SEO's and the perils of fame...

[The Black Rabbit]

Took a wee trip over to the Ridgeway (just south of Didcot and Harwell) today to see if we could see any Short-Eared Owls - I know Paul (Chandler) knows the Bury Down / Cow down areas.
Well, we saw maybe a dozen beautiful owls - all lovely stuff.

The only trouble was that these birds are now suffering from fame.
The gallops on the downs there are private property, and yet there were many people, maybe ten or so? well off the path, flushing the birds (accidentally I'm sure) into the air.
A bit sad really, and a trend that I hope does not continue.
That said - most of the walkers looking for the owls with binoculars and telescopes etc... were keeping to the main path. There may have been 50 or so of these people.
I managed to get a couple of shots, heavily cropped I'm afraid, but ok - from distance...


Other birds we saw up there were Kestrels, Buzzards, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Stonechat - a really nice walk on the way, ALMOST spoiled by the few...

[Pete Collins]

Glad you had a good walk and saw plenty of birds - shame about the few irresponsible people.

I haven't been to that part of the Ridgeway for about 25 years - when I was a student I had a job at Harwell, and later worked nearby in Abingdon. I'd like to go back and walk there again, and also re-visit the ancient monuments along the route such as the White Horse and Wayland's Smithy. I didn't realise it was so good for bird watching too!

I noticed your photo is entitled Hootsmon! Nice one, Doug!

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Glad you had a good walk and saw plenty of birds - shame about the few irresponsible people.

I haven't been to that part of the Ridgeway for about 25 years - when I was a student I had a job at Harwell, and later worked nearby in Abingdon. I'd like to go back and walk there again, and also re-visit the ancient monuments along the route such as the White Horse and Wayland's Smithy. I didn't realise it was so good for bird watching too!

I noticed your photo is entitled Hootsmon! Nice one, Doug!

Ta Pete.
Not that bothered about a few irresponsible bird watchers after their shot of the century. Would be more bothered I suppose if it was during the nesting season, but I don't think we'd get a dozen Short-Eared Owls on the Ridgeway at that time of year.
Lovely day - topped off with a wonderful view of some Fallow Deer, and a Hare which my girlfriend nearly stood on, before it bolted off!
A good day indeed.
Doug

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Took a wee trip over to the Ridgeway (just south of Didcot and Harwell) today to see if we could see any Short-Eared Owls - I know Paul (Chandler) knows the Bury Down / Cow down areas.
Well, we saw maybe a dozen beautiful owls - all lovely stuff.

Have not been up there yet this year but am planning to possibly on Weds.
I found that the birds do tend to get flushed at week ends in particular by a few who seem desparate to get a view. If you just put in a little time and patience it pays off and you can get great views from the Ridgeway track.
Were there any Golden Plover in the area? They seem to be in short supply in Oxon this winter.
Went to Otmoor this morning and had 2 Hen Harriers and a Merlin.

Paul

[mh68]

Glad you got to see the SEO Doug, shame about the people wandering off the paths though. Well done on getting the pic too, not a species i`ve managed to photograph up to now

Mark H

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Have not been up there yet this year but am planning to possibly on Weds.
I found that the birds do tend to get flushed at week ends in particular by a few who seem desparate to get a view. If you just put in a little time and patience it pays off and you can get great views from the Ridgeway track.
Were there any Golden Plover in the area? They seem to be in short supply in Oxon this winter.
Went to Otmoor this morning and had 2 Hen Harriers and a Merlin.

Paul

Yeah. Should be MUCH quieter there on Wednesday Paul! Though that said, we got lovely views from the Ridgeway track and the West Isley track,
before the crowds descended from the main carpark at around 11am.

No Golden Plovers that we saw, and the Ring Tail Hen Harrier of course appeared after we left. Never mind. A dozen Owls, plus the other things made up for it!
Good luck on Wednesday.
Doug

[stephen p]

Thats brilliant Doug glad you had a good day shame about the few irresponsible people.
I love Owls and have always wanted to see them like that.

I have never visited that part of the Ridgeway. Was it easy enough to find and park at that section of the walk and to see the SEO's?
Me and my partner would love to see them.

Cheers,

Stephen

[Deer Stalker]

How long will the SEO's be in the area before they go back up north, March? April?

[paulchandler6]

Have seen SEO's in the area up until mid-March. So there is time to see them.
Parking at the site is OK and the walk is not too far.

Paul

[The Black Rabbit]

My advice would be to get there early (9am at latest) or late (3pm at earliest) at weekends, to avoid the crowds, dog-walkers, kite-fliers etc..., or like Paul, (if you are able), go during the week!
Wrap up EXTREMELY warm (as it blows a hooly up there).
The Owls are relatively easy to see. If you DO go during the day at the weekend, just head for the crowd of telescopes/binoculars pointing south from the track. Just please don't cross the gallops, trespass and flush them!

This year seems particularly good for SEO's in the area- at least a dozen there yesterday, and looking through the records, a good number seen every day this winter (pretty well). Better than last year anyway.

Keep your eyes open and you'll quite possibly see Hen Harrier (a Ringtail) crossing between counties, very close to you if you're lucky. This seems to be quartering late in the day at present - you should be able to see this from the main track also - the views (as you probably know) into Oxon are superb from that part of the ridge.
You will pretty well certainly see Red Kite also.

You might well see Merlin also, Kestrel, Raven, and Golden Plover (as Paul suggested), not to mention lots of Grey Partridge, Fieldare, Redwing, Brambling, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Stonechat.

Then there are the Hares, and the Deer....

There is a free designated carpark on top of the hill, (pretty well on site).
You can make your walk as long or short as you want.
JUST to see the Owls (twitcher style) - you'd have to walk no further than one mile up the track, see the Owls, and walk one mile back.
To see a bit more - you would need to walk a bit further. It IS the Ridgeway after all - its worth it.
Just wrap up VERY WARM at this time of year!

Good luck!
Doug