Exploring new territories.

Late yesterday morning I parked the car at a location I have not walked before and decided to explore.

My unplanned route began by descending downhill through mixed woodland; the floor carpet beneath my feet previously blue was now green as the Bluebells have turned to seed; there were various pathway junctions and I just let my senses choose the way forward. A view opens up over farmland as I follow a path surrounded by large drifts of Herb Robert and then the sky is in full view as I cross a field sown with grasses and a lone tree on the horizon. Dropping downhill I climb a style and enter another area of open woodland. Around the grassy glades there were many spikes of Foxgloves and  the flat-topped flowerheads on the Spear Thistles were starting to open attracting various flying insects.

As this exploration was totally unplanned I carried no map just a sense of the location and likely lay of the land in my head......So how do I remember the route homeward?

By leaving signs that indicated my previous choice of direction; a bent fern frond, a scrubbed arrow in the dirt and a grouping of twigs (either of these could be disturbed by other walkers); remembering specific landmarks  and.....  

...of course there were a few man-made signs to guide the way (some more helpful than others); a particular coppiced tree; noting the prevailing direction of the wind through the grass and even checking the sun's location (if it wasn't hidden behind clouds) to assist with my direction finding. All skills learnt as a youngster when I would regularly wander for miles and miles around the countryside where I grew up.

A few bugs that sat reasonably still including Cardinal beetles, Bumble Bee, Ladybirds and if anyone could ID the orange beastie (top right) I would be very grateful.

Other wildife encounters included a Large Red Damselfly, Blackbird singing, Speckled Wood and a very young Roe Deer who promptly dashed away after giving me a quick look over. 

On my return journey back to the car, some four hours later, similar sounds were also heard including a juvenille Long-tailed Tit waiting to be fed by its parents above my head. I did also encounter a 'dragon' but that will have to wait for another post. In the meantime, have fun enjoying your wildlife, whatever the weather.    FAB.