What have you seen
Comments
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Brue is partially right about those 2 reserves insofar as you cannot take Flyte into Shapwick Heath reserve but you can certainly walk down the main central path on Ham Wall as it's a PF. Just can't get off the main path but it does extend for quite some way.
As I understand it, at this moment in time, you will be able to access Westhay Peatland Reserve near to these two.
I have a walk there that we may do on Monday which states it is dog friendly except on the raised bog area, a small part. The book was reprinted in 2017 so hopefully still stands.
I'll hopefully take a photo of the walk if we go and email it to you.
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Thanks for both of your responses, and the offer of the photo should you visit, WN.
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Juvenile sparrow-hawk back in the garden this morning looking for her breakfast and whilst I was out there. She sat on the top of a fence post trying to see sparrows that had taken refuge in a dense pyracantha and could obviously also see me. Just out of curiosity I decided I would walk very slowly and quietly towards her and see how far I got. I walked about twenty feet and got to within 10 feet before she flew off but not in any sort of panic as she settled on the fence at the other side of the garden for half a minute or so before going elsewhere for breakfast.
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We are still not sure what we're doing tomorrow as it's a BH. However I've had a quick look at the website for Westhay and there is a plan shown on there. It also mentions that Dogs are allowed on site but not on the bog area which is a small part of it. Have a look at the map on the enclosed webpage to give you a better idea.
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Have done just that, and will transfer the dog walking areas onto my OS map. Thanks.
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Cracking day yesterday topped off with this looking out over the entrance to Southampton water/river Hamble , lots of cruise ships sailing out yesterday so things are slowing getting back to normal
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Nellie, this site is useful as you can tick the "dogs" box to find places. Somerset Nature Reserves LINK
(I was referring to the RSPB sites earlier where most have a dog ban round here.)
You have some very nice views Rufs....if we can get our hedges cut soon we'll see the sunsets again!
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Thanks, brue, I will certainly make use of that link.👍
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We're on a CL which has a beaver colony. I don't know whether we'll spot any of the beavers but just looking at their habitat has been fascinating. We can see dams, gnawed stumps and lots of things going on.
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Just finishing off our meal and a bird landed on our arch just outside lounge window and 1st time I have seen this bird since we left Somerset, it was a spotted flycatcher made my day as they used to nest at the bottom of our garden in Somerset, so must be on its migration south and have not seen any swallows for about 4 days now they have gone very early this year.
I was surprised to find on local news that the French were allowed to hunt the Turtle Dove but now got a ban until end of July 2022 so that will not be much use, have had 4 flying around here this summer.
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Lucky you, especially if you do manage to spot them. Did you book the site knowing that they were there or was it just by chance?
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Funny that you should mention Turtle Doves, RK. I was listening to a folk programme on BBC Sounds by folk singer Sam Lee who was leading a pilgrimage from where Vaughan Williams wrote his arrangement of the folk song The Turtle Dove, along the R.Adur to Knepp Castle, in Sussex, where they have established a rewilding sanctuary for endangered species including the Turtle Doves.I
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00035zf
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Where's that, somewhere around Holnicote then, Brue?
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Nellie & CY. We knew the beaver colony was here so it's been a real treat to visit. Have to keep dogs on leads though Nellie, for obvious reasons. Very nice spot all round, serviced pitches too. It's Venn Farm near Roadford Lakes in Devon. Still no sightings! 🐾
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Must be another lot then as they have relatively recently introduced them on the Holnicote estate.
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I was surprised to find on local news that the French were allowed to hunt the Turtle Dove but now got a ban until end of July 2022 so that will not be much use, have had 4 flying around here this summer.
RK, the only thing I was surprised at this was that France actually introduced a temporary ban. The French hunters have for a long time been determined to carry on this mindless slaughter of Turtle Doves and their lobbying to the Government far outweighs the LPO (RSPB equivalent).
There were often violent clashes between the two at Point de Grave in Medoc where the main migration of them takes places in Spring. Numbers of these iconic birds have been decimated in years gone by and the partial banning only lasts for 2 years, until next year. Wouldn't be surprised to find it not being renewed as Macron looks to be re-elected and the hunting brigade angry at him already for this temporary ban.
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We had thought of going there but were disappointed when we read that they were putting their price up by 20% from that listed in the SD, so decided on an alternative site.
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I was reading yesterday that a further 12 white tailed eagles have been released on the Isle of Wight following the initial release of 6 a year or so back.
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In Devon today. A well hidden roe deer, they go such a lovely colour at this time of the year, a true "golden hind."
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Had a few more swallows flying over today so must be coming down from the north.
Something I have not seen before today I saw a great tit moving over the sedum flowers and picking off the small insects it was there for awhile as the sedum have done very well this year, very interesting to watch and then it flew over to the bird bath for a drink.
Saw a very fresh brimstone butterfly on my flowers today so that could be a third brood this year.
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We had a very interesting meeting with a Weasel today.
We went on a walk along the S.W.Coastal path and at one point the path became narrow with vegetation on both sides. There was a group of 3 people in front of us who couldn't get past a tiny weasel which kept trying to bite the dog. They eventually jumped over it and left it to face us. The weasel then tried to attack me. It must have been only 3-4 inches in length but tried to jump up and bite me on the leg. Fortunately it only hit the sole of my walking boot and bounced off it. It then tried twice more. Same result. It refused to go backwards or disappear into the lush vegetation. We both had to jump over it to escape its attacks. Didn't want to harm it naturally.
2 people and a dog walking towards it decided to take a long route via the beach to avoid it.
What a brave, mad little soul it was. It may very well have had young nearby which would explain its behaviour but to try to attack dogs and people when it was so small must explain why stoats and weasels are to be feared if you are a small mammal in the animal kingdom.
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Might have been an exhausted racing pigeon Micky. My OH waded out into our local reservoir to rescue one. Barely afloat, wings outstretched. We just put it into a box, fed it, watered it, then let it go after a couple of days, it was fine. Pigeon racing is popular round us, so it’s not uncommon to see them tired out, taking a break.
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Had a lovely view of a dipper this morning on the rocks of the stream that run through Vers, did manage a photo so may try and post a copy of it later also saw 2 grey wagtails and lot of jackdaws about which we do not have any around our village.
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