Our amazing wildlife

Mon 21 Jul, 11:55 (last edited on Mon 21 Jul, 13:23)

Flora - that's such a a brilliant success. Well done to you and everyone involved. It must have been fantastic back in the 90's. Let's hope you get more volunteers with deep eves to host more nesting cups.

Tue 15 Jul, 09:10

Lucy - glad that you are enjoying the house martins at the R&C and Cheorl House ! Imagine, in 1997 there were 140 pairs of house martins in Charlbury and Ditchley. Two years ago there were no nests at all in Charlbury, the population here was teetering on collapse and we realised that measures were needed before we lost them.  We have put up 19 nesting cups in the last 2 years and it looks like this year we have 14 pairs of birds. We will be putting up another ten nesting cups before next season, concentrating on the Church Street/Market St/Sheep St area as the birds like being together.  If anyone in the area is interested in hosting these magnificent birds who travel all the way from Africa to be with us and breed here, then please let me know here or email charlburywildlifesociety@gmail.com  We are looking for deep roof eves where the temperature is relatively constant. None of this would be possible without community support,  willing hosts (currently the Rose and Crown and Cheorl House),  good advice, financial donors,  hopefully an increasing insect population, and importantly our firemen on ladder practise, thank you everyone  ! 

Fri 11 Jul, 09:08

I have just been watching my young spotted flycatchers in the garden, 2 this year , they come back every year from Africa, and when the ants swarmed a couple of days they were in their element.

Thu 10 Jul, 19:39

Perhaps with the extreme heat everyone will put out bowls of water for the birds etc. with a stone in the water to stop bees and other small flying insects from drowning.

Thu 10 Jul, 07:19 (last edited on Thu 10 Jul, 09:24)

What a great list of wildlife! Very sad about the mole, I am yet to see one. 

I also had to add - how great are the House Martin boxes on the pub?! I just walked past and there were dozens flying around - a beautiful sight.

Wed 9 Jul, 15:25

Walking in the Millenium Wood early this morning we saw a group of six Adonis blue butterflies. Easy to spot at some distance as their vivid  colour made  them look like little blue jewels. Quite rare. The wood must have the right combination of food plants (horseshoe vetch) and ants. 

Wed 9 Jul, 14:23

Dog walking this morning I saw what I thought was a dead mouse on the tarmac path alongside Nine Acres Playing Field…sadly it was a dead baby mole. So beautiful. I put it under the trees on the field side of the perimeter wall.

Assume they are prey for owls / badgers?

Wed 9 Jul, 12:30

Kate I have seen Mink dash across the Burford road just outside of Charlbury last year and I also have seen numerous grass snakes! Made me think twice about relaxing in the meadows! 😂

Tue 8 Jul, 09:58

Do check out charlbury-tc.gov.uk for the Land & Nature Group - volunteers always welcome.

Tue 8 Jul, 08:21

If you take a slight detour through the nature reserve, you can often see foxes in the evening, there are at least two. Not to mention the lovely cows, muntjac, bunnies and birds. It's a mini safari :)

Mon 7 Jul, 15:43

Fantastic news about the otter!  I found a carefully picked-out crayfish tail on the bank recently so I was wondering if it were otters or mink - great to have confirmation!

Sat 5 Jul, 11:39

Couldn’t agree more Lucy! Sometimes I really feel blessed to witness the beautiful wildlife we have around us. We definitely live in a special little place :)

Fri 4 Jul, 13:48

It was just around 10pm 

Fri 4 Jul, 13:25

Lucy! What time did you see the otter!?

Fri 4 Jul, 12:13

Last night, on my walk home from the train station I saw 1. An otter in the river at the bottom of Dyers hill 2. Two, possibly three tawny owl fledglings in the trees in the playing close 3. A hedgehog on the verge on Enstone Road 4. Several bats.

I know the UK's wildlife is in a dire state, but we are SO lucky in Charlbury to have these animals sharing our town with us. Let's please do all we can to support nature here. Keep an eye out for all of these!