26th
May 2013
An
early start today. Mr Robin's song was piercing in the still morning
air. I drove to meet my Cuz (Pauline, capital C) at Kilndown church
at 6.30am. She was early which took me a little by surprise, as I
was trying to enter the locked church!
It was very cool
as we set off toward Goudhurst; I needed gloves, and was glad of the
three layers I was wearing. We made a short detour by mistake
(nattering), but were back on track in a trice through the parkland
at Finchcocks.
We turned right before reaching the
old Goudhurst railway station and followed the stream toward
Pattenden, over the Kilndown - Goudhurst road. We debated the breed
of sheep in the field here. I believe they may be Easy Care sheep;
a low maintenance breed which doesn't require shearing. The
footpath through the field, on the other side, had been planted
with a bean crop and wasn't defined, so we guessed the route and
came out a little way down where we should, but not our fault!
The camping site at Pattenden Farm
has gone. Such a shame, I was thinking of camping here with Laurie.
We followed the road to Marlingate,
then turned left down the lovely avenue of Lime trees toward Three
Chimneys Farm. Lots of Germander Speedwell through here. At the
stream which flows from the Great Lake, a Blackcap sang a sweet
melody for us. We watched and listened for a while, such a pretty
tune, then sat on a felled tree, with the hot Sun on our faces, for
a coffee and (for me) breakfast of olives and nuts and cheesy
things, which Paul shared.
Then on into Bedgebury Forest and
butterflies and moths and cyclists. At the Pinetum, we watched a Crow
pulling a baby Rabbit apart and he moved on with it in his beak when
we disturbed him; such a heavy load. We stopped for coffee and cake
as promised! And sat in the Sun and watched Coot chicks (so ugly) and
Mallard ducklings (so pretty) paddling around on the lake. A Crow was
strutting brazenly amongst the ducks searching for a duckling to
scoff, much to the annoyance of the parents, who were trying to
snooze in the Sun.
We left the Pinetum and went back
through the forest. A Spotted Wood butterfly (not a Fritillary)
with a broken wing, but still flying, was feeding on the Broom.
Several Brimstones and those daytime moths (the name of which
was driving Paul MAD!) were about. What are they Cuz? (Speckled
Yellow, she says!) Then on to the Great Lake and we watched a Great
Crested Grebe dive a couple of times. And stopped while a snake
(either a female Adder, or a Smooth snake - rare. Not a Grass
snake, no yellow band. That's my story!) reared up at us, then
disappeared into the lake. Then a Damsel Fly settled onto my head,
much to Paul's amusement.
A
final coffee at the Quarry. Then we went our separate ways. There
seemed a lot to see this Sunday. Perhaps it was the more leisurely
walk and things were more noticeable. A splendid walk in any case
(and watching Paul struggling to pull her pole out of the ground was
very funny!).
A
Sunny Bank holiday Monday scarce,
A
long Smooth snake, not often found.
Some
rare Coral Root with seed to take,
And
like gold dust, a walk with my Cuz,
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