Ian Duddle led a walk at the Searle’s Farm gravel pit complex on the morning of Sunday 7th December. The last of the rain from a fast-moving cold front was almost over when the group set out from the southern end of Pingewood Lane. First sighting was a Mistle Thrush in the top of a tree. Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Coot and Mute Swan were all seen at the first gravel pit. The route led into Searle’s Farm Lane, before turning right along the footpath between 2 pits. Many of the trees had lost their leaves, which made the yellow and green leaves of the Common Elms beside the lane more conspicuous. The sun emerged from behind the clouds, turning the wildfowl on the pit to the south of the path into dark silhouettes. A willow with particularly long thin leaves was identified as an Osier. A number of Cormorants were perching in a tree at the back of the pit on the north side of the footpath. A Grey Heron stood motionless on the far bank and Pochard was added to the tally of duck species. At the end of the path, raindrops glistened on the downy leaves of a Great Mullein plant.
The walk continued northwards towards the Kennet and Avon Canal, first along a track where Bristly Oxtongue, Prickly Sow-thistle and Petty Spurge were seen, then through fields. A Kestrel perched on a pylon and Fool’s-water-cress was spotted in a wet ditch. The towpath was followed downstream as far as the weir above Fobney Island, where a solitary female Mandarin duck was resting on the far bank of the canal. Initially her head was turned back, and just her white-dappled chest, white belly and yellow feet could be seen. Then she straightened up and the diagnostic long thin white stripe behind her eye became visible. The walk then continued back along the towpath towards Burghfield Bridge. There were good views of a Grey Wagtail as it perched on a window ledge of the Southcote Mill buildings. A number of bird feeders on the bushes behind a moored narrow-boat were visited by a procession of Great Tits, Blue Tits and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker. The final section of the walk was back along Pingewood Lane to the parked cars.
Pictures by Laurie Haseler