Out For A Jolly On The Moor. 1, A Wild Shrike Chase

Well, it was worth a try. Great Grey Shrikes thin on the ground [Coal Tits all cheer] this winter, though.
Near inevitable failure, but that's hardly a spoiler. My best effort being an unreasonably large lump of lichen on a small Hawthorn!


But a post in which I also have a nice toddle about a nice part of the Moor, only slightly vexed by sudden hordes.



Definitely xmas, folks.



So, the weather was.. interesting. With hillscraping clouds above, well, sunshine! Huh?!?!?

All very scenic

I was ambling around the Headland Warren, Vitifer, Sousson's, Challacombe area - along with quite a few civilians - a reasonable site for GGS hunting, so it wasn't entirely unreasonable to have a looksee.

Anyway, a few pictures;

Challacombe

Vitifer from Sousson's

Yep, interesting weather.

Fieldfare

Redwing

Pale grey blob in tree

[it's lichen...]

But at a glance at range..

Let's pick some non-moving targets, shall we?

Strip lynchets

The medieval way to farm slopes; cut them into long thin terraces. Works fine with horses [or indeed peasant-power], if a bit dangerous with tractors!

Clapper over drainage channel

Nice xenolith

Paved way, leading to

Grimspound.

West entrance

Walls are a bit fallen down, but you can see the paved entrance way - lasted from the Bronze Age, so not bad on Dartmoor [Certainly lasting better than any modern surface] - including angled drains and clapper bridges [some a little fallen over].

Hut circle, protected entrance in front.

This not only keeps the weather out, but means anybody coming in with hostile intent will be very vulnerable as they reach the doorway.

View from that hut.

Most atmospheric

Alas, not all tranquil stones...

Hordes...

A convoy of offroaders [the name they use is the only green thing about them] came chugging through as I was packing up. Judging by the window stickers, quite a few were from up country.
They were the second group I'd encountered that day, too.
Knowing something of the problems they have with this sort of thing up north, I am a bit concerned.


Let's end on a brighter note;

Bracken and moss

:)

Be Seeing You...