A Sunny Day

After a rather dreary start the sun came out. We took the dogs for a long walk at shatterford and gradually the grey skies began to clear. Missy is nearing the end of her season ansd it was so deserted she was allowed off lead to go for a swim. After so many dreary days , it seemed a shame to waste a sunny afternoon so we slipped down to the Lower Test Nature Reserve. Saw quite a few birds, including a distant little egret, some cormorants , shelduck, green sandpiper and snipe. it is easy to miss the snipe as they blend so well into the background.

Silver birches at Shatterford
The swamp Monsters

Common Shelduck

greensandpiper and snipe

green sandpiper

The last Walk of 2007

Well its a dull day here in the New Forest. We went for a walk at Shatterford and it was very muddy. Missy had a great time with her ball and raffles and Taivas had lots of sausage so all the dogs were happy.
I hope 2008 is a great year for everybody.

Shatterford Bog

Taivas dances for say=usage

The last swim of 2007

Galloping ponies, Its hard to believe the stocky little foal below was born in 2007

A couple of Walks in the Forest

Missy just loves to play ball.

On Tuesday they were working at Pigbush and we could see the smoke from their fires a long way off.

Today we walked at Shatterford and we could still see the smoke from the fires at Pigbush in the distance. They are removing some of the unwanted growth from the forest.

We thought it was much warmer today but the puddles were still iced over.

We saw several groups of deer today, some in the woods and some in the open. Taivas went to herd this group up, but she knows they are likely to tell Rudolph if she misbehaves and then there will be no Christmas presents, so she put her Halo on and came running back when we called her.

After the Rain the Sun

Finally the leaves are changing and the colours really showed in todays sun, so different from the dreary rain yesterday

This afternoon we walked at Shatterford and checked out the work that had been going on there. Sadly i found that they had chopped down the little tree that grew in the swamp area.

This pony looked magnificent as his coat glowed in the sun

It took me a while to identify these, they are Spectacular Rustgill ((Gymnophilus spectabilus) They are poisonous and may cause hallucinations!

Shatterford

We took the dogs to Shatterford today. The last time we tried to walk there they were working on the bridges and we weren't able to do a complete circle. The Forest is much dryer now as there has been no rain whilst we were on holiday. The heather has nearly finished blooming but we did find some purple patches for the dogs to pose in. There were lots of dragonflies about and I did manage to capture to of them. A Common Darter and A black Darter I think!

Walking in the Heather.

This morning we walked at Shatterford. Blue skies , warm, buzzing bees in the heather and a beautiful smell in the air (heather smells like honey). Sadly our plan to do our usual circular walk were thwarted because they are repairing the bridges over the bog. We strolled over the railway bridge and took a track through the heather, but soon we wer knee deep and struggling to find the path,however the dogs had a wonderful time bounding through the heather. It is really hard to take a photo that really does justice to the beauty of the forest at this time of year!

Fallow Bucks at Shatterford

We were able to watch this little group of deer for quite a while. A couple of the young bucks were having a head butting contest.

A Morning Stroll at Shatterford

Missy the Swamp Monster

Shatterford Bog

A little Moo


Ponies grazing at Shatterford.

This morning started off sunny and we set off for a walk at Shatterford. We were the only car in the car park The dogs loved playing in the big puddles and the swamp. At one stage o our walk we heard an enormous crash, and then we heard the chainsaws.....they were working in the Inclosure. We weren't going that way so it didn't bother us. By the little bridges, which were in a bad state of disrepair we met some moo cows., and a bit further on we came across a very yappy Jack Russell. The next bridge had been repaired and the workmens truck had really churned the path up! As we entered the woods we came across a lovely group of Fallow bucks.
By the time we got back to the car the skies were dark grey and the rain began on the journey home! But who cares? we had a good walk!

Shatterford in the Sun

Today it was warm and bright and sunny. very different from yesterday. I had to go to the dentist this morning , so we started our walk a little later, and the carparks seemed quite busy. We walked for a couple of hours and only met one birdwatcher in all that time.
We took a slightly different path after we had crossed the first piece of bog and we were a little closer to the boggy places, however there were more little bridges over the boggiest bits and we found a small pond that we did not know about.
We watched a dragonfly for a while but he was too quick for the cameras.
Shortly after we entered the woods , we saw a small group of Fallow Deer watching us. All three dogs were on the lead at this point so we were able to watch without disturbing them

Th calf is a little nervous and Mum reassures him as the dogs go by

One of the boggy places at Shatterford.
Some deer watch us in the woods

The last few days have been much colder and we have had a lot of drizzly rain. This morning we walked at Shatterford and the rain did not start until we were back at the car. The area around here is very boggy and there are numerous little bridges crossing the swampy areas. We saw some beautiful marsh marigolds, lots of cotton grass and hawthorne blossom on the trees.
When we crossed over one area of bog Taivas managed to get herself marooned on an island and was very reluctant to get wet to eturn to us , finally she gave a big leap and landed splat in the bog. I did not get a photo as i was laughing so much!
Just as we got back to the carpark we came across this sweet little foal on very wobbly long legs! We did not stay admiring her for long as we didn't want to disturb her and it was just starting to rain.

Todays foal was still very wobbly and we did not stay long.

Marsh marigolds growing in shatterford bog

Hawthorn Blossom


The little bridges that cross the swamp

Sunday Morning at Shatterford

AAnother beautiful morning and we went to Shatterford. The carpark was very busy and we only just found somewhere to park, however we met very few people on our walk. We walked over the bog and through Denny Woods. Lots of ponies about again. In the woods we found plenty of Primroses Once again there was a strong wind but it was not that cold and the sun was out .

Shatterford Bog


New Forest Ponies at Shatterford and in Denny Woods



Primroses in Denny Woods