Deer today

 

We kept coming across Fallow does and their fawns this morning.  The fawns are growing up but are generally still quite shy and difficult to photograph.  Generally I hear the rustling in the woods more often than I see them as their summer coats are actually quite good camouflage in the dappled sun between the trees. They are often quite noisy if you startle them: sometimes 'barking' their alarm call as they run, although mostly moving away in silence if they see you before you see them.

There are so many deer near us that there is a clear browse line, even under the holly, but I still enjoy seeing them.  Being still, watching wildlife is a fantastic way to de-stress, whether it is out in the countryside, in a park or in your own garden.  

 

I love autumnal mornings.  Dew-laden cobwebs look so magical emerging from the mist.  It didn't take long for the sun to burn through this morning: temperatures are set to be above average for a few days but we have had just enough rain for fungal spore bearing bodies (mushrooms and toadstools) to be everywhere.

  The range of fungi will increase as we head through the Autumn but there are lots of Agaricus species popping up already.  These are the classic mushrooms that many people eat but I never encourage people to eat them as not only do you have to be sure that they won't poison you, the chances are that they will already be infested with something.  I used to take fungi home to identify them and a number of times they became a writhing mess of maggots within a very short space of time.  

In order to identify many fungi you need to pick them but someone had walked ahead of me today, picked them and discarded them.  At this stage it really doesn't matter as they will have already dropped their spores but I feel it is such a shame when people damage them before they 'open up'.  Here you can clearly see their gills which give a large surface area for spore production. Not all fungi have gills but it is a strategy favoured by many.

Maybe I am easily pleased but I still marvel at the structure of many things in nature.  It really doesn't matter whether or not you are able to identify a species (unless you are trying to do a survey): just taking the time to look closely at wildlife can be a calming experience.

Magical Marsh Gentians

 

Over the past few days we have been visiting sites where we had previous records of Marsh Gentians.  Over the past years, they have fluctuated in number but there does appear to be a downward trend. Many of the sites have very few flowering spikes: they are very easy to spot when they are open as their bright blue, trumpet-shaped flowers look quite out of place in nature to me.

Marsh Gentians are declining nationally and are found only in nutrient poor habitats where the ground is generally damp.  They are therefore very localised and we are extremely lucky to have them here. I don't need to say that if you see them, please be careful not to trample or damage them. 

The flowers close at night, making them harder to count in the mornings.  In the past they also seemed bigger, with many more multiple flowers on each stem but I don't think there is any hard evidence for that.

Good weather for reptiles

The blue sky may have given way to cloud and a breeze has sprung up but there were still lots of lizards darting around on the Forest today. They were too quick for me to photograph, but this black (melanistic) adder was a bit more noticeable.

You can still see the characteristic zigzag pattern if you look closely.  Most adder bites seem to occur when people (or more often dogs) step on them by mistake.  If your dog gets bitten, take it to a vet immediately. Our local vet gives antibiotics but not usually the anti venom serum as reaction to that can be worse than the bite.

The Fallow Deer antlers are looking magnificent at the moment as they prepare for the rut next month. These bucks were relaxing in the last of the sun this evening. 

 

It has clouded over now but there is nothing like a bit of blue sky for lifting your spirits. It always makes me walk more slowly and see more. This morning it was a Great Spotted Woodpecker which I watched as it examined a couple of dead standing trees, foraging for invertebrates.

You might have to look closely as my main aim when I watch wildlife is not to disturb it, so I try to stay still and keep my distance.  These dead trees are out on a large area of heather which is better known for its wildlife value for heathland specialists, but the dead wood adds to the diversity of species found there. Without management, these areas would tend to scrub over and the important heathland habitat would be lost.  At this time of year the invasion by birch is really clear.

In the past, the Commoners' grazing animals would have kept the invading scrub under control.  When I first came here, the grazing animals roamed freely across the whole Forest but the increase in traffic here in the southeast has made that rather impractical. A large part of the Forest is fenced and smaller temporary enclosures are now used: these cows were hard at work on the other side of the firebreak this morning.

If you walk on the Forest, please do remember that there are grazing animals around and keep your dogs under control. There is a code of conduct for dog walkers which can be found here: https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/2170/ashdown-forest-code-of-conduct-for-dog-walkers-leaflet.pdf

What a difference!

 What a difference a day makes in England! From glorious sunshine yesterday to a misty, murky morning. There were times this morning that I could have thought I was on holiday on a wild, windswept moor.  Although it was breezy and the fog rolled across the heather, there was an eerie stillness as a buzzard flew past my right ear. The bracken is beginning to turn in places, but it certainly wasn't cold.

I didn't take a camera but my most exciting spot of the morning was a brilliantly coloured Dor Beetle on what I assume was fox dung. 

These beetles are such an important part of the ecosystem but they often go unnoticed. This one had beautiful, bright blue-violet legs.  At least on a foggy day there is little point in admiring the view so it is a good day to look down at your feet. 

Hello September

September

A new month. For many years it has been the start of a new school year for me, so I find the transition to Autumn triggers feelings of New Year's Resolutions.  My main September resolution was to start this blog properly and I have almost failed .  It has been a busy day but I am not about to beat myself up over it: I can only get better.


The seasons are definitely changing. There was an autumnal chill in the air when we went out this morning, yet the heather is still in flower on the Forest. Some areas have a slightly brown hue as the flowers  become seeds but much of the Ling (Common heather) is still fresh.  Autumn flowers and fruits are waiting in the wings but I hope that you all managed to get outside in the sunshine today.





We saw a number of Fallow Deer on our walk: most of them were too far away for my camera but this buck was having a scratch when I first saw him and he then watched as we approached before wandering off.

Bubbles

I really love the question, 'Why?'

Today on my morning walk I noticed a line of bubbles down the centre of the stream. From watching the stream for a while, the only reason I could see could be the way the water was running over a stony section. I'll have to go back another day to see whether it is still doing it. Any ideas?