Recent news
BTO Berks & Oxfordshire Conference 2012
BTO Berks and Oxfordshire have organised a “Birdwatchers’ Forum” conference which will take place on Saturday March 3, 2012 at Benson Parish Hall, Sunnyside, Benson, Oxfordshire OX10. The fifth of…
Spring flowers on New Year’s Eve
There are 22 species of wild flowers in bloom in my garden in Standish. About half are opportunist annual veg garden weeds such as Shepherd’s Purse; then there are the…
Red Kites at Eastleach, 20 December 2011
Saw two Red Kites pottering around over a steep wooded valley and farmland near Eastleach, sometimes interacting with each other, sometimes patrolling for food, sometimes being hassled by corvids.
Red Admiral at Tidenham, 27 November 2011
A wonderful warm cloudless autumn day. One rather tatty Red Admiral butterfly seen at Dayhouse Quarry, Tidenham
Standish Song Thrush, 18 November 2011
A Song Thrush has been singing heartily today. Repeats, “Pretty Dick” – the lot. First time I’ve heard this territorial song in months.
Fantastic fungi on May Hill, 17 November 2011
Time to go out to the woods and fields looking for fungi! It must be the recent warm damp conditions that have brought on a flush. May Hill is magnificent…
Control of Urban Nesting Gulls
John Sanders has sent me a report into the control measures that have been introduced to control the numbers of gulls using the three main landfill sites in the county….
Closure of the Wilderness Centre
As you may have read in the local press the County Council has closed the Wilderness Centre and other environmental education centres in the county and plans to sell them…
Coombe Hill
Coombe Hill (8 November 2011, Les Brown / Mike Smart) Scrapes still dry, but water slightly higher on Long Pool and Snipe Pool. Flock of geese flew in and stayed…
Severn Hams, Tidenham Chase
Severn Hams, Tidenham Chase (14 October 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown) The WeBS count was carried out today in still extremely dry conditions. At Coombe Hill, both…
The Park and Poor’s Allotment, Tidenham Chase
The Park and Poor’s Allotment, Tidenham Chase (14 October 2011, contributed by Ian Ralphs) This proved to be an excellent autumn morning with light easterly winds and fine sunny weather…
Coombe Hill et al
Coombe Hill et al (17 September 2011, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart) Still extremely dry everywhere, with little open water and ditches still dry. It will take a…