Hazy Sunshine and Very Warm!

Another very warm day, here in the Forest. We went to Kingshat this morning. They were working on the bridge nearest the carpark. This is the bridge we were unable to reach earlier in the year because of flooding. It was interesting to see that they are extending the bridge on the higher side, but have no plans to extend the bridge on the lower side. (The part that floods!)We stopped and spoke to the workmen and they said we don't think they want to encourage people o walk here.
We went on up the hill to the green, we saw plenty of ponies but no foals today. When we came down from the green further on we went into the little wood where there is another bridge. As we got near the bridge a little Roe buck shot across the path and startled a pheasant. Just before this we had watched a heron flying ,( but alas no photos of any of our sightings). It was warmr than many summer days , although a little hazy.
On our way home we had a brief stop at Lyndhurst and the photo here is of St Michaels Church.

Pony at KingsHat

Standing on the hill surveyiing the kingdom


The track to the little bridge over the Beaulieu River.

Todays Foal

here is todays foal seen at South Bentley. We walked down through the Inclosure and along the little stream known as Dockens water. The wood anenomes are flowering now and I also found some Marsh Marigolds in the stream.It has been a beautiful day and when we got home we treated ourselves to an ice cream (The ice cream van parks across our drive whilst he is serving customers and when ever we buy an Icecream he always gives us two small ones for the dogs. So we had happy dogs!

Strolling along Dockens water

The pretty wood anenome

Marsh Marigolds

Sunny Saturday

The mild dry weather continues and today there was more sun. This morning we walked at Pigbush. There were a lot of ponies around and they were running around as the Stallions were claiming their mares. The Stallions are taken off the forest in the autumn,and only a limited number are put back each spring. They are given new areas to help prevent too much inbreeding that weakens the breed. As soon as the foals are born the mares come into season and are ready for mating for next years foals.
Plenty of little stonechats were flying from tree to tree chattering all the time, and I actually managed to get a half decent photo of one. They are small birds and I do not have a really good telephoto on my little camera so i was pleased to get it.
On the way home we stopped at Yew Tree Heath where a little foal was grazing with his Mum..

A stonechat

The trees at Pigbush
More Ponies at Pigbush

Ponies at Pigbush

This little foal was so cute.

I didn't realise he was going to the bathroom as I took this!
He really needed that , look closely and you can see quite a pool forming beneath him!

Another little foal

I do love seeing the foals appearing. We met this little cutie o our walk today.

Still warm and dry

The weather has continued warm and dry , but the skies have been rather cloudy. We walked at Pigbush this morning and had several sightings of an egret, although not close enough to get a good photo. they are very pretty birds. The forest seemed very quiet this morning with hardly anybody about although the campsites still sem to be busy and the schools are still on holiday.
The spring flowers are appearing and we saw some nice clumps of violets by the stream. The trees are beginnin to show signs of greening up as the leaf buds appear and it won't be long before the woods are green and shady.

taivas and Missy share a log

The Violets are springing up in the forest

The bridge at Pigbush, strange light this morning but the colours looked so pretty

Easter Monday

Pony having an evening snack

Sunlight on an old tree stump at Mogshade Hill

Missy finds yet another tennis ball in the forest.

We have had one of the best easters Weatherwise for many years with warm sunny days. The Forest has been very busy and the campsites have been full as people make the most of the sunshine. As we drove back from the Forest today we could see the queues of traffic on the motorway.

Easter Weekend

Missy looks for raffles on our walk at Telegraph on Saturday

Sunday Morning reflections at Dockens water

Hawthorn Blossom flowering at Dockens Water.

Good Friday

It is a Long weekend as today and Monday are both public holidays. The weather is good and the Forest is busy, the campsites look as if hey were filling up as people take advantage of the good weather.
This morning we walked from The Canadian Cross and in the space of about 90 minutes we gave directions to four different groups as they tried to follow walks and cycle routes. We took a slightly different route today and found a hidden bridg over the stream . At the moment the forest is dry and we were able to walk wearing trainers.
On the way home we found our second foal of the year and stopped to take some photos. We also called in at Cadmans Pond to see wht the Geese were getting up too.
Late this afternoon we went for another walk at Culverley. This car park has been closed for several years but has now been reopened . We discovered another little bridge and on the trees nearby we found a very hard bracket fungus. It looked like stone and was very smooth on top.

The Little Bridge at Culverley

This bracket fungus was very hard almost like stone.

Canada Goose, having a snack

Another Foal

We saw this little foal on our walk this morning. he was just getting used to those long legs and at times he was a bit wobbly.

Happy Easter

Happy easter
Originally uploaded by Missy2004.

Bratley View and Mogshade Hill

Our walk this morning was not the peaceful stroll , that we intended it to be. it was a sunny day , but there was a cold wind. Shortly after we began our walk we saw these deer in the distance. A nice start but then naughty Miss taivas decided to disappear and we spent the rest of the time running up and down until we found her. Finally we were all reunited and we went across to the pond on Mogshade hill for the dog to cool down whilst we got our breath back.
This evening I had totake Missy to the Vet as her eye is playing up again. Fortunately the vet couldn't find much wrong , although it looks as if she may have scratched the eye, but hopefuly a few days drops and it will heal.
After a traumatic day i treated myself to a large cream Donut!

Don't forget your sunhat.

Missy would like to remind you that a Sun hat is essential in warm weather.