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dansnaturepictures · 3 months

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Fishlake Meadows, Romsey: A special place

This nature reserve is equally as uplifting to visit in the spring and summer months when exotic Hobbies dash through the sky and colossal Stag Beetles roam the canal side path as it is in winter when Gadwall, Pintail, Pochard and Teal immerse me in a world of waterfowl.

A magnificent raptor is a star attraction to this reserve in spring and summer, Ospreys (particularly one) standing like grand statues and offering breathtaking moments of natural wonder when they fish. Many raptors adorn the skies here, Marsh Harrier in its prime habitat, ravishing Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. Sparrowhawk also a key species in this oasis of wild in an urban area and a non-bird of prey evolutionary lookalike is a mesmerising sight and sound here on spring days, the Cuckoo. Its similarly in appearance to the predatory Sparrowhawk able to fool the adults of its host species into leaving their nest so it can insert its imposter egg. Other key waterbirds to see here include bight Egyptian Geese and Greylags, Great Crested Grebe, Common Gull, Snipe and dazzling Water Rail always a species to cherish seeing. Another of the main stars of this reserve is an elegant giant which is gripping the south of the country now, Great White Egret. Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis are two rarities I was lucky to see here. I was ecstatic to see a Kingfisher catch a fish along the canal when reaching the reserve as was I when I was so fortunate to see a splendid Cetti’s Warbler after being surrounded by their bright and cherry calls evocative of a reedbed paradise. Sedge and Garden Warbler other amazing warblers I’ve seen here. Other passerines it’s a treat to see here include Wren, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Treecreeper, captivating Nuthatch, vibrant Stonechat and Reed Bunting. A Roe Deer a delight to see.

It's an insect haven too with Hairy Dragonfly one of the first spring dragonflies to see and the gem of Banded Demoiselle another key species with Migrant Hawker enjoyed here too. Speckled Wood and Green-veined White fly the flag for beautiful butterflies and Brimstone moth and Grey Birch are among sensational moths I’ve seen here. Drinker moth caterpillar and vigorous ruby Cardinal beetle are other key insects I’ve seen here. Nursery web spider was another of nature’s fascinating little stars which has thrilled me here. Onto plants and there is an array of colour here throughout the seasons created by stunning species such as wood avens, comfrey, meadowsweet, cuckooflower, forget-me-not, hemp agrimony, bird vetch, yellow iris, water lily, hogweed, traveller’s joy and marsh marigold. A sight of intricate and alluring turkey tail fungi clinging to a stump beside the canal at one time lit up by the glorious winter sun was wonderful.

This brilliant nature reserve with its distinctive dead trees and thriving reedbed, wetland, canal and woodland habitat is a star of a reserve that has risen over the past few years and an exciting vision of how to use land for nature and let a landscape be transformed. A lesson of hope, a place I always come back from inspired.

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thorsenmark · 4 years

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Autumn Leaves Along the Utah Highways (Black & White) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A conversion to black & white using Silver Efex Pro 2 where I used some color filters to bring out a much richer tonal contrast for the final image. A few things I focused on were bringing out a deeper tone to the blue skies above and a lighter one with the yellows of the main tree in the image center.

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finishingflight · 7 years

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Dirt roads lead to the best camping spots. Somewhere in the Fish Lake Wilderness of Utah. - #trail #dirtroad #goexplore #optoutside #roadtrip #forest #meadow #nature #landscape #clouds #utah #fishlake #adventure #travel #wilderness #wilderness #camping #campvibes

#landscape #wilderness #forest #goexplore #optoutside #nature #fishlake #adventure #trail #roadtrip #meadow #utah #travel #clouds #campvibes #camping #dirtroad

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utah2020 · 4 years

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Utah Day 4 - Beauty and Challenge

Cold, so cold this morning I didn’t want to get out of the tent until the sun hits it. Camping in a shallow valley means this won’t happen until 10:30, too late for this ride. Leaving my sleeping bags warm cocoon I slip on cold clothes and make coffee. Greg is sound asleep so, as many times before, I place a speaker next to his tent and play acoustic music to calmly end his slumbers. I can tell it’s working by the laughing that emanates from his tiny home.

