tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post2013584991910075064..comments2024-03-28T11:16:38.801+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: A Sunday Saunter through rolling Oxfordshire Countryside and a Wetlands Nature ReserveAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-66457177109102888642020-02-03T13:40:16.096+00:002020-02-03T13:40:16.096+00:00A flock of some 70+ lapwings and golden plovers wa...A flock of some 70+ lapwings and golden plovers was a sight well worth the visit, I do assure you. I commented to the RSPB volunteer who so kindly identified some of the birds for us that 50 years ago the idea that a flock of starlings would be more exotic than a flock of lapwings would have seemed very strange.<br /><br />I can concur regarding this site in April. This year I heard both a cuckoo and a turtle dove, though enquiries of the RSPB volunteer revealed that they only got two of the latter last year and they did not breed, so might be uncertain for next year. But in April there were oodles of chattering reed and sedge warblers, and - the highlight for me - several lapwings doing their wonderful display flight and call.<br /><br />Also of interest to birders is that he reckons migrating redwing and fieldfare are well down this year, apparently because winter in Scandinavia has been too warm: a worrying aspect of global warming I had never thought of, since most of the lapwings at Otmoor migrate from further north to enjoy our balmy winter climate.<br /><br />In addition om this walk I heard larks for the first time this year - three in one field near Islip - and saw my first wild primroses and celandines of the year. Daffodils were out in all of the villages.Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-6261862665346668122020-02-03T12:12:35.192+00:002020-02-03T12:12:35.192+00:00For those of you who did not fancy this as a winte...For those of you who did not fancy this as a winter outing it makes a lovely Spring walk. Late April or early May is when I have done it and you are almost certain to hear and (hopefully) see cuckoos. I had a picnic lunch in a churchyard near the pub on a warm sunny day and was serenaded by the gentle burblings of turtle doves. A Proustian moment for me.PeteBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02135468832090264900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-18857316548843074432020-02-03T10:36:52.356+00:002020-02-03T10:36:52.356+00:00Ironically there was a small murmuration at the en...Ironically there was a small murmuration at the end of Sunday's other walk. As we left the Plough in Eynsford at 4.50pm 100+ starlings were wheeling around overhead, picking up stragglers on the way to their roost somewhere along the Darent valley. But please persevere with these 'nature' walks - one of these days the seals / starlings / whatever will turn up on cue!Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10491475051270094030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-49736775608458610992020-02-02T21:08:53.886+00:002020-02-02T21:08:53.886+00:00Just n=3 on this outing (including the walk author...Just n=3 on this outing (including the walk author who liked the idea of a reverse option both for longer visits to the Otmoor reserve and to allow a start from Oxford Parkway (with more train options)) in w=cloudy-to-start-then-clearing-and-finally clouding-over-again-conditions. The gently rolling terrain had its muddy spots -- but was nothing like the mud fest in Surrey yesterday....Two had an enjoyable lunch at the very lovely Abingdon Arms perched atop a hill in Beckley -- really lovely community pub with interesting and tasty food. We then sauntered down to the Otmoor Reserve and spent some time at two different hides watching several very large flocks of lapwings flying around the area and landing here and there with respective flasks at hand... Although no starling murmurations, there were huge groups of birds -- the lapwings and various water birds....which were very engaging to observe....Eventually, we continued on to Islip where we had just enough time for a drink at the Red Lion before catching the 17:18...A very relaxing and enjoyable Sunday...Stargazerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06207931214700279104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-29662600423075994582020-02-02T13:28:15.551+00:002020-02-02T13:28:15.551+00:00Sorry miss the train and next one too long to wait...Sorry miss the train and next one too long to wait. Instead did the Wendover walk. Hope those who attend are rewarded with some good bird life. Shall attempt Otmoor nature reserve next week. <br />Monica.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16811863882993900067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-42618202504306828462020-02-01T21:03:50.252+00:002020-02-01T21:03:50.252+00:00Thank you Stargazer for posting the Islip walk in ...Thank you Stargazer for posting the Islip walk in reserve. Will be attending and hoping for some birding with my binoculars. See you all at Marylebone station. Monica. Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16811863882993900067noreply@blogger.com