New Forest: South Oakley Inclosure, Soarley Beeches and Berry Wood

 A steady walk up through the inclosure up to the Backley Plain, where Stone Chats, Meadow Pipits and Dartford Warblers sang. The wild exuberance of the Soarley Beeches, untamed pollards. Back via Berry Beeches and down through Berry Wood.

New Forest: Mark Ash Wood and Pound Hill

 This time it was Beech trees. Lovely woods dominated by Beech, with some really wild and isolated places.

New Forest: Balmerlawn and Jacks Wood

Rumours of huge ancient Oak Trees meant a walk around this woodland. They were huge. 

A privileged view into a nest of rather dozy Hornets in the open heart of one of the trees was fascinating. However, on inspection of the photos it might be possible that the stripes on some of the abdomens look more like Asian Hornets than our native species. See below left-centre. If this is the case, was this an attack by Asian Hornets on a Native colony?

Magnificent Beech tree

 

Orange Waxcap

Candlesnuff Fungus

New Forest: Shepton Bridge, Little Honeyhill Wood, Tantany Wood

The wonderful Tantany Wood, a remote ancient woodland.

Reindeer Lichen

Minotaur Beetle 

Hairy Curtain Crust

Stalked Hairy Fairy Cup

Clustered Hairy Bonnet

Oak Leaf Pinwheel

New Forest: Brockenhurst

 Quite surprising when a Predacous Diving Beetle landed on our table.

New Forest: Fluder's Clump, Setley Common and Sandy Down

Huge Oaks in Fluder's Clump as the lane became smaller.

Being watched by a Roe Deer

 

Pigskin  Poison Puffball

Pines on Sandy Ridge

Bristly Beard Lichen

Setley Common