Just after the sun breaks the ridge above we break camp and start our second full day. Sometimes you wait all day for a challenge, sometimes it’s what you eat for second breakfast. Today’s first would be 1 mile down this beautiful road, a water crossing. Flow wasn’t the issue it was depth. It was too murky to see the entire bottom. The one area you could see had 3 rocks in the shallow path in front of a beaver dam. Hit one and you’ll spend an hour trying to restart the bike if it swallows water. And you’ll be very wet. I walked around the water hole and with a long stick found the bottom. Only 14” at most, we can do this. I went first and luckily hit nothing. Greg came second and did the same. Yes it took 25 minutes but we are dry, that’s a win.

The next 50 miles were spectacular, a day spent in the Fishlake and Manti-LaSal national forests. Starting out at 5000 feet we slowly crept up, the forest getting thicker every mile. I’m starting to relax enough on the bike that I can enjoy the views, not worrying about the weight or handling of the bike. We crest the top of a ridge and get a view to the east, our first mesas in the distance, ancient earth that refuses to succumb to erosion. Heading farther north we zig zag along dirt roads that follow highway 70, crossing through multiple tunnels underneath. A steep ravine takes up higher into the high grass plains and our first Aspen forests. They are changing color at this altitude, brilliant yellow canopies, leaves scattered at the road sides. The road is surrounded on both sides, a welcome mat for the summit ahead. We stopped for lunch at 10,500 feet, sitting in a field that must have had 500 or more grazing sheep. This spot, we would soon find out, was the end of the east way out.

Farther on this fine road ends. Turning left there a light grey hill in front of us. Not very tall but it gives me pause. I know these hills, it’s not hard pack, it’s actually 6 inches of soft silt covering a graveyard of large rocks. This isn’t easy, the hidden rocks will kick your tires in different directions. It’s hard to get get traction and it’s hard to stay straight. The only solution is speed. I drop to second and peg the throttle, taking the right line fast. The lower section is fine but as I near the top a hidden rock kicks the rear end left, hard. I’m standing so it’s easy to shift weight left to counter it but I loose speed and only burning the clutch saves me. I crest the top, take a breath and yell in delight. On the radio I hear Greg coming up behind me, he’s attacking it as well but then I hear the dreaded

sound of the hill taking it’s first victim.

I park the bike and run back down the steep hill. There i see two wheels lying perpendicular to the hill, just off the right side, Greg below it, the top of the bike pointing down. Not the best angle. Greg is fine though he’s hit his leg and needs a minutes rest. As he moves aside i see gasoline pouring from his front tank. Not a huge worry but the bike has to be moved. The nice thing about steep hills and gravity is I can just grab his rear tire and pull the bike around, his front tire facing uphill the gas stops leaking. Checking on Greg it’s clear he isn’t hurt, but now we have to do this again.

He’s unsure of taking the same line so we spy two alternative routes on both sides of the road. Neither is great so I offer to ride his bike up. There’s no shame in this, I ride this terrain often in racing so I’m ok with it. Plus I don’t to risk him crashing again, there’s no need. We turn the bike around, get it to the bottom and I take the same line back up, hitting the same rock, getting to the top safely. We rest for a minute and carry on. The road is rocky but otherwise easy though not for long. We come to a sign post indicating the trail ahead is black diamond and the narrow, rocky entrance confirms it. At this point the only way out is through so we dive in. It’s definitely more technical but after a few miles it turns easier, moving through high mountain meadows of aspen and low grass, eventually taking us back to a hard pack road.

Cattle range freely in this next section and we pass many, a few blocking our paths. It’s best not to scare them, they bolt in unpredictable directions. Near the end of this track we start descending into Link Canyon. It’s not a good road for one reason, these damn cows. Their hooves have turned it into the same silt covering hidden rocks like the hill before us but this time it’s downhill with tight switchbacks and a guaranteed to be deadly drop off to one side. Did I mention they don’t put guard rails out here? To make matters worse, we scared a cow.

