2004 4th quarter log
This page holds a few images from activities from October, November and December 2004.
As ever, click the image for a larger view.
December
December - more fencing, more scrub-clearing, and another Chirstmas party :-)
Particularly gratifying (although un-photographed) was the sightings of both a buzzard and a sparrow hawk, within 5 minutes of each other as we drove along the top of the hill from Fort Widley to Fort Southwick on December 14th. We often see kestrels, but these 2 close encounters suggest that birds of prey are thriving.
Volunteers Chirstmas teas - outside for the sunday 19th, indoors for Wednesday 22nd
November
Boundary Post - 17th November 2004
On a Wednesday task while fencing in compartment 7, a boundary marker for the Borough of Portsmouth was discovered :-)
Life - early November 2004
Whilst the berries and fungi were expected, the Clouded Yellow butterfly on the 15th November seemed very late. This one at least stayed still enough to be photographed. (I spent much of the summer chasing these across the hill, but never before did they stay still long enough to be snapped)
Top fenceline of compartment 7 - 4th November 2004
In early November, we began to fence the north edge of compartment 7, below Portsdown Hill Road.
A tractor was used to drive the posts into the ground - once the proposed fenceline had been re-routed away from an old road, which rather spoilt efforts to drive the wooden posts through it.
October
October seemed to veer from hot summer days to cold rain - from day to day, hour to hour, and within minutes some days :-o
Holding pens for Southwick Hill crossing - 29th October 2004
A grant from Hampshire Conservation Grazing allowed us to hire contractors to erect holding pens on either side of Southwick Hill road, which will allow us drive (or lead) the cattle from compartment 7 (on the north) into compartment 6, from whence they will go west to compartment 5.
Walk for Health - 15th October 2004
A gentle and informative walk around the Nature Trail, north of Fort Widley.
Fungi Foray - 14th October 2004
The annual stroll - 3 hours on a sunny thursday morning. (Rain fell within 15 minutes of the walk's end)
Walk attendees examining a benchful of fungi
Dog's stinkhorn
yellow fungus on a bench
Walk for Wildlife - Sunday 10th October 2004
The annual sponsered "WWF Walk for Wildlife" took place on the northern slopes of Portdown. The organisers are hoping to raise over £2000 this year. This year the walk was aimed at raising funds for tiger conservation.
Walkers completed as many 'laps' of the course as they wanted, with 5 the most done.
Some of the 100's of sponsees returning
Sadly, camera-chip problems meant only one photograph of the many taken survived :-(