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We very much enjoyed the Ridgeway day trip. We were lucky with bright sunny weather, and notched up a good number of interesting sightings and Martin was a very knowledgeable and personable leader. He punctuated the day with snippets of history and local interest.
PM, Oxfordshire, December 2021
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The Ridgeway - Cow, Bury and Compton Down (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR177A lovely birding and wildlife walk high on the Berkshire Downs along what is reputedly Britain’s oldest road, in search of a variety of birds in their winter habitat.
We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Summary
Often dubbed the oldest road in Britain, the track along the Berkshire Downs has been in use for at least 5,000 years. This is an ancient landscape on the Berkshire/Oxfordshire border just north of the M4/A34 interchange (junction 13). The views to the north from the ridge are spectacular.
Lead by ornithologist Martin Pitt, we will follow a route both on and around the ridgeway taking in Cow Down, Bury Down and Compton Down in our attempts to find the special birds of the this area. Fieldfare, Redwings, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammers all form flocks with the ubiquitous Meadow Pipits and in turn these attract raptors. Merlin, Peregrine and Hen Harrier can be found joining the plentiful Red Kites and Buzzards. As both these and their prey are somewhat nomadic at this season we will try to find them in this open habitat. Grey Partridge still form coveys in the bare fields, although it is clear that they are outnumbered by the commoner gamebirds. At the end of the day, we will also attempt to find the Short-eared Owls that normally roost in the areas of rank grassland, and these may be joined by a Barn Owl. Expect to walk around 8 miles during the day.
- Airy views from the roof of Berkshire
- Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer
- Red Kites and Buzzards plentiful
- Possibly rarer birds of prey and Short-eared Owl if we are lucky
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It takes a certain level of hope and expectation to get one out of bed more than an hour before dawn on a grey sleety day in winter with the temperature only just over freezing point. Hope and expectation there was aplenty, because was it time for another Naturetrek day trip - this time to Berkshire. We were rewarded with lots of farmland birds, including more singing Corn Buntings in one place than I've heard or seen anywhere in the UK in any season. The guide, Martin, was really knowledgeable and helpful, and we had an enjoyable day's walk. Even the sun came out at the end of the day, reflecting my brightened spirits.
T.A. Buckinghamshire, Dec 20
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