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These curious spotted sheep with curled horns live on one
of the last farms along the road from Ibstone Common. |
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I found this feather, presumably from a magpie, on the path.
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A cowslip, Primula veris. It reminds me of a song by Happy
Rhodes in which the narrator "hangs
a pearl in every cowslip's ear".
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| Another fairy-sized flower, although one that has hardly been
used in poetry for some reason. This is a veronica. There was a large stand
at the edge of the road between Turville and Northend. |
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Back in the woods, I found this egg on the path. It was surprisingly
heavy. I wonder what kind of bird it would have become if it hadn't fallen
out of the nest. |
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In a field on Turville Heath, there's a gate but no fence.
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Gaining altitude on Turville Heath, I can see across the valley.
On the next ridge, there's a windmill. |
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On the side of the hill I found this alpine strawberry, Fragaria vesca.
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Back in the woods again, I found this stub all covered with
little toad stools. |
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Here's another picture of those fungi.
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See how well camouflaged this little caterpillar is when it's walking
across last year's beech leaves.
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| Not as well camouflaged is this slug. |
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Here it's preparing to dive down under the leaves again, leaving
a slimy trail. |
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I end with the promise of new life in the woods -- an unfurling fern
leaf.
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