Once one cow runs they all run, down the hill they chose. This isn’t good because there’s nowhere for them to go but down, with us, and it means we have to try and stop on the terrible ground, downhill. One cow turns to five then maybe 20, all slowing our path. Halfway down the canyon a bull decides to block our way and give his family time to flee. He stops, turning sideways in the road and starts to Moo at us. The sounds of our horns and engines, normally enough to scare a cow off, are of no help. This cow is mad and isn’t going to take any shit today. We are at a stand off for 4 or 5 minutes until finally I take a short charge at him. Normally I dont take on 1,200 pound animals but I’m tired and need a beer, so it’s time to push. Thankfully he caves and starts down the hill, eventually fleeing left behind a bolder. We cheer and ride on not knowing this is only the beginning.

Exiting the canyon we run into what must be a herd of a few hundred cattle dispersed across the area, but most of them on the road, all of them running right in front of or next to us. And some have horns, some really big horns. We are patient and wait for openings on the left side just big enough to squeeze through then bolt forward. They always go right, I don’t know why, but they do. Greg wonders if someone in town will be mad we moved the cattle to lower altitude too early in the season. I can’t believe this hasn’t happened a dozen times already this month.

Crossing a cattle guard we know the beasts are finally in our past and we make our way to Farron to top off on gas and get cold beer. Corona is best we find but that works. I ask the cashier about local camping spots and he directs us east to a hill overlooking the town. Rising up we find the spot as promised, an empty fire ring atop the hill with a perfect view west. We setup camp, ravage the area for firewood and settle in for the night, watching our first sunset of the trip, sipping our cold reward.

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javiermanrique-blog1 · 5 years

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A Nature Walk in The Test Valley, Hampshire

The Test Valley is an area of Hampshire stretching from Andover down to Romsey, not too far from the well-known port of Southampton. On a balmy evening, with the sunshine still shining brightly we decided to take a walk around Fishlake Meadows. Fishlake Meadows is a nature reserve that’s managed by the Hampshire and Isle […] More

The post A Nature Walk in The Test Valley, Hampshire appeared first on BaldHiker.

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dansnaturepictures · 1 month

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18th March 2024: Fishlake Meadows, Lakeside and others

Photos taken in this set are of; Song Thrush at Fishlake Meadows, Greenfinch when cutting through Lakeside, violet at Fishlake Meadows, beautiful views at both, mushroom and ivy at Fishlake Meadows, pond skater at Fishlake Meadows it was good to see a few of them and female Gadwall at Fishlake Meadows. Other highlights from the brilliant walk and time I spent at Fishlake Meadows and in Romsey today were Cetti's Warber and Chiffchaff near constant presences in sound and sight which was delightful, Water Rail, Great White Egret, Greylag Geese, Pochard, Treecreeper, Dunnock, Red Kite, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard, my first forget-me-not of the year, daffodils, white deadnettle, lots of lesser celandine and King Alfred's cake and turkey tail fungi with quite a few fungi enjoyed today. Great Crested Grebe, House Sparrow, Wren, Green Woodpecker heard and Grey Squirrel were other highlights on the cut throughs over Lakeside with my first ground ivy of the year seen between the locations.

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dansnaturepictures · 30 days

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March end of month post 2 of 3: Ten of my favourite landscape and sky photos I took this month at Andrew's Mare in the New Forest, Lepe, Pennington, the nearly full worm moon at home, Fishlake Meadows, view on a boat trip along the Beaulieu River, Hayling Island on a lovely sunny day, evening walk at Lakeside Country Park, Testwood Lakes and the River Itchen at the Weirs, Winchester.

I took in some beautiful places and scenes this month and it was great to see it get lighter and lighter allowing more time outdoors in my week. Last night part 1 of these posts went out with ten of my favourite plant and fungi photos from this month and tomorrow night is the final one with ten of my favourite wildlife photos I took this month.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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12 of my favourite photos to take in December 2023 and month summary

The photos are of; Goldcrest at Lakeside Country Park, Blue Tit at Lakeside, Long-tailed Duck at Hayling Island Oysterbeds, mushrooms in Abbey Gardens, Roe Deer at Lakeside, turkey tail mushrooms at Fishlake Meadows, Silver-sided Sector spider at home, winter heliotrope at Lakeside, view at Winnall Moors, view at Southsea, view at Hayling Island and the stark looking rose bush in the garden with a few fading rose hips and yellow leaves.

