A cloudy start walking toward Puttles Bridge, the cropped grass speckled with Cats-ear; a Green Woodpecker was glimpsed, a tiny toadlet and Humpback Brittlegill were seen. Among the Scots Pines across the road, Bilberry thriving in the understory, a large Southern Wood Ant’s nest and a variety of fungi including a tired Stinkhorn were spotted.
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| Bilberry © Chris Robinson |
Crossing the bridge across an area of bog, Round-leaved Sundew, Common Cottongrass, some delicate White Beak-sedge were identified and a Chiffchaff was heard and then seen. Skirting another area of damp ground escorted by two Brimstones, the track leading to the bridge over Ober Water was reached. Along the track Unbranched Bur-reed and Marsh Woundwort were noted as well as a Holly Blue and a Common Toad.
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| Common Toad © Richard Smith |
Holly Blue © Chris Robinson 
Unbranched Bur-reed © Chris Robinson
Among the oaks and the odd birch by the bridge were a variety of inaccessible fungi, one possibly an Earthball and another on a Silver Birch, a Dog Vomit Slime Mold.
Along the track through the heather, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was briefly seen and then a New Forest speciality, some Coral-necklace, was spotted growing on a patch of bare damp soil. Leaving the track to go through the wooded area of Holm Hill, many widely spaced ancient Hollies with multiple thick stems were passed, evidently copiced over centuries. A map from 1786 shows the wood, its size and shape much the same as today and with the same track leading to it. Having a biscuit break was accompanied by the sound of some Honey Bees in a nearby nest and a visiting Bee Wolf.
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| Honey Bees © Chris Robinson |
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| Honey Bees © Richard Smith |
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| Bee Wolf © Richard Smith |
Back on the track leading to the bridge over the Silver Stream, a Red Admiral, another Holly Blue, Rove and Dor Beetles, Harebell and a fungus, possibly a Panthercap, were seen.
A Rove Beetle (Staphylinus erythopterus) © Chris Robinson
At the bridge, the sun was now out and dragonflies were flitting about. A young Robin hovered giving a good view and a highly active Keeled Skimmer briefly landed on the path for another view. Also seen were some Oblong-leaved Sundew.
Grayling © Richard Smith
Along the track to the car park, the pollinators were now busy thrumming away, excavated spoil from the holes of Bee Wolves were clearly seen along the sandy edge, a Grayling landed on the bare path and finally one of the several Meadow Pipits paraded on the track to give a splendid view of its plumage. JE
Our route
© Crown copyright 2023 Ordnance Survey.
Media 006/23.
The licence is valid until 31 December 2023