First proper outing since lockdown

I would like to dedicate this post to Chris Burchell, kindred spirit and friend. The walk I write about here was the day after his birthday. I think he would have appreciated it.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they can ever praise you. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; in their heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring. The early rain covers it with blessings as well.

Psalm 84:4–6 (LEB)

The day’s forecast wasn’t looking good. The weather was dictating its angry sky to us with sombre clouds and light lashing rain.

Arriving at Beaulieu Station Inclosure car park in the New Forest, we disembarked and proceeded to clothe ourselves with waterproofs, greeting the Grandparents as we did. It was good to get away from Guildford out into the countryside into this blustery day!

The decision for the first route we traversed was made due to the possible presence of lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). Heading towards their last known location with the wind and rain at our backs let us breathe and able to see ahead.

There were signs of life around us not least bracken and heather. Small birds tried to break for cover yet were pushed back by the force of the wind.

Passing under the Lymington railway line we came out into a more sheltered spot where cattle were lieing down – a sign of rain on the way in old folk lore! This area was where lapwing had nested up until recently. A lone lapwing appeared out of nowhere, landed for a short period and took off again saying it’s Hello and Goodbye heading off in a southwesterly direction.

We followed the path running parallel with the railway line still sheltered by the trees along the cutting. A few plants of interest caught the attention. A lone heath milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) not easy to see being so tiny. A few eyebright (Euphrasia nemerosa), another one for a loupe. Then a new one I don’t recall identifying before which wasn’t at its best, the flowers having gone over – wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia). Photos were taken of this species not having brought a field guide due to the weather.

We arrived back to the car park after our short first walk to have a break. There were a number of birds flitting around in the car park including a pied wagtail (Motacilla alba), a singing goldcrest (Regulus regulus) and a few house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Setting off again we headed back over the railway bridge and headed in a westerley direction. The rain began to clear and it brightened. In the distance to the north of us was a singing skylark (Alauda arvensis) which was lost in the sky. The song grew louder as we walked along. To the east of us in the bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and bell heather (Erica cineria) and flying over the tops into the mixed woodland edges were chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) chink-chinking as they flew.

On the ground at one point was the largest of the birds to be seen after the lapwing. The size turned out to be an optical illusion as they were mistle thrushes (Turdus viscivorus) which aren’t particularly large in size. A pleasant sight, one that in and around Guildford is more common in the winter months. A large kestrel (Falco tinnunculis) appeared and flew off over our heads.

The heather (Erica cinerea) surrounded us on both sides. Not having grown to maturity it was home to a small blue butterfly which is usually found only on heathland’s in this country. It was difficult to get a fix on them as the wind buffeted them and when they were approached they didn’t stay still long. We saw them later on the walk too where I managed to get a blurry picture! The butterfly was a silver studded blue (Plebejus argus)

The path took us down into a dip which was a small valley. The vegetation changed as it was being fed by a stream. Within the marshy habitat numerous swathes of cotton grass (either the common cotton sedge or the hares tail cotton sedge – both Eriophorum species) caught the eye as they swayed in the strong breeze. Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) interspersed this loose hairy blanket, erect and bright.

Moving through the valley into the edge of the woodland were a number of swallows (Hirundo rustica) and house martins (Delichon urbicum) flying together low over the landscape, around the trees and coming really close to us. A spectacular sight! A number of ‘wows‘ were evoked! They must have been feeding off the insects in this more sheltered spot as the rains had finished. Someone who shall be nameless said “Dad they’re just birds!” I replied “They’re not just birds they’re God’s little treasures!

There were a number of spectacular trees which we passed through along the path. The whole area being wood pasture has mature oak (Quercus robur), beech (Fagus sylvatica), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) to name a few. One of the oaks at the beginning has some family history as our kids were sat on it when they were little!

Siskins (Carduelis spinus) were calling in the birch trees (Betula pendula) above us. If they had not been calling I doubt we would have noticed their presence as their movement in the tree tops was difficult to detect in the strong breeze.

Further along the path was another stopping point just before a narrow passageway through some low trees. There we discovered bog asphodel and bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), a very toxic plant which if I remember has been used in medicines but not one to self diagnose! Another little flower caught our attention it turns out it’s in the primrose family. It was bog pimpernel (Anagallis tenella), one unfamiliar to me. (Initially I identified it as a saxifrage. When at home it took some scouring of the wildflower guides to find it).

The rest of the walk opened out and headed up hill. A copse not far off had a flyby from a couple of ravens (Corvus corax) and a Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) called in the gorse (Ulex europaeus) and suddenly appeared showing its yellow legs in front of its body for balance as it wobbled on a prickly stem. It had a bill full of insects presumably for a late brood.

The car park beckoned in the distance under the dark pines as a late entry swift (Apus apus) skimmed across the sky.

After lunch where we’d been entertained by a female house sparrow playing peek-a-boo, we drove to Bolderwood north of our position by 15 minutes. This time the car park was nearly full. Surprisingly though our walk missed most of the people from these cars!

A decline lead us down to the viewing platform where various species of deer can be seen. No deer from this vantage point were present. We skirted the perimeter with our hopes up for a sighting. We weren’t disappointed.

Initially it looked like we would see 2 or 3 deer but as we walked on around the enclosure we must have seen around 20 Fallow deer (Dama dama) plus a handful of young foals and a leucistic adult.

To feel, the air, the rain, to see the sights and smell the vegetation and to touch the rough bark of trees and smooth grass. It was good, uplifting and a joy filled occasion.

Apart from outdoor gardening work and some short trips in and around north Guildford, this was the first place we had travelled to since lockdown. It was good to get away!