A set of photos from a couple of strolls around the RSPB's bird reserve at Fowlmere, just a short distance away from home.
As most of you will know it's a regular haunt of mine, though at the moment it looks a little different as much of the wet woodland is wetter than usual, some of it very much underwater.
The main path around the reserve is mostly raised above the flood, though the woodland loop is, if not underwater, at least under-mud. The mud can be interesting though when it shows the tracks of the many Muntjac and Fallow Deer that make their homes here. We sighted both species in the flesh, including an almost white Fallow buck splashing through the reedbed.
As it's been a relatively mild winter so far, fungi are continuing to thrive on the sodden rotting wood.
Ivy grows on many of the trees in this part of the country and, although it can eventually strangle the life out of the tree that supports it, its evergreen foliage provides a warm winter refuge where many small birds hunt for insects.
Most of my other local walks are also very wet at the moment, some involving a good deal of paddling while others are deep with mud. The path here at Fowlmere has another advantage in these Covidious times of being designated as one-way, so you don't spend all your time dodging out of the way of oncoming pedestrian traffic.
And there are some gorgeous little corners to explore, like the little pool above which was opened up a couple of years ago by cutting back some of the scrub vegetation.
There are several trees on the reserve which have the strange shape of the one above; they seem to have collapsed in all directions as the ground gets regularly inundated every winter.
Mosses and lichens thrive too, anywhere they can get a foothold.
As it's a bird reserve you'd probably expect a list of birds seen, but there's been little of any great interest about on the last couple of visits, though on Christmas morning, when my brother and I went for a pre-dinner stroll, we spied a White-Fronted Goose on the meadow beside the entrance road. I knew they'd been seen elsewhere, but later learned that it was the first ever (!) sighting of this winter visitor on this particular reserve.
Take care.
Very interesting reserve to visit
ReplyDeleteHi John - loved this walk around Fowlmere ... I wonder why there are 'no birds' - any ideas? I see the White-Fronted Goose (2 races - Greenland and Russia) overwinter here ... so an interesting landing - lucky you. Stay safe - and thanks for posting - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThere were some birds about but mostly the kind that you see in the garden. The mere, which attracts various water birds, is only viewable from the hide, which is closed, of course, because of Covid.
DeleteIt may have been a muddy stroll for you but I thoroughly enjoyed the excursion. One way is a good practice these days. At least you can enjoy a walk there.
ReplyDeleteEverywhere is so muddy. It's still good to get out and having Fowlmere close by must be a bonus. The ivy photo reminds me, uncomfortably, of the backs of my wizened hands, so many veins!
ReplyDeleteNice blue skies, which reflect well in the pools everywhere...lovely even though wet!
ReplyDeleteSoggy but splendid, John! A lovely walk! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteHigh shoes or boots are needed here too when we go out for a walk. You show a beautiful area! I love the photo of the fungi, and the colourful mosses and lichens.
ReplyDeleteYou are fortunate to live so close to this reserve, John, and to be able to visit in all its seasons. Congratulations on the first ever winter sighting of White-fronted Goose.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to be able to get out for a walk even if it is rather wet.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI envy your dampness (and even the mud) too. We had a wetter than usual Spring but summer is here now and the land is crispifying before our eyes.
Another beautiful stroll, John. I like the tree with all its roots growing around it, quite unique and nice to see. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely walk especially from the dry here.
ReplyDeleteAs usual John it is a delight to look at your photographs. You certainly seem to have had plenty of rain - luckily we escaped the worst of it this time.
ReplyDeleteWaterlogged, but it makes for lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteIt does look very soggy. We haven’t had many waterfowl on my place this year either, but our ponds are all very low from little rainfall.
ReplyDeleteIt does look wet, but also beautiful there. I love the fungi and that tree with the ivy. It looks like a work of carved art.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved the title of your blog but only stopped by to read it for the first time today. It's good to find someone else who researches field names and puts them to good use! There is a similar field behind Chedworth church in the Cotswolds called "The poor field". The local holy well was sited here until the next door manor house decided to reroute the spring into their own water system. The well head is still there and you can hear the water but no access. You would think the fieldname was maybe somewhere with an origin of common land to feed the poor, but no such luck. The local belief is that when the church was being built back in medieval times, the stones from the excavated bank were thrown into piles in the field. This created a field so bereft of nutrition that even now it has to be rested for a month or more after having cattle on it. If you look at the field carefully you can almost see the piles of stones under the undulations. I'm presuming you already know that woodland such as your hanglands would have been worth more than agricultural fields. One of my uncle's fields is called Madcombe, which means "meadow leading down to a stream" in Old English, a description which fits the field perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, the colors make the area look even more beautiful.
ReplyDeleteInteresting set of photos. I love the ivy covered trees.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your 'watery walk' John! Delightful images. I especially like the stems of the Ivy at the base of the tree, in such a tangle. I can see a pair of legs pointing upwards in that photo. lol
ReplyDeleteWet walks seem to be the order of the day but the conditions underfoot have made for some beautiful photos:)
ReplyDeleteI bet one needs a good pair of wellies for this type of walking. . . .and the rewards are definitely notes in your beautiful photos John.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to walk the neighbor in my sneakers as it's dry as a bone right now - also sunny and no wind, but hovering around freezing.
Happy Sunday.
I love the different shapes of the trees, trunks and roots. Nature is just so amazing. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos. You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteI use to see Kingfishers from the first hide on the left as you walk around John.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the trees being hugged to death by the ivy made me shiver. I like how you photograph the little details of your life. I see the details in mine, but alas, I can only write about them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful series of images captured here John, your Wetlands look much wetter :) than the Wetlands I walked in today!
ReplyDeleteThat does look like a very wet place to walk!
ReplyDelete