Our 4 mile circular
(Map courtesy of Google Earth)
Much the same as before we started from Oxford Street and down into the village, took a right turn onto Lottage Road and just past the Hall we followed the footpath up to Crooked Corner. When we turned into Lottage Road there were Police Signs, Flood Signs, Cones and Sandbags everywhere. Don was telling me that the water level had dropped quite considerably, however water was still bubbling up through the man hole covers and there was still a fair bit of flooding down this road. However the birds seemed to be oblivious to all of this and before I knew it I had recorded Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Robin, Wren, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Starlings, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Mistle Thrush within 15 minutes of our walk. What was quite noticeable were the number of birds singing and displaying, especially the finches. There were male Chaffinches singing the hearts out and lots of Greenfinches performing their display flights.
Starlings
Once up onto Crooked Corner it was down Grasshill across Cook Road, along The Gallop and back down to Lottage Road. This stretch of road runs parallel to Lottage Road and is more or less an an access road to the homes backing onto it. Along its length we saw Carrion Crows, more Greenfinches displaying, Wood Pigeons, a Coal Tit, Jackdaws, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Blue Tits, with one group of 5 having a right time chasing each other around a bush. There were also Rooks, a flock of 15 Starlings, Robin, Dunnocks and lots of them, 3 Linnets, Great Tits, a Corn Bunting close to Lottage Road and a Pheasant calling from the surround farmland. What was an interesting find were a few Primroses in flower!
Rook
Linnet - best shot I could get unfortunately
Primroses
As we dropped down to Lottage Road, it was a case of Oh My Word. The whole road was flooded, if you didn't know any different you would have thought it a river. It was really pushing through and was a good foot in places. Unfortunately for Don he only had his walking boots. I did contemplate wading across and throwing my wellies back to him, however we did find a safish spot to cross and Don navigated his way over the raging torrent.
River Lottage - Sorry I mean Lottage Road
The Gallops
We met up with a chap called Brian, who was telling us that in the 43 years he had lived her, this was by far the worse floods he had ever seen.
Don and Brian
Crossing over the River Lottage, sorry Lottage Road we headed up the Gallop for about 100 metres before turning right and heading towards east Lease Farm. Before we turned right Don came across some lovely snowdrops, that seemed to be enjoying this wet but mild weather.
The Gallop and the "River" flowing down Lottage Road
As we approached the track which takes you to the cottages there were a few more Dunnocks calling and an amorous male pursing a female.
Dunnock
The bridal path here is about 1½ miles and runs along a ridge which is on your right. To the left are fields, which were showing signs of new growth, presumably wheat. However sitting in the middle of all this were two flocks of gulls. The large one consisted of about 138 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a few Herring Gulls and I'm almost certain a lone Great Black-backed Gull, which stood out like a sore thumb at the back of group. The second party had 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a solitary Great Black-backed Gull at the back.
As we carried on up the track a Chiffchaff called from the bushes on our right, and apart from a fleeting glance it was gone. Also along here were Yellowhammers, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Robin, Lots of Dunnock again, Skylarks singing, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaws, Rooks and a Carrion Crow.
One Man and his Dog
Yellowhammer
And a pair
Long-tailed Tit on the look out
A very distant shot of a Skylark
A meowing call alerted us to Buzzard and for the remainder of our walk back up to the Main Road, it circled above us for a good 20 minutes or so.
Buzzard
Buzzard
Buzzard
Once back on the Main Road it was into the chilly wind and avoiding the heavy traffic that was steaming up and down the Aldbourne / Baydon Road, courtesy of the closed Lottage Road. A few birds of interest were a Kestrel, a pair of Red-legged Partridges that shot over the road at hedge height.
Kestrel
A quick look across at Lottage road revealed a 4 x 4 heading out of the village. The first part was dry and then it disappeared in a spray of water as it hit the flood
Now you see it
Now you don't!!!