P
peter hayes
Guest
Location Little Marlow Gravel Pit
Aston Rowant
Personnel Kevin, Common 1241 (Steve), Peter Hayes
Weather Extremely hot and humid
I travelled on a near empty tube from St James Park to Hatton Cross, where ex-Marine Kevin was waiting for me in his summer outfit, which is only slightly less jungly in nature that his frightening winter gear. We drove West and arrived in Little Marlow at 09.30, a full 30 minutes before the RV time. We sat in this lovely and expensive looking village taking in the sights. The trouble is, the fold out seats were tiny. I complained that they were no better than shooting sticks - hardly the Director’s chairs I was used to, with the Velcro operated pocket for drinks. Kevin silenced me with “you southern jessie!” and we resumed our observations of Little Marlow on a lovely Sunday morning.
First a man passed by and called to a woman who appeared at a first floor window wearing nothing but a white bra. She leaned forward to make herself better heard. On seeing us she took absolutely no notice whatsoever and finished her conversation before disappearing inside. We were beginning to warm to Little Marlow. Just then a car drew up and a couple emerged. He carried a small rucksack, she some newspapers. She was built like Jordan and wearing one of those thin, skimpy tea dresses so popular in the forties. The Mrs Minerva type. They disappeared into the woods sans binoculars. We speculated, as men of a certain age are apt to do, on what on earth they could be up to.
Steve arrived and we filled him in about the day’s proceedings so far. “What, no birds!” he exclaimed. We thought we had better get organised, so bins and scopes at the ready we set off. We soon heard a Green Woodpecker and saw a Collared Dove, followed by a few House Martins, a Wood Pigeon and a Blackbird. Kevin then spotted a small bird on a telephone wire quite a distance away. Its scratchy sound indicated a Whitethroat, which was confirmed by closer inspection. Carrion Crow and Magpie followed. I spotted a Robin, which whipped into the woods before the other two could clap eyes on it. I was one ahead for the day!
As we arrived at the main expanse of water constituting Little Marlow Gravel Pit we could see a spit ahead of us teeming with birds. I was amazed at what I saw. Here we were not far from London, and in what is supposed to be the birding doldrums, looking out on a superb variety of species. We got the scopes into action pronto and saw 12 Egyptian Geese (lifer for me), plus Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Coot, Heron, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, and several Common Tern - some flying overhead. Then I spotted another lifer for me – a Little Ringed Plover. There were also Canada Geese, Mallard, Moorhen and Ringed Plover.
The sun shone, a Warbler was often heard but annoyingly not seen, and all was well with the world. We could see tall trees on islands in the middle of the water, reeds around the side and woods to our right. Gravel extraction may be unsightly, but if this is the end result, let’s have more!
At various points in the day, Steve and I would marvel at Kevin’s attire. You cannot buy this stuff in the shops, Ladies and Gentlemen. Oh no. Everything he wears has a purpose. It has been adapted to make him the leanest, meanest birding machine known to man. If he wants a drink, he merely lifts a tube to his lips and sucks. The therma plastic contraption containing what looks like weak wee - but is probably diluted orange juice - leads to a plastic reservoir secreted somewhere at the back of his jacket. He calls it his hydration system. Naturally, he carries everything a birder could possibly need, from the Collins Guide to cotton buds. Kevin even had two types of loose tobacco for his pipe. I prefer his Mellow Virginia.
Steve dressed for summer. His shorts were quite fetching, though not so much his knees. And he seemed to have judged proceedings rather better than his compatriots until the fateful moment we had to walk along quite a long, nettle strewn path.
We then clocked a lovely Cormorant sunning its wings, many Mute Swans, a Wren, and Steve spotted the first Great Crested Grebe. A Chaffinch appeared on the path ahead of us as we turned away from the gravel pit and into the woods. A very pleasant walk ensued. The tall Poplar trees swayed gently in the breeze, and at various times the arboreal canopy was so massive, so all encompassing, so overwhelming as it arched over our heads it was like some gigantic cathedral that nature had dreamed up for our delectation, as Steve observed.
We heard various Warblers but didn’t get a good enough sighting for identification. Out of the woods, across a field and suddenly we were beside the Thames. What a sight greeted us: posh riverside houses, people out strolling, and gin palaces cruising up and down along the river. It was a classic English summer’s day. We then saw a Swallow, which was quickly followed by a Pied Wagtail on a jetty. House Sparrows followed, plus Sand Martins flying low over the water.
Then Steve saw a raptor, which turned out to be a Hobby. A bonus. A large number of Geese swarmed around, mostly Canadas, but we also spotted Greylag and one Bar Headed. We picked our way along the towpath as various cattle grazed at the water’s edge, some going right in to cool down and have a slurp, and we avoided the temptation of an ice-cream to turn back inland. Stopping by a bridge, an idyllic scene lay ahead. A small stream with Lilies floating on the surface, grass on one side and trees on the other. Kevin murmured that the Americans would give anything to bottle this!
