Birdwatch Batch #4 - Cannock Chase
I am a bit late, but Happy New Year folks. Our former neighbours had moved to Stafford, so we went to have a sleepover with them for a few days, although for me it wasn’t as comfortable as home. They were a bit close to the countryside, so it was a great opportunity to easily get out into the enchanting wilderness, and there was Cannock Chase. At the end of the year went one of its trails, and it was unimaginably beautiful. Although I somehow did not see so much animals, what I saw were at least very special, and to make up for their lack were beautiful landscapes and destinations.
The ancient forest at the start of the journey. It is said to be around a thousand years old.
The fallen trees here were gargantuan, and this one might’ve become its own little ecosystem.
Some while after crossing some stepping stones at a forested stream, we found this eerie dead grove, accompanied by packs of winter-dried ferns. I had a feeling that wildfire might’ve engulfed this part of the ancient forest long ago, never to recover, especially evident by what looks to be char and ash on the trees, though I could be wrong.
My favourite portion of the trail, swaths of colourful open heathland. Too beautiful not to take a photo, and this isn’t even my favourite of all.
A remarkable species I’ve not seen in months and yet still only recently: the common raven. I distinguished the birds well from the typical crow with their large size and strange croaking noises. The first and last time I’ve noted a raven before this occasion was unexpectedly at our porch in August.
An interesting brook dotted with great sedge-like plants (I am no botanist so I don’t really know what they are). I and my brother found it appealing because it reminded us both of a miniature mangrove forest and a miniature lazy river you’d find at a water park. Imagine if we were tiny enough to experience its details.
We travelled even more out into the heathland. Here’s my favourite photo, spanning over the landscape. It is enhanced for some beauty to make up for the terrible quality of my iPad’scamera. Especially beautiful on a winter’s evening.
And finally at dusk, we were met with a final surprise. I bellowed in a gasp when I caught the sight of timid herds of deer scampering around us. It was too dark to note their species, but we would keep on seeing them for minutes across our path, so we had enough time for enhanced photographs, a great sight to end off the year.
Ending this post, I would like to remind all my dearest that I might take more of a break from the internet for the week, as I am trying to adapt back into confidence from the crisis I’ve had last year for the new year, as the internet is an unpredictable introduction to some of the worst things. I have not been active on Discord for over a week (normally once in every few days), and I will still not be active for the moment, so keep the club at its best, members. Thank you for enjoying this special addition to the Birdwatch Batch series, and I hope you all have a happy new year!