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Well, on my travels around the sites of Wessex I have seen countless types of wildlife with rabbits, buzzards and deer almost everywhere at some point or other including a muntjac at Lugbury and roe at Penning. The roe was stood in the tall grass (or it may have been crop) with just the top of his head showing, staring at me as Rex and I walked passed but Rex was too short too see it or it Rex.

I have been lucky enough to see hares boxing in the fields by the side of the Herepath (Green Street) on the way up to the polisher and a fox and cub near the Devil’s Den.

A pair of small hawks hovering a few meters away at eye level to me as I stood on top of the escarpment of Cherhill Down at Oldbury Castle and then swooping down into the field below as it spotted their next meals. This was repeated again and again sometimes they were lucky but quite often not.

At both Lanhill and Belas Knap I have watched voles (or maybe they were mice) scurrying out of their hidey holes to get snack when they thought the cost was clear. I could watch that for hours it was so mezmorising, but it was always to quick to get a photo.

I remember visiting Oliver’s Castle one summer and being astonished by the number and variety of butterflies as I walk around. Probably the most I have ever seen in the wild in this country at once.

There was also the bird we saw on Moor Divock (in Cumbria not wessex) at the Northern Megameet that everybody was trying to identify.

Wildlife is a very important part of the ‘stones’ experience, it always fills me with wonder and maybe it also connects me with the past in some way.

Great topic TJJ, thanks :o)

How wild would you consider sheep and their newly born lambs?

I remember visiting some stones near the River Teith, and we in our stupidity decided to do this during lambing season.

Bad idea, we ended up scared to death as the sheep approached us, seemingly to protect the new born lambs.

We intended no harm - just 2 stupid, vegetarian, idiots with not an iota of sense.

Soon got out of the field, only to find an irate farmer by the car.

Normally we would ask for permission, to this day don't know why we didn't and I do regret not doing so.

Sheep aren't as harmless as they look.:)

Scubi, thanks for your evocative post; we haven't met but it feels as though we may have walked in each other's footprints at times. Wessex/Wiltshire - sometimes I think I will leave but I would always come back.

We've talked about the fauna but no one has mentioned the flora yet.
The fragile heather at the Ring of Brodgar; the wild grasses and camomile around Avebury - wild orchids at Morgans Hill and Adam's Grave.

Imnorie, yes I agree there is more to sheep than they let on - last week I was walking though a field scattered with sarsens; there was black faced sheep standing proudly on one - it let me get my camera out then stepped off the stone and showed me its backside.
Welcome to the forum from me too.

tjj