We had heard a particular bird all morning: the Green Woodpecker, but it had chosen not to grace us with its presence. As we marvelled at the quintessentially English view in front of us, Steve suddenly shouted “Green Woodpecker!” Almost immediately this was followed by “Great Spotted!” And to add to his personal joy he saw a Kingfisher zooming over a house (Kevin and I were unsighted). We reflected that it was often better to stand still when birdwatching!
Jackdaws followed, and then my third lifer of the day, a Red Kite. It was in the distance, but unmistakable with its huge wingspan and forked tail. Pleased as I was, I hoped for better views later in the day. A female Blackcap was added to the list, then I saw a Kingfisher thanks to Steve’s acute powers of observation, and we all finally came face to face with a Reed Warbler. A Long Tailed Tit, the only Tit of the day, surprisingly, nudged us past a day list of 40. This was followed by Song Thrush, Garden Warbler and Stock Dove as we made our way back round Little Marlow Gravel Pit. By this time the others had also spotted a Robin, so we were even. And then Kevin saw a Kingfisher, the fourth of the day. This is turning into a superb day’s birding, I thought.
The total was 45 species and it was only lunch time! Excellent for this time of the year, and a marvellous place to bird in the winter too, according to Steve.
After a superb lunch back in Little Marlow (same spot as breakfast, but notable for the lack of shows by semi naked women) we drove up the M40 to Aston Rowant. This is a nature reserve on the Chilterns which looks across the vast Oxfordshire plain. We settled on the first viewing point and waited for Red Kites. Almost immediately we saw some objects far away with a definite red tint floating on the thermals. They turned out to be parachutists! That scuppered things for a bit, but we were eventually rewarded for our wait with several superb views of Red Kites. One of them put on a personal show for us, coming ever closer; twisting and turning, using its forked tail as a rudder, effortlessly gliding and circling without so much of a twitch of its huge wings.
After we said goodbye to Steve and rejoined the M40, Kevin and I saw SIX Red Kites in one small area, followed by another two. A total of 14 in one day. Not bad for someone who'd never seen one before!
So… a fantastic day out. Thanks very much indeed to Steve, whose idea this was, and whose ears were the key to success time and time again. A gent. And Kevin, who drove me to our chosen location yet again, thanks very much for your company and your birding skills.
I look forward to going back to Little Marlow Gravel Pits in the winter. I wonder if that woman in the window will be wearing more clothes then?
Aston Rowant
Personnel Kevin, Common 1241 (Steve), Peter Hayes
Weather Extremely hot and humid
I travelled on a near empty tube from St James Park to Hatton Cross, where ex-Marine Kevin was waiting for me in his summer outfit, which is only slightly less jungly in nature that his frightening winter gear. We drove West and arrived in Little Marlow at 09.30, a full 30 minutes before the RV time. We sat in this lovely and expensive looking village taking in the sights. The trouble is, the fold out seats were tiny. I complained that they were no better than shooting sticks - hardly the Director’s chairs I was used to, with the Velcro operated pocket for drinks. Kevin silenced me with “you southern jessie!” and we resumed our observations of Little Marlow on a lovely Sunday morning.
First a man passed by and called to a woman who appeared at a first floor window wearing nothing but a white bra. She leaned forward to make herself better heard. On seeing us she took absolutely no notice whatsoever and finished her conversation before disappearing inside. We were beginning to warm to Little Marlow. Just then a car drew up and a couple emerged. He carried a small rucksack, she some newspapers. She was built like Jordan and wearing one of those thin, skimpy tea dresses so popular in the forties. The Mrs Minerva type. They disappeared into the woods sans binoculars. We speculated, as men of a certain age are apt to do, on what on earth they could be up to.
Steve arrived and we filled him in about the day’s proceedings so far. “What, no birds!” he exclaimed. We thought we had better get organised, so bins and scopes at the ready we set off. We soon heard a Green Woodpecker and saw a Collared Dove, followed by a few House Martins, a Wood Pigeon and a Blackbird. Kevin then spotted a small bird on a telephone wire quite a distance away. Its scratchy sound indicated a Whitethroat, which was confirmed by closer inspection. Carrion Crow and Magpie followed. I spotted a Robin, which whipped into the woods before the other two could clap eyes on it. I was one ahead for the day!
As we arrived at the main expanse of water constituting Little Marlow Gravel Pit we could see a spit ahead of us teeming with birds. I was amazed at what I saw. Here we were not far from London, and in what is supposed to be the birding doldrums, looking out on a superb variety of species. We got the scopes into action pronto and saw 12 Egyptian Geese (lifer for me), plus Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Coot, Heron, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, and several Common Tern - some flying overhead. Then I spotted another lifer for me – a Little Ringed Plover. There were also Canada Geese, Mallard, Moorhen and Ringed Plover.
