Hillside Wander.

For this weeks edition of Good Fences (hosted by TexWisGirl) why not follow my journey as the boots take another leisurely wander around Denbies Hillside on the North Downs.

From my starting point the path drops steeply downwards across Steers Field, with a view of the South Western Weald stretching out way below, to the first of many gateways beyond which I enjoy the sight of many Chalkhill Blues and Marbled Whites. Most of them were males on the wing hunting for a female but a few stopped for either a rest or a top up of nectar.

I think about taking a rest in the shade by the gate that leads into the woodland but there are far too many distractions such as lots of Cobweb Spiders including a Funnel Weaver waiting at the entrance to its lair hidden within the shaded brambles, plus Six-spot Burnet and Skippers perched nearby in the sunshine.

After an hour or so in the sunshine with the temperature rising to around 28 deg C I decide to rest awhile about two thirds of the way along the downward slope, amongst the grasses and wild flowers, and soak in the view southeastwards as the clouds slowly drifted in that direction.

At the foot of the slope I pass through a small shaded copse with two more gates to negotiate and then get a reverse view of hillside route I have just descended.

As I turn eastwards I am serenaded by the song of a Goldfinch while a tiny Goldcrest underneath the light green beach canopy checks out the 'watcher' before continuing its late morning search for insects.

So finally I'm on level ground on an ancient track that follows the boundary of the original iron Denbies Estate fence. Erected in the 1890's and definitely built to last.

I am quite surprised by the view ahead with large patches of tall growing Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus sylvestris) adorning the track side verges and being visited by various flutters including the Chalkhill Blue and a number of Brimstone and Gatekeepers.

Blooms reaching high above the fence wire.

The trackway eventually enters some welcome shade and I turn north to climb very slowly back up the hillside. After 60 steps and another gate the view opens up to the final grassy slope that needs to be conquered for me to reach the the beginning and the end of my hillside wander.

I hope you managed to keep up with me .. no apologies for the length of this post.  FAB. 

For this months images of Birds, Butterflies and Odonata please check out my photo blog.

Return to "The Glade" - More sightings.

As promised here are some more images of the other occupants of 'The Glade' within Hill House Wood that I encountered during a much longer visit last Saturday morning. The weather was warmer with more sunlight than my previous brief early a.m. visit so I was hopeful that more diverse species would be be active and fortunately my wishes were answered.

First up was a Speckled Wood that has ideal camouflage for the dappled world of light and shade of a woodland but is also found in the open countryside. In the 18th century it became known as the 'Enfield eye' when it was identified in rural Middlesex.

One of many Silver-washed Fritillary. Most of the White Admirals are now looking very tatty...here is a view of the underwing.

A Peacock which has the largest eyes of any British butterfly which evolved to deter birds and lizards.

A female Common Blue. Check out the underwing markings.

A male Large White from the 2nd brood showing much darker forewing markings.

A female Skipper

I had a brief glimpse of a Hawker with a 'damsel' in its mouth that sped past so quickly that I couldn't locate where it may have landed to consume its meal. But shortly afterwards I spotted this 'teneral' Hawker which perched very briefly before disappearing on its journey.
Leaving 'The Glade' behind, for the next hour or so, I followed various pathways throughout the woodland, listening and following the sounds of Nuthatch calling from all directions high in the tree canopy. A Treecreeper was moving from tree to tree searching for food and then 2 Marsh Tits appeared above my head but it was too dark for a photo even if they had stayed still long enough. Chaffinch, Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tits passed overhead as they moved through on their morning feeding journey. Passing a small pool I disturbed a Grey Heron and a Moorhen that disappeared quickly into the undergrowth.

My sense of direction is usually very good but somehow while following sounds rather than concentrating on what path I was actually treading I found myself over half a mile from where I thought I was heading and in part of an adjacent wood that I had not visited before! No need to panic....I can hear cars passing, so I'm close to a well used road....recall a map of the area from deep within my memory....check out the direction of the sun....it is just past midday.....in the distance I can just see where the northern woodland edge meets cultivated farmland....I need to travel west....so re-orientated I start the long slog across new territory to find my car and get home before I am reported missing....ha ha.