Traditional Skills

These houses in Henley are another superb example of the use of local materials in the construction of houses. This again combines the locally made bricks with flint, as well as oak beams supporting the upper story.


This section of walling illustrates two of the methods of using the flint nodules. It is thought that the individual pieces of flint started out as sponges, which dissolved when dead, leaving an ooze behind. This ooze was then trapped in the chalk and over millions of years has hardened in to the flint we see today. In the example above, the bottom section is built using random flints; literally how they came out of the chalk. The panel above is called knapped flintwork. In this, the flints are cracked to expose a sheer face of darker flint.

Early Morning Routine

Whilst walking along the Thames at Henley, I was watching the birds preening themselves. This Canada Goose stood on one leg for so long that I was beginning to think it had a damaged foot. However, it then changed feet and carried on cleaning its other side.

This Mute Swan spent fifteen minutes preening itself. This is very necessary for water birds, as poorly maintained feathers reduce buoyancy. It's fascinating watching some of the positions they can bend their long necks in to!

Same As It Ever Was

This is a typical Chilterns view. Rolling hills, farmed valley's, with heavily wooded hill tops. These are ancient beech woods, with some infill planting of conifers. Although farming methods have changed over time, this sort of view has been constant in this area for hundreds of years.

There are many signs that spring is on it's way, despite the cold weather we have been experiencing in recent weeks. For me, the surest sign of springs arrival is when the lambs appear. This one was pictured on a farm at Piddington, near to West Wycombe. If you're in the area, they have a LambWalk, where you can see all the lambs and sheep on the farm.

Magic Moments

I've spent two evenings this week watching a Barn Owl hunting on the edge of a wood. For me this was pure magic! I've seen Barn Owls before, but they have always been just a white flash, glimpsed momentarily in the headlights. This week though I found an area where this one likes to hunt. Watching it flying, gliding and hovering has been such a treat for me. You can see a video of it here. This really tested my DV Camera to it's limits, as it is filmed in the twighlight. However, if like me you've only ever glimpsed them, it may show you one of the best hunters in a way you haven't seen before.

Up Close and Personal

This is my latest painting of a Red Kite. Many thanks to Gerry Whitlow for his kind permission to use his photographs. The Chilterns AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) run a scheme to become a "Friend of the Red Kite". This is a fantastic conservation effort that deserves full support.



I visited my postal town of Henley on Thames at the weekend, where this Great Crested Grebe was playing hide and seek. A short video is available
here.

Read All About It!

Following on from my last post, the news is getting bleaker by the day.

Thames Water have just announced a hosepipe ban starting in a few weeks time. This is the first time they have been this concerned for 16 years! The River Thames is flowing at half of it's normal levels, which is disastrous at this time of the year. Have a look at the Environment\Climate Change page on Thames Water's website, for a glimpse of what is likely to happen.

I also came across this worrying article in the Independent on Sunday.

My personal view is that all consumers in the UK should be on water meters. The water companies know what is a reasonable amount of water for any occupancy pattern. For consumers going beyond these levels, an increasingly punitive scale of charges should be applied. I realise that this is a draconian approach, but I can not see any other course of action that is going to shock people out of their wasteful ways.

My Brain Hurts...

This is, or rather should be, Hamble Brook. For over a year now, the brook has been completely dry. So, I hear you say, why is this of interest?

Well, for those who haven’t done Geography for a long time, the Chalk that underlies the Chilterns is a very porous rock. Water falling on the higher ground is absorbed in to the chalk. The water level in the chalk varies during the normal yearly cycle; naturally at it’s highest during the winter period. Between the source or spring and the chalk stream joining a river is called a Bourne. Now, as was just stated, the level of the water table varies, so the highest point that a stream starts is referred to as the Winterbourne. In the case of Hamble Brook, this is near the village of Skirmett, where this photograph was taken.

Is this another of the effects of Global Warming? I don’t know about you, but my head aches trying to understand the conflicting information being presented from all sides of the argument.

What I do know however, is that the latest figures show that in January 2006 there was only 20 millimetres of rain – just 29 per cent of the expected long-term average in this region, continuing a 15-month drought across south-east England.

There was less rain in January 2006 than in any month during the summer of 2005. Since the start of November 2004, the area has had only 66 per cent of expected rainfall, with all but one month since then seeing below-average levels.

I recently listened to a radio phone-in show, where they were debating the fact that one of the SE England water companies had just won a court case to enable them to make water meters compulsory. It was scary listening to the indignant, irresponsible attitudes of people who thought it was a God-given right to carry on wasting water, like we currently do.

I think perhaps they should experience what a large part of the world’s population do, and have to carry every drop of water that they need. That way, they may be prepared for what almost certainly will happen in the SE of England before too long!

A Bird of Many Names

The Lapwing (a.k.a. Peewit or Green Plover) is a bird I remember dearly from my childhood. Their signature call, which gives rise to their alternative name of Peewit, used to accompany my brother and I on our fishing trips to nearby ponds. Watching their erratic flight, with sudden swoops and dives was often more entertaining than watching our floats! As Autumn grew near, large flocks of Lapwings would gather until they eventually departed on their short migration.

For me it is sad to see that the breeding population has declined by a staggering 49% in the past 11 years. As with many native birds, changes to traditional agricultural methods have had a devastating consequence for the Lapwing. In recent years farmers have started sowing cereal crops in the Autumn, whereas traditionally they would plant in the Spring. For the Lapwing this simple act has meant that these crops are too tall during their breeding season.

I recently visited the RSPB Reserve at Otmoor, Oxfordshire. Besides the great variety of ducks in residence, I spent a while watching this Lapwing (approx 3Mb) feeding.

Not The Most Popular...

Grey Squirrels are often referred to as tree rats, which I feel is a shame. I understand that they have all but displaced the Red Squirrel in most parts of the UK. For me though, watching a family of Grey Squirrels chasing around the tree-tops is a fantastic sight. Their agility is breathtaking as they leap from tree to tree. This one was having a slow start to the day. He was sun bathing and seemed very reluctant to move.

Last summer, when I was still living in London, I counted 97 of them as I took our dog on a three mile walk!

Early Riser

I have always been one of theose people who wake up early. It does not always make you popular! It does have the advantage though, of allowing me to get out before most other people, and enjoy the wonderful quality of light that seems unique to that time of day. At this time of year, the air seems to have an extra clarity, with the hard frosts and blue skys. These are a couple of shots from a recent walk that I'd like to share with you.

A Triumph for Conservation

The Red Kite was once a common bird throughout the UK. Persecution led to them becoming almost extinct, with only a small population left in Wales. Since 1989, a project was started to release young European birds into several locations in England and Scotland. In this region, they have been very successful, and it is not uncommon to see large numbers of these birds riding the thermals near ridges and high ground. They are true masters of flight, effortlessly gliding, their long, forked tails twisting to maintain their line. A short video is available here. (Approx 3Mb)

Stand off!

Walking up thought the village this morning I saw a stand off between a Pheasant and a Melanistic or Black Pheasant. There are a number of different colours of Melanistic, but this is the only one I have seen. They are a sub species of the Pheasant, as far as I can ascertain.

A short video can be seen here. I have to admit that the video SHOULD have been quite a bit longer than this, but I am new to DV and forgot to press the record button!