Somerset Wild Walks

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Somerset Levels 16/3/14

Wow what a lovely sunny warm Spring day to head down to the Levels. The anticipation of what we may see is always amazing and today did not disappoint. Highlight of the day was seeing 2 Adders, we felt so privileged to see these beautiful snakes. We saw many aspects of wildlife from Garganey to Kingfishers, singing Chiffchaffs, Marsh Harriers, and butterflies, we even heard our first our first booming Bittern of the year. Not long until the Cuckoo returns!

Two Adders basking in the morning sun

Amazing red eyes of the Adder

On the move - this Adder was the smaller of the two and more active seeking out the heat of the sun

Garganey - seen at Ham Wall at some distance!

Spring Willow - just says everything about Spring has sprung!

Small Tortoiseshell

Ham Wall view

Kingfisher pair seen chasing each other

Chiffchaff - plenty seen and heard. Love this song as the herald of Spring.

Brimstone - in flight the yellow is amazing and really bright

One more Adder - just love those markings

Herepath Walk - Somerset 15/3/14

The Herepath is a glorious 13.5 mile walk through lovely Somerset countryside just outside Taunton. It takes in various terrains from forest tracks and woodland to fields. We set out early on what was to become a wonderful sunny day. Once again the birds were singing and the skies were blue and we saw a total of 5 butterflies Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoishell and plenty of Commas.

Primroses in abundance along the walk

Great to see so many Spring wild flowers making a strong appearance and also attracting butterflies and bees.

Violet

Violets - yes these are white!

Fleabane - one of the earliest Spring flowers to appear

Toad - met this toad along our path through damp woodlands

Bee on Celandine - great to see so many bees around this Spring

Red Admiral soaking up the sun

Brimstone on Celandine

Comma - one of many seen today. Surprised to see so many.

Stover Lake 8th March 2014

We are quite frequent visitors to Devon and no visit is complete without a visit to Stover Lake great for birds, reptiles and insects as well as a lovely picturesque walk through woodland, heathland and of course the lake.

The weather was warm and very Spring like and the open forest paths revealed Peacock, Comma and Brimstone butterflies. Large bees were also noticeable buzzing by like little 'bombers' heading for the flowering primroses or violets.

Comma

Bee soaking up the sun

On the lake we observed Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Goosander, Pochard and Cormorants. On the lake reed margins we were lucky to glimpse a Water Rail as it scurried into cover.

Cormorants keeping watch over the lake

Female Goosander one of 5 on the lake

Male Goosander - just the 2 on the lake

Goosander

The woodlands were full of bird song most noticeably the Nuthatch and the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Everywhere though the woods seemed alive with birds ducking and diving and chasing each other. Spring is definitely in the air. Great to see a few Willow Tits as well as Great and Blue.

Great Tit on Bullrush - using the seed for food

Great Creasted Grebe - fine Spring plumage

Cheeky looking Robin!

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Mendip Winter Visitors and Wild Crocus

Saturday 12th October and Monday14th saw us cover nearly 20 miles on the Mendips.

Saturday was a wonderful sunny day but the start of Monday saw us walking for 2 hours in sometimes heavy rain! However the rain did eventually clear, so glad we bought those waterproof leggings though!

Our walks centred mainly around Burrington, Dolebury Warren, Velvet Bottom, Charterhouse and Blackdown. Once again the walk offered stunning views and colours and a great deal of wildlife.

The highlights were seeing great flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding on the berry rich Rowan plus a discovery of Wild Crocus growing in a meadow.

Plenty of fruits to be found. Great food for our Winter visitors and I have never seen the branches so laden. Predictions of a cold winter?!

Damp and warm weather still prompting many fungi to grow

Great views over the hills and far away ...

We were so pleased to find these wild crocus. A patch of purple in a grassy meadow, magic!

Great to see huge flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding on the berries. Strange at the same time we should see a few swallows and a couple of Wheatears on the hills! Plenty of Stonechats, Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and Ravens plus a Kestrel etc.

Some great views of the landscape changing to its Autumn colours.

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Chew Valley Hills and East Harptree Woods. Stunning views, wildlife and fungi magic!

Our Saturday walk took us from East Harptree Woods on a circular 9.5 mile walk taking in stunning views, fields, hills and great wildlife. Although the fields were very damp from overnight dew the day was like late summer with blue skies and a temperature of 19 degrees!

First Fly Agaric of the season found in East Harptree woods along the main path. Always brings a smile to our face when we see these 'magical' wonders.

Rose hips as well as Hawthorn providing a mass of colour in the hedgerow this Autumn. Seems to be thicker than ever.

Comma on Sloe berries. Makes a change from the usual blackberries. Still plenty of Commas around as well as a few Red Admirals and Speckled Woods making the best use of the sunny spots.

The fields and woods provided great cover for the many pheasants seen today. They seemed to be out everywhere scurrying away like roadrunners as we got close. This male was happy for us to approach it on the edge of woodland whilst it foraged for seeds.

A view across the fields to where we are heading. Still so green and vibrant.

One type of many different types of fungi appearing everywhere. The warm days and damp evenings seem to be providing the right humidity for growth in field and woodland. Must invest in an ID book!

A Mendip Hill field with views out towards Chew Valley Lake. Always stunning views as you walk across these fields back towards East Harptree Woods.

A few rocks in this field and great to see what is probably the last Wheatear. Good luck my friend on your trip back to Africa. Very humbling when you stop to think the distance our migrants make very year.

Chew Valley Lake - a different perspective, you can see for miles and miles and by this stage we feel as though we have walked for miles! What a view though.

Lovely family group hiding in the woods, look like little hats!

Fly Agaric - To our delight we found a large group hidden within some conifers at the end of our walk. It is now a place we will visit every year just to see this 'magical' fungi. It is so iconic and really lifts the spirits to see it and indeed everything we have seen on this and every walk we do.

Ain't nature grand!

Smitham Chimney, East Harptree Woods. The last old lead-smelting chimney still standing on the Mendips. The woods, lake and surrounding area packed with flora and wildlife at all times of the year.

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

From hills to levels, an ibis, butterflies and fungi.

A lovely sunny 9 mile Mendip trek on Sunday with the start of stunning Autumn colours with us on our journey. The Mountain Ash and Hawthorn is thick with berries and both a vibrant red amongst the green. The bracken is now turning that lovely golden colour and looks great with the sun on it,

Plenty of Speckled Woods still around as well as Commas, Red Admirals and Small Coppers. These butterflies and many other insects taking advantage of the sun and to feed on the over ripe blackberries.

The damp and warmth is a great combination for mushrooms and fungi with many varieties to be seen everywhere. Still trying to find the elusive Fly Agaric though!

Monday morning took us to Shapwick and Ham Wall, an early visit at 8am. We were rewarded though with great views of the Glossy Ibis, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, about 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Great White Egret etc on the Scrape. From Noah's hide we got a glimpse of both Common and Green Sandpipers. One of the most rewarding views though was that of a Stonechat from the path. 3 hours later and we were back at the car ... the heavens opened and rain set in for the rest of the day! Superb time spent at Shapwick though.