Quantock Hills Blog

Autumn Amble

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Andy Harris

Posted by Andy Harris on 04 October 2010

Autumn Amble One of the most rewarding parts of the Ranger’s job is to lead guided walks and on Saturday I had the pleasure of walking the ridge from Lydeard Hill to Holford with fourteen members of the public as we discussed how the hills are managed and kept an eye open for wildlife.

Fairly soon after we left Lydeard Hill we had some rain but this didn’t dampen spirits as we took in the somewhat shortened views from Wills Neck.  Within another mile the sun came out and the rest of the day was glorious sunshine.  Autumn is a fantastic time to visit the hills as the bracken and trees begin to turn.  For most of the walk it seemed that we had the hills to ourselves as we ambled along just passing one or two walkers or mountain bikers.   I had promised the group that we would see some red deer and may be a large stag as I’ve seen them recently on the hills getting ready for the rut.  By the time we stopped for lunch on Thorncombe Hill I was a little surprised that on such a lovely day we still had not seen any deer.  Something we did see a lot of alongside the paths was Oak Eggar caterpillars (very hairy) whilst feeding amongst the Hawthorns were large flocks of pipits, linnets and thrushes.

However as we dropped off Thorncombe Hill towards Bicknoller Post we spied our first group of Red Deer and from here onwards we saw plenty more as we walked along Longstone Hill looking down towards the woodland of Hodders Combe.

 

Before finishing the walk in Holford we took a final break by the stream below Willoughby Cleeve just enjoying the peace and quiet, (except for me waffling on) and for what had been a first visit to the hills for many of the group a perfect day came to an end.

Comments in chronological order (Total 5 comments)

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  • No avatar available
    Tim Russell

    04 Oct 10

    So sorry to have missed this, sounds like it was a great walk ... feeling a lot better now ... looking forward to being able to appreciate the hills this autumn.

  • No avatar available
    Stewart Owen

    05 Oct 10

    Oak Eggar aren’t the same thing as Fox Moth are they. From their name I assume they are found near oak, but the only caterpillar I’ve ever seen in abundance up there is a hairy beast someone identified to me as Fox Moth larvae. I find a lot on the path that goes next to the fence between Crowcombe Park Gate and Halsway Post, on the Bristol Channel side. I shall be sorry to miss the rut this autumn with a bad ankle. (or is it the roar of the large stags that scares me off!)

  • No avatar available
    Quantock Hills

    11 Oct 10

    On our walk we actually saw both Oak Eggar and Fox Moth larvae.  They both look very similar to each other but are different species.  The reason the Oak Eggar moth gets its name is not because of an association with Oak Trees but because the cocoon is very reminiscent of an acorn.  Both moth species are in fact strongly associated with heathland and I have seen it on the rare occasion when large numbers of moths take to the air all at once (presumably males as the males are more likely to be flying during the day than the females) which has attracted large numbers of Hobbies (medium sized falcon) and Kestrels that feed on them.  Hope this helps.

  • No avatar available
    Lydeard Lowlander

    12 Oct 10

    Thanks, yes. That must have been a good sight, all those hobbies. Cheers, LL.

  • No avatar available
    Deborah Perreau

    14 Oct 10

    So sorry i missed that, have just discovered the web site!

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