Bird Walks

Introduction

The Woodcote Conservation Group’s Bird Walks have been taking place four times each year ever since our very first outing on a snowy winter’s day in February 2009. Our aim is to record the species we see and/or hear in each of the four seasons along a route that traverses the three main local habitats: the village edge (Area ‘A’ on the map below and in the seasonal species lists), the Chiltern woodland (Area ‘B’), and the hedgerows and open fields of the escarpment below the village (Area ‘C’). Our walks begin outside the Catholic Church in South Stoke Road, and then proceed to the lower path through Dean Wood and out into the open countryside beyond Dean Farm. Our return route is similar, except that in the wood we take the upper path, which passes through a mature larch plantation rather than beneath the beech trees of the lower area. The walks normally take place on Saturday mornings, starting at 10:00, finishing about two hours later, and covering just over two miles in all. The number of species we record on a typical walk is in the mid-twenties, but the overall number through the year is greater than this given seasonal variations, and our overall species total stands at 69 (see table below).

The walks are open to all, including accompanied children. Birdwatching skills are not needed to join in: if you do have them, you’ll be very welcome to share them, and if not, just come along to learn and enjoy, and to discover more about our local countryside!

No.	Species	No.	Species
1	Mute Swan	41	Swallow
2	Egyptian Goose	42	House Martin
3	Mallard	43	Chiffchaff
4	Red-legged Partridge	44	Willow Warbler
5	Grey Partridge	45	Blackcap
6	Pheasant	46	Whitethroat
7	Cormorant	47	Nuthatch
8	Grey Heron	48	Treecreeper
9	Red Kite	49	Wren
10	Sparrowhawk	50	Starling
11	Buzzard	51	Stonechat
12	Kestrel	52	Blackbird
13	Lapwing	53	Redwing
14	Black-headed Gull	54	Fieldfare
15	Common Gull	55	Song Thrush
16	Lesser Black-backed Gull	56	Mistle Thrush
17	Herring Gull	57	Robin
18	Greater Black-backed Gull	58	Dunnock
19	Stock Dove	59	House Sparrow
20	Woodpigeon	60	Pied Wagtail
21	Collared Dove	61	Meadow Pipit
22	Cuckoo	62	Chaffinch
23	Tawny Owl	63	Brambling
24	Swift	64	Greefinch
25	Green Woodpecker	65	Goldfinch
26	Greater Spotted Woodpecker	66	Linnet
27	Jay	67	Mealy (Common) Redpoll
28	Magpie	68	Bullfinch
29	Jackdaw	69	Yellowhammer
30	Rook	70	Corn Bunting
31	Carrion Crow
32	Raven
33	Goldcrest
34	Firecrest
35	Blue Tit
36	Great Tit
37	Coal Tit
38	Marsh Tit
39	Long-tailed Tit
40	Skylark

Introduction

Bird Walk Route

Bird Walk Data

Summary of completed Bird Walks