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Chandlers Ford “Falcons” |
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Date: 11/03/2006 |
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Red Kite fieldtrip: our drawings and an account of the trip. |
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On the days leading up to the fieldtrip the weather looked threatening—the trip was on, then it was off and then (thank goodness) it was on again.
We all met up and piled into the minibus and were soon heading towards Oxford. Our destination was Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve in the Chilterns.
Heading down the M40 we saw them. |
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Were they planes? Were they supermen? No they were birds—great big graceful raptors. Young faces pushed against glass and shouted:
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“There’s one, and another, and another…” |
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Everywhere we turned we could see them; the occasional buzzard floated through the scene and kestrels hovered and scoped the scene below them. And this was before we had even arrived at our destination.
We had prepared for the |
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fieldtrip earlier in the week when we all got together for the indoor meeting. We studied the appearance of red kites and learned a little about their preferred habitat and the releases of kites that took place in an attempt to reintroduce this graceful bird into the English countryside.
You can see our drawings on this web page.
Well done to you all for your colourful and |
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detailed pictures.
Anne Barr (the Assistant Estate Manager for English Nature) took us round. The vantage point on the east side of the reserve gave excellent views. We followed Anne down the chalk slope, along ancient drovers’ paths, under deep-green yew trees and across short grassed steep slopes. Frequent stops were called for as another kite floated past. Pairs could be seen flying together and , with a twist of the tail, cartwheel down through the sky. Our youngsters took a lot of interest in the rabbit carcass ( a ready meal just waiting to be spotted by the kites) and the abandoned 4x4 that blocked the path.
Passing under the M40, in the muddy tunnel, left us looking at the chalk hills. Slow but steady walking took us up to a location where we saw kites passing below, around and above us. They were often only 60-70 feet away. You could see every marking.
A quiet lunch amongst the artworks at the top of the hill and the reverse journey back under the motorway—our group stretched out with those at the back doing the birding and those at the front enjoying the brisk walk.
Returning to the minibus we used a different path. Excitement over the identification of a very pale kite and then we were back. It only hailed on us once; but the wind was cold; the trudges up and down the hills kept us warm (and panting).
It was a great day out, made even more special by Anne’s informed company. |