With the fall of the leaves, the spire of St Helen’s Church can be more easily seen from the Ock Valley Walk.

There are a lot of small birds, mostly tits, flitting about in the trees, or dangling and hopping about between twigs