December was a charming month packed full of wild wonder for me, a month where I had to do things a bit differently led to a huge focus on local areas and a couple of relatively fresh places for me visited and I saw some amazing wildlife to have a fitting end to an incredible year for me. In my birdwatching a final addition to my highest ever year list to bring my 2023 total a neat 220 came in the form of a bird I have a huge bond with and admiration for, the Black Redstart at Southsea Castle. This came a day after being mesmerised by wonderful views of the Long-tailed Duck and other birds at Hayling Island. Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, Jay, Mute Swan, Brent Geese, Red-breasted Merganser and Great White Egret were other key birds of my month. On my Lakeside walks the Goosanders continued to give with more fantastic sightings of them and the Common Gull was another welcome frequently seen winter visitor. Cormorant, fine views of Tufted Ducks, the cheery constant of Great Crested Grebes, Goldcrest, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, marvelous Redwings, Song Thrush, Wren, so many smashing moments seeing Long-tailed Tits, Kingfisher and Ring-necked Parakeet have been other key Lakeside sightings to bring me joy this month.

It has naturally quietened down for insects this month but I did manage a butterfly sightings with a probable Peacock seen quickly flying over at Lakeside and a hoverfly there on Christmas Eve. Grey Silverfish as well as frequent sightings of Long-bodied Cellar spider and the Silver-sided Sector spiders were interesting to see at home. It has been a memorable mammal month ending perhaps my greatest year of watching mammals with magical moments connecting with Roe Deers at Lakeside and Winnall Moors and a fair few Grey Squirrels and Brown Rats seen. Likewise with fungi a quieter month but multiple turkey tail sightings and some splendid candlesnuff fungi among others kept the interest up.

In a wet and relatively mild month a notable thing was how almost bizarre it was to notice things with plants a few weeks/months ahead of where they should be, from the verge at Lakeside bursting with winter heliotrope in flower and a violet to the hazel catkins beginning to adorn the landscape and the forsythia hedge out the front having a few flowers. Wild carrot and white deadnettle were two of a few of the summer/all season flowers I enjoyed in flower in places too. It was a great month of observing seed heads from fleabane to hogweed including gripping old man's beard and in an incredible fruit year bits of fruit still going like rose hips, hawthorn berries and holly berries. Mistletoe a key seasonal sight. Finally I enjoyed many breathtaking moments immersing myself in the outdoors at special sites taking in beautiful landscapes, with great sky scenes including the rainbow and the moon key to this month too. Happy New Year all!

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dansnaturepictures · 29 days

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31/03/2024-Cetti's Warbler at Fishlake Meadows, views at Fishlake Meadows and Lakeside Country Park on great time spent outside at both, crane fly at Fishlake Meadows, honesty at Lakeside, sky at home and Woodpigeon at at home.

It was also great to see Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk for a third day running, Treecreeper, Wren, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Teal, ladybird, wood anemone, ground ivy and white deadnettle at Fishlake Meadows; Moorhen, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker heard, Goldfinch, green alkanet and my first ever cuckoo-pint flower at Lakeside and Lesser Black-backed Gull and Goldfinch at home.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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16th December 2023: Fishlake Meadows

Flora, fauna and fungi pictures taken in this set are of: 1. A rodent I observed along the canal before reaching the reserve, I believe a young rat I did see other rats too. 2. Viburnum along the canal path which I enjoyed seeing. 3. A sea of gorgeous turkey tail which I was taken aback with on a tree stump. 4. A cheery Robin. 5. A ravishing Red Kite which was a treat to see, I was captivated by watching it. I excitingly saw one from the train on the way and also I believe two on a tree from the train on the way back, exciting to see them doing well here. 6. Grey Squirrel. 7. One of a few Mute Swans I enjoyed watching whilst having a blissful lunch at the viewing screen. 8. A majestic Marsh Harrier, another raptor I love which it was delightful to watching soaring over the reedbed and water a couple of times. 9. Dandelion. 10. Cormorant.

