Saturday 24th October
A Saturday morning run around the Meadow found the same birds as usual but in good numbers. Notably there was a really good flock in excess of 300 starlings on the Meadow. Plenty of meadow pipits, linnets, pied wagtails and lapwings all frequenting the former flood area. To the north in the hinterland it was pretty quiet though I did flush a flock of 6 skylarks with at least 4 others seen including one in full song. In Burgess Field a red kite flew low over the NR giving excellent views.
At the north end on Wolvercote common there were a couple of wigeon and four or five teal on the small pool by the road near the railway. A small fraction of the numbers of wintering duck that we should get once the floods return but still nice to see them nevertheless. Lots of duck were also reported as flying over the Meadow that evening (JG private e-mail).
A feeding wigeon. It's nice to know that they are at least somewhere on the Meadow.© Adam Hartley
At the north end on Wolvercote common there were a couple of wigeon and four or five teal on the small pool by the road near the railway. A small fraction of the numbers of wintering duck that we should get once the floods return but still nice to see them nevertheless. Lots of duck were also reported as flying over the Meadow that evening (JG private e-mail).
A feeding wigeon. It's nice to know that they are at least somewhere on the Meadow.© Adam Hartley