This morning’s dawn walk around a private site near where I’m currently working produced a memorable spring encounter, and, as it turns out, a rather notable bird for Oxfordshire.
Walking along the edge of the fields, I became aware of the song of a Woodlark from the trees ahead. At first, the bird remained hidden high in the canopy, but after a few moments of searching, it finally appeared out in the open, perched and singing in the early morning light before eventually flying away across the fields. At the time, I simply appreciated it as another lovely spring observation, though once home, I discovered that the Woodlark is considered a relatively scarce bird in Oxfordshire, making the encounter feel even more special in hindsight.
Woodlark
The surrounding farmland was alive with birdsong. Yellowhammers were particularly vocal throughout the morning, their familiar calls carrying across the hedgerows. Encouragingly, the species seems to be thriving in this area, and with luck, the local population will enjoy a productive breeding season this year.
Yellowhammer
Having now spent the past year and a half working down in Oxfordshire, one aspect of the county’s wildlife that continues to impress me is the sheer abundance of Brown Hares. In truth, I have never seen so many anywhere else. Almost every early morning walk seems to produce several sightings, often with animals sitting quietly in the margins of fields or racing across open ground.
One individual this morning was particularly engaging, unusually inquisitive and seemingly content to shadow my slow walk back towards the car, stopping frequently to watch me before moving on again. Encounters like these are a reminder of just how rewarding even a simple morning wander can be at this time of year.
Brown Hare