Winter Bird Walk, 1st December 2012 |
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Winter bird-walkers assembled at the shore of Thrupp Lake |
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On Saturday 1st December, seventeen people took part in a guided bird walk at the Radley Lakes, organised by the Earth Trust. This was led by local naturalist and birder, Ben Carpenter, with the assistance of site warden, Lorretta Waters of the Earth Trust, who organised the event and provided the mince pies and other refreshments at the end of the walk.The weather was cold after overnight frost, with weak sunshine and thin cloud. Recent rain had created generally muddy conditions and some paths were completely flooded and not negotiable, so the available route was somewhat restricted. The walk took a clockwise route around both Thrupp and Bullfield Lakes: from Sandles, south along the byway, west along the cycleway (the alternative path being flooded), then, after a diversion to visit Orchard Lake and the mound overlooking H/I, returned along the western and northern shores of Thrupp Lake to the Lily Shelter, where very welcome refreshments awaited .During two hours, 35 different species of bird had been collectively observed – including most notably Kingfisher, Redwing, Goldeneye, Treecreeper, Water Rail (heard only) and Grey Heron. Flocks of Shoveler were gathering over and on Thrupp Lake.The full list is as follows
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Watching the birds on Thrupp Lake. |
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Lake ‘N’ just across the byway on the E edge of Thrupp Lake. |
Looking across Thrupp Lake from the viewing platform. |
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Orchard Lake, flooded at this time and effectively part of the River Thames. This Lake was recently threatened by further gravel extraction, but that’s another story. |
Lake ‘H/I’, one of the largest ash-filled lakes, from the mound. Any water in here appears to be very much shallower than that outside of the bunds, as in photo to left. |
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Thrupp Lake from the vicinity of the bird hide, but few birds in sight. |
Part of a flock of Shoveler in flight over Thrupp Lake. |
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