poured with rain as we drove up to the forest this morning and we decided to walk at South Bentley where we would be sheltered by the trees. However the weather was dry and sometimes sunny whilst we walked, with another sharp shower as we drove home.
We walked down through South Bentley inclosure and then along Dockens Water. We found some beautiful clumps of wild irises and a little further on we spotted several damsel flies
flitting over the surface of the water. I was quite pleased with the photo I got. From there we walked away from the stream and up to Cadmans Pond, where we found this little family of tiny ducklings scurring back into the water. Part of the Pond is shored up and although the photo isn't quite in focus I thought the little duckling looked quite comical as they peered over the edge before dropping down into the water and swimming after mum!

Twins

The Wild irises were flourishing here


A pair of pretty Damsel flies were flitting about

It was looking very green down by Dockens Water.

More from the Raptor and reptile centre.

The kestrel is so often seen hovering above the motorways..it was really nice to be able to get so close to these beautiful birds.

A Muggy Walk at Kingshat

This morning we walked at Kingshat.....it was very warm and humid and we soon discarded our coats. We had one brief shower when we were under the trees.
First we went to look at the yellow waterlilies along the Beaulieu River and as we were watching them a Kingfisher flew right in front of us, far to quick to even get the camera ready , but it was lovely to see.
When we walked up to the green we found a large herd of cows with their calves , so we spent some time taking photos , before coming back down to the river.
The threatened deluge still hasn't arrived and now i am going out to tea!

Here you can see the big difference in size between the early foals and those being born now.