Must be difficult round here to model the local flooding and the impact that all the local housing development is having but Jacob's school was shut yesterday for the first time ever during the current headmasters leadership and the school village and some houses were also unprecedently flooded which has all happened within a few months of two new developments of several hundred houses going up in the village. Un-ravelling hydrology, rainfall levels and changes in runoff and retention must be complex enough so that developers don't worry too much about being sued. I've seen on the news that in some parts of the country some houses have been flooded five times in the last five years in five separate formerly 50 year events- a cataclysmic change that must basically turn any property investment to zero value. That's such a tragedy when you consider it could well be these awful overpriced soulless ticky-tacky red brick green field site developments (like the one we are renting on at the moment) which are deflecting flood water to beautiful rustic cottages and houses in the traditional and cultural parts of rural society. It all certainly focuses the mind on putting climate resilience, flood risk and risk of adjacent building development in top of our criteria to check before we move.
Did a bit of flood birding, had Kingfisher in a field at the bottom of the estate and a Shelduck over the Ickford Bridges, also a couple of Teal there but no sign yet of the flocks of Wigeon and smaller numbers of Shoveler and Pintail that I've seen during floods on the Thame flood plain in the past. I've also previously picked up Med Gull, White-fronted Goose, Redshanks and Curlews so will keep an eye on things when I get a chance.
The garden year moth list is on two- Winter moth and Pale Brindled Beauty.
The path heading north along Cuttlebrook was flooded so I couldn't check out the area where I had the Otter and Great Egret. Got Great-spot on the local list and also the Kingfisher was nearby. Also Chiffchaff and a couple of Stonechats (the Stonechats were in the reed mace lagoon on the estate). I'm on 53 species now for Cuttlebrook.
Jacob enjoying the mega puddles at Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve (above and below)
Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve
Jacob not enjoying getting out of his depth
Ickford Bridges (above and below)
Most roads in the flood plain around Ickford and Shabbington
Shelduck flying over Ickford Bridges- a scarce bird round here
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