In swashbuckling moments before reaching the reserve along the canal I saw a beautiful Kingfisher perched and catch a fish, a riveting encounter with another favourite of mine. Completing a super six of my visit alongside the Kingfisher and two birds of prey were two pleasing passerines, crimson Stonechat which I'd not seen here before and powerful moments listening to the siren like call of a Nuthatch and watching this eyecatching birds as well as stunning views of a Great White Egret at the screen perhaps the closest I've ever been to this angelic egret I was just too slow to get a photo before it flew. Other bird highlights on an amazing walk round were Goldcrest, Wrens, Chiffchaff, the energetic burst of sound from a nice few Cetti's Warblers calling, Long-tailed Tit seen well for a second day running, Blue Tit, Great Tit heard and seen well, Collared Dove and House Sparrow along the canal, Mistle Thrush feeding on mistletoe (how it gets its name) which was memorable, Blackbird, Magpie, Grey Heron including parading over nicely, Moorhen, possibly a Water Rail seen quickly too, the regular sight and sound of Greylag Geese, Shoveler and Wigeon key waterfowl of the day and Common Gull. Other key plants seen were pretty forget-me-not, ivy including mixed well with mushrooms, hazel catkins, white deadnettle, rose hips and burdock seed heads. Candlesnuff fungi spotted only from being beside the rat in the photos I took seen for a second day running was nice and possibly mossy maze polypore among other mushrooms were good to see. On the way to the station this morning seeing winter heliotrope at Lakeside and further on and hawthorn berries, dandelion and hearing Magpie by Lakeside were good moments with Jackdaw, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Starling and Collared Dove enjoyed at home today. My Mum is currently recovering from a major operation so as I don't drive I'm doing some trips to nature reserves via trains, so far last Saturday and today and I'll do more in the New Year, and it makes it a really interesting and enjoyable day taking a different route to get out to places. Today at Fishlake Meadows and getting there was a fantastic day of nature watching and appreciating being outside.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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Some more photos from my week off over the past week of; Waxwings and Red Kite at Farnham, Mallards at Lakeside Country Park, Goldeneye at RSPB Radipole Lake, views at Radipole Lake, Fishlake Meadows, Lakeside and Winnall Moors and daisy at Mercer Way, Romsey.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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06/01/2024-Fishlake Meadows and Mercer Way, Romsey

Photos taken in this set here today are of; catkins against a bright blue sky, my second Sparrowhawk photographed in flight in as many days this rustic urban raptor a key bird of my week, a regal Robin in the winter sun, one of my first of its cousin the Stonechat this year at Fishlake Meadows, sunny views including reedbed, grass, trees and the notable high water levels that have dominated my week at Fishlake Meadows, daisy at Mercer Way, viburnum and mistletoe.

I was in my element watching the Stonechats from a viewing area alongside a fair few other birds including my first Cetti's Warbler seen this year after hearing many yesterday, today and on Wednesday so this was great, an exquisite and uplifting bird. Gadwall, one of my favourite birds the Pochard with bright red males and some females and a charming group of five Snipe as well as a Treecreeper were other year ticks to take my year list to 75 which I'm thrilled with and feel so lucky to get there. The time at Fishlake Meadows was also made special by others in group of birds that have been big species for me seen a few times across my week off to start the year including glorious views of Red Kite right over my head, two circling Buzzards, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Goldcrest, Teal and a second sensational and intimate view of an alluring Water in as many days. Also good to see during the time in Romsey mostly spent at Fishlake Meadows today were Grey Squirrel, Brown Rat, my first red deadnettle of the year and white deadnettle, viburnum, cleavers, more gorgeous hogweed along the canal path, ivy and old man's beard. It was great to see Wigeons at Lower Test from the train on the way home.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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2nd January 2023: A fantastic wild walk at Fishlake Meadows

Photos taken in this set are of; one of a fair few Cormorants seen flying over, the stunning turkey tail which was a standout on my last visit here last month looking enchanting in the sunshine, a Herring Gull, beautiful views it was invigorating to be out in this vast landscape as the strong winds brushed the trees vigorously and the bright bursts of sunlight turned the reedbeds golden with pretty winter sky scenes and the flooded area notable to see, some lovely orange jelly spot fungi which was fascinating to observe on wood and some of a few bits of in flower hogweed which I really enjoyed seeing as well as their fascinating leaves.

