Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Downs - Oxfordshire/West Berkshire
We did our usual 7-mile walk here, hoping for cuckoos and yellow wagtails - but didn't get 'em.
Greger couldn't find any yellowhammers today, but I like his shot of a corn bunting in the rape crop. This field also held at least 50 Painted Lady butterflies.
Bird of the day was a curlew that rose calling from the side of the footpath just ahead of us, where a tractor was mowing the gallops.
The field on the opposite side of the road is littered with sarsen stones, remnants of the sandstone cap that once covered the land hereabouts. I love their other name of grey wethers, linking them with the sheep that often graze on downs farmland.
Birds were scarce, but it was a good day out in a lovely part of the country. There were no naked ramblers this week, but at White Horse Hill a passing walker lifted his straw boater in greeting. Classy!
// posted by Christine @ 10:53 AM 