The sun shone, a Warbler was often heard but annoyingly not seen, and all was well with the world. We could see tall trees on islands in the middle of the water, reeds around the side and woods to our right. Gravel extraction may be unsightly, but if this is the end result, let’s have more!
At various points in the day, Steve and I would marvel at Kevin’s attire. You cannot buy this stuff in the shops, Ladies and Gentlemen. Oh no. Everything he wears has a purpose. It has been adapted to make him the leanest, meanest birding machine known to man. If he wants a drink, he merely lifts a tube to his lips and sucks. The therma plastic contraption containing what looks like weak wee - but is probably diluted orange juice - leads to a plastic reservoir secreted somewhere at the back of his jacket. He calls it his hydration system. Naturally, he carries everything a birder could possibly need, from the Collins Guide to cotton buds. Kevin even had two types of loose tobacco for his pipe. I prefer his Mellow Virginia.
Steve dressed for summer. His shorts were quite fetching, though not so much his knees. And he seemed to have judged proceedings rather better than his compatriots until the fateful moment we had to walk along quite a long, nettle strewn path.
We then clocked a lovely Cormorant sunning its wings, many Mute Swans, a Wren, and Steve spotted the first Great Crested Grebe. A Chaffinch appeared on the path ahead of us as we turned away from the gravel pit and into the woods. A very pleasant walk ensued. The tall Poplar trees swayed gently in the breeze, and at various times the arboreal canopy was so massive, so all encompassing, so overwhelming as it arched over our heads it was like some gigantic cathedral that nature had dreamed up for our delectation, as Steve observed.
We heard various Warblers but didn’t get a good enough sighting for identification. Out of the woods, across a field and suddenly we were beside the Thames. What a sight greeted us: posh riverside houses, people out strolling, and gin palaces cruising up and down along the river. It was a classic English summer’s day. We then saw a Swallow, which was quickly followed by a Pied Wagtail on a jetty. House Sparrows followed, plus Sand Martins flying low over the water.
Then Steve saw a raptor, which turned out to be a Hobby. A bonus. A large number of Geese swarmed around, mostly Canadas, but we also spotted Greylag and one Bar Headed. We picked our way along the towpath as various cattle grazed at the water’s edge, some going right in to cool down and have a slurp, and we avoided the temptation of an ice-cream to turn back inland. Stopping by a bridge, an idyllic scene lay ahead. A small stream with Lilies floating on the surface, grass on one side and trees on the other. Kevin murmured that the Americans would give anything to bottle this!
We had heard a particular bird all morning: the Green Woodpecker, but it had chosen not to grace us with its presence. As we marvelled at the quintessentially English view in front of us, Steve suddenly shouted “Green Woodpecker!” Almost immediately this was followed by “Great Spotted!” And to add to his personal joy he saw a Kingfisher zooming over a house (Kevin and I were unsighted). We reflected that it was often better to stand still when birdwatching!
Jackdaws followed, and then my third lifer of the day, a Red Kite. It was in the distance, but unmistakable with its huge wingspan and forked tail. Pleased as I was, I hoped for better views later in the day. A female Blackcap was added to the list, then I saw a Kingfisher thanks to Steve’s acute powers of observation, and we all finally came face to face with a Reed Warbler. A Long Tailed Tit, the only Tit of the day, surprisingly, nudged us past a day list of 40. This was followed by Song Thrush, Garden Warbler and Stock Dove as we made our way back round Little Marlow Gravel Pit. By this time the others had also spotted a Robin, so we were even. And then Kevin saw a Kingfisher, the fourth of the day. This is turning into a superb day’s birding, I thought.
The total was 45 species and it was only lunch time! Excellent for this time of the year, and a marvellous place to bird in the winter too, according to Steve.
After a superb lunch back in Little Marlow (same spot as breakfast, but notable for the lack of shows by semi naked women) we drove up the M40 to Aston Rowant. This is a nature reserve on the Chilterns which looks across the vast Oxfordshire plain. We settled on the first viewing point and waited for Red Kites. Almost immediately we saw some objects far away with a definite red tint floating on the thermals. They turned out to be parachutists! That scuppered things for a bit, but we were eventually rewarded for our wait with several superb views of Red Kites. One of them put on a personal show for us, coming ever closer; twisting and turning, using its forked tail as a rudder, effortlessly gliding and circling without so much of a twitch of its huge wings.
After we said goodbye to Steve and rejoined the M40, Kevin and I saw SIX Red Kites in one small area, followed by another two. A total of 14 in one day. Not bad for someone who'd never seen one before!
So… a fantastic day out. Thanks very much indeed to Steve, whose idea this was, and whose ears were the key to success time and time again. A gent. And Kevin, who drove me to our chosen location yet again, thanks very much for your company and your birding skills.
I look forward to going back to Little Marlow Gravel Pits in the winter. I wonder if that woman in the window will be wearing more clothes then?
