Worminghall Exploration

Jacob, Holly and I used up our daily exercise out of lockdown today to walk from the Old Vic to Waterperry-Waterstock-Ickford and back in order to explore the Thame River. Unfortunately it appears the river is impossible to access legally and the footpaths only cross it at a couple of places. However it was a pretty interesting walk with a few key farmland birds such as Curlew, Lapwing, Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge, Raven, Red Kites and a few Skylarks, albiet in low density (Ebird list HERE). Very few migrants in these parts (similar to what I've found in the past)- it must be because nearby Otmoor sucks them all up. Only had 1 Barn Swallow and about 5 Chiffchaff.

 A stunning 'Grey-rumped Pheasant' - 'torquatus group' (Comment from Barry Hudson: Blue Backed Michigan Pheasant.They are a type that were bred by the shooting fraternity with the sporting attribute of flying high and fast but as with all steps forward there is always a catch and with this super high flying bird they had a tendency to wander and Gamekeepers found they were supplying more birds for their neighbours than they were able to keep on their own ground. Not sure where they were bred, in spite of their name I'm not certain they were developed in the USA. Maybe France as that is where many of the Pheasants that are put down to covert these days are supplied from.)

 Red Kite and Raven

 Grey Partridges

 Loads of nice little country features in these parts 

Waterstock Mill