A Jack Russell terrier in the boot and other surprises

It's been hot much of the time and that has meant early starts in order to get a walk in before it's too hot for furry dogs and their paws. Not to mention their owners.

It's also meant interesting dawnlight in the woods, and on rivers and lakes.

The trees are continuing to struggle in the extreme conditions, dropping huge branches, coppiced trunks and in some cases falling completely and taking other trees with them as they go.

While the landscape is mostly still lush, with no end in sight to temperatures nudging 30°+,  it will be tipping into sere any day now.  Here's Badock's Wood on the River Trym, modelling both looks.

Top to bottom, left to right:

red and white clover; moon daisy;yellow rattle; broadleaf enchanter's nightshade; honeysuckle; broomrape; white dead nettle; foxglove

large-leaved avens; common twayblade; hemlock water dropwort; milk thistle; loosestrife; bindweed; meadow bindweed; hedge woundwort and agrimony; common centaury; hairy St John's Wort 

broad-leaved willowherb; mallow; field rose; rosebay willowherb; self heal; ragwort; meadowsweet; valerian; buddleia

hogweed; black mustard; mallow; corn cockle; tutsan (St John's Wort); ivy-leaved toadflax, chicory; wood dock

poppy; corn flower; corn marigold; ground elder; tufted vetch; crow garlic; wild carrot; spear thistle; hemp agrimony; fleabane

Buddleia and chicory at Blaise Castle

 moon daisies, ragwort, hogweed and tufted vetch on Purdown

Vassall's Park

sweet chestnut catkins at Blaise

Following on from my recent trip to Barbury Castle, I've been to check in on a couple of other, more local hillforts, namely Stokeleigh Camp in Leigh Woods ...

... and Bury Hill Fort at Frenchay, both of which, while not exactly atmospheric in the high summer heat, were looking good.

assorted fungi

Ermine Moth caterpillars

Top to bottom, left to right:

ermine mother caterpillars; treble brown spot; froghoppers

painted lady; cinnabar moth caterpillar; ladybird

 

Red admiral

Holly blue

We've been to one new place and that was Lower Woods in South Gloucestershire, one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in the south-west and an SSI to boot. Unfortunately it was very hot and the wide rides cut through the trees did nothing to protect woman and dog from the boiling sun. Also, lots of the woodland, at least where we walked, was fenced off. Important to manage it for wildlife, I know, but it felt far from the immersive experience promised online. Maybe a visit in spring or autumn would be more interesting, but I found myself thinking fondly of our feral woods locally, and how I can get lost on their winding little paths in deepest summer even though I go there most days. No chance of that here.

There was some light relief when we got back to the car park. I opened the boot of my car, took out a water bowl, filled it with chilled water from a flask, and waited while Cwtch drank it, only to find, when I went to put it back, that the boot now contained a Jack Russell terrier, who was busy eating some mouldy bits of kibble that had been spilt some time ago from the box of crow food. (I feed the crows at Asda when I go shopping.) He showed no signs of jumping out again, I didn't want to pick him up in case he was a biter, so in the end I rattled the box and shook a few bits of (fresh) kibble onto the ground to get him out, before quickly shutting the boot and heading off. 

Most of the wildlife I've got a close look at has been dead, sadly, which is the usual state of affairs when you're walking a dog. (Not, of course, that Cwtch killed them; it's just that sensible creatures get out of the way when they spot a collie.)

Top to bottom, left to right:

roe deer; thrush eggs; crow; robinling

snail massacre; shrew; squirrel having a peek; vole

That said, the feather season has started in earnest, with the first three jay coverts found (always a reliable indicator):

magpie; tawny owl; jay; great spotted woodpecker; sparrowhawk; green woodpecker; nuthatch; long-tailed tit; greenfinch; robin; buzzard

But mostly it's been beautiful despite the heat. I'm really looking forward to getting lots more walking done through the rest of the summer. 

View across Stoke Park at Purdown

my favourite Purdown oak at midsummer

hoggin

Cwtch at Blaise Castle

Autumn swansong

I was expecting a conflagration this autumn after the hot, dry summer. In my head I had a vision of the autumn of 2007, though I don't know if the brilliance of the foliage that year was exceptional, or if my state of mind at the time just made it seem like the world was on fire.   

Anyhow, it hasn't been like that at all - more a long, slow burn which is now dying down. Today I noticed that the leaves on the ground more black than gold. The trees more bare than leaved. The fog dropping. 

Winter is coming, so here's autumn's swansong ...

... though actually it's the resident heron on the lake in Eastville Park that draws the attention of passers-by - and the local black-headed gulls.

Meanwhile, I've been wondering which of these two photos to submit to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition - it's so hard to choose between them. ☺

The park and nearby Wickham Glen were looking so beautiful the last few times I've been there.

Wickham Glen

my favourite little willow by the Frome

Meanwhile, the yew that had recently fallen across C*lston Hill, largely blocking it, has been removed ... 

... only for a second tree to fall just a little higher up the lane. It's a sobering reminder of the potential danger of walking in woods after a period of drought.

Further upstream, Snuff Mills, the narrow wooded valley of which is dark in winter and darker still in summer, has been looking its best.

Quarry below Ham Lane

Glenfrome weir

We also walked up the mossy lane to Vassal's Park a couple of times, which has some fabulous trees.

ring-necked parakeet and crow

High above this section of the Frome is Purdown, which we've also visited a lot. Yes, it can be a bit edgy and urban ...

... but it's had its moments of beauty too. 

my favourite oak in the woods on Purdown

One just-after dawn morning I was reminded of the stunning sunrises I watched around New Year and the fact that even winter has its highlights, despite the cold and dark. I look forward to doing that again over the next couple of months, if any bright, clear days coincide with my days off. 

There are more spectacular trees at Ashton Court, of course, above the River Avon, though the one morning we were there it was dull and wet, which made for less than spectacular photos.

Badock's Wood has been lovely ... 

... though I was sad to see that the bench I used to sit on to remember my parents and my darling Ted has now gone. Inevitable, I suppose.

I never expect to find much hoggin in autumn, because of all the leaf litter, but I have come across a few bits. (It's the looking, and staying in the moment to look, that is most important for me.) 

Fungi spotting is also a useful trick for keeping me present. There's been masses this autumn, though they're mostly waning now.

Our final walking spot has been Blaise estate. Here are just a few of the lovely old trees in the open space near the Henbury Road entrance, which are at their most striking in autumn ... 

... though perhaps the most beautiful walks of all have been along Hazel Brook (a tributary of the River Trym) and Kings Weston Down on bright Sunday mornings (followed by a cappuccino in the cafe, and doggy ice cream for Cwtch).

Though at times there might be an ocean between us ... 

... I have the two best walking companions in the world.