Eynsham Dawn Chorus Walk
The day dawned grey, but dry, on Saturday May 20, the occasion of the first Eynsham Dawn Chorus Walk. Around 18 early-risers gathered at the Siemens car park at 05.30 to, hopefully, learn, observe and hear about Eynsham’s songsters from Allen Stevens and Wylie Horn. Our route was to take us past the allotments, down the Wharf Stream Way, around a couple of the river fields and then back via the lock to The Talbot.
Wylie Horn (2nd from L) and Allen Stevens (3rd from L) introduce the DC Walk.
It was a great success. Although slightly muted (it was grey and bit windy) we soon heard some summer visitors – blackcaps, whitethroats and chiffchaffs were prominent, as well as our resident species such as great tits, song thrushes, blackbirds, robins and wrens. We took plenty of time to stay silent and listen. The resident Thames-side cuckoo put in an appearance, both vocally and visually, and closer to the river we also heard reed, sedge, Cetti’s and garden warblers. Those with the Merlin birdsong app were having a very informed time. Nearer Eynsham lock it was also good to see some typical waterside birds such as grey wagtail and common tern. Wylie was also able to inform all of us about some of the local plant life.
Looking for the Songster.
We are very lucky in Eynsham to be so close to some wonderful habitats and the birds we can see close to the village reflects this. However, our environment is changing. Climate change is driving new behaviours (summer migrants arriving earlier, declines – and growth – in different bird populations) and farming practices and new developments are wiping out important rural habitats. So, please continue to observe and record our wildlife. If any of you would like to be part of our (in)formal Eynsham Bird Survey Group then please do get in touch at the email address below.
Distance Learning.
We will repeat our Dawn Chorus Walk in 2024, on Saturday May 4. Please mark it in your diaries! A start earlier in the month should give us a livelier chorus without the need to get up any earlier. In the meantime, the next village bird walk will be on Saturday September 30. Full details can be found on NRN site here.
Allen Stevens
tastevens44@gmail.com is now my email address. Please use this from now on.