On the walk to and at the reserve it was also good to see my first Mute Swans, Great Black-backed Gulls, Grey Herons, Pintail and Chiffchaff of the year keeping my year list going well; the Chiffchaff my second earliest ever sighting of one in a year this familiar spring visitor which is resident also these days and Pintail top ones to see with a fair few Grey Herons enjoyed as well as Greylag Geese, great Dunnock and Goldcrest views, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Pheasant seen well, Buzzard and Kestrel. Grey Squirrel, mistletoe, viburnum, white deadnettle, rose hips, ivy, thistle leaves and other fungi including crowded parchment were also good to see. Starling a key species at home today with Red Kite enjoyed from the train again and my first Rabbit of the year seen passing the University of Southampton sports fields on the way to the station.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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16th December 2023: Landscape photos at Fishlake Meadows

It was lovely to take in beautiful views of the the patterns of the reedbeds, rest of the wetlands, bare branches with mistletoe clinging to some and other creating striking and almost eerie scenes, sweet alder trees, early catkins and some bits of autumnal colour. One of the things I was most excited about with coming here today was whilst this is a place we've come increasingly in recent years and I have really taken this place to heart I'd never really been in winter, so it was nice to see it with bare branches and see further into the landscape, and whilst quite mild it was a typical winter day to do it with the starkness of the bare branches and the mood. My last post mentioned the extraordinary day of wildlife watching I had here today.

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dansnaturepictures · 8 months

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Ten of my favourite photos I took over the last week of; Chalkhill Blue at Old Winchester Hill and view with purple heather at Ibsley Common in the New Forest last Sunday, Great White Egret and Osprey at Fishlake Meadows on Monday, Brimstone moth, the Super Blue Moon and snail at home on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively, view at Lakeside Country Park on Friday and hovering Kestrel and view at Farlington Marshes yesterday.

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dansnaturepictures · 8 months

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28/08/2023-Bank Holiday Monday at Fishlake Meadows

Photos taken in this set: 1. Orange balsam. 2, 5, 9 and 10. Beautiful views at this pretty, distinctive and biodiverse wetland spot. 3. Willowherb, I believe broad-leaved. 4. Hogweed with a fly on. 6. Great White Egret, it was an honour to see these striking birds so well today. It was particularly stunning watching two fly, low, jet like over the reedbeds in a tranquil and effortless way, it was so pleasurable and soothing to see. These are birds I love. 7. Another I love, an Osprey. I was glad I took the opportunity to get a visit in here today generally but especially as this Osprey had been about and it was amazing to see it. From both the path and roadside viewpoint I got epic views of this bird as it sat and also seeing it fly and the dramatic splash as it dived. These views were exceptional and it was a heartfelt experience on its own. But when stood at the path with a couple I got talking to watching it I was stunned when a second Osprey flew over. As it did a bit of a circuit it was an honour to watch this enormous bird and I am buzzing that I saw this. What a year it's been for me for Ospreys again with the Scotland and Rutland experiences and I'm glad to add home Hampshire sightings to the story. 8. Bird vetch which looked beautiful.

Other bird highlights on the walk ere Buzzard, Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, an intimate Blackcap view, Cetti's Warbler the fluent sound of the reedbead heard well, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, House Martin, Gadwalls seen very well, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron flying well and Cormorant. I got a nice view of a Grey Squirrel. Either a Red Admiral or a Peacock I couldn't quite see which as it flew on and Small White were good butterflies to see. I had a dalliance with dragonflies on the walk getting phenomenal views of Migrant Hawkers flying high over and beside me and dazzling male Common Darters sparkling ruby gems below. A demoiselle was nice to see too as were a wasp and bees. Other key flowers on the walk around the wetlands were water mint, great willowherb, hemp agrimony, nightshade, beautiful shaped water speedwell possibly a first for me, forget-me-not, burdock, comfrey, meadowsweet, mugwort, gypsywort, purple loosestrife, marsh woundwort, white deadnettle, ragwort, fleabane, herb-Robert, wood avens and giant chickweed. Mistletoe clinging to a distinctive dead tree of the site, beautiful elderberries again and rose hips were good to see. Sunlit Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Starling, Magpie, sedum and fuchsia were highlights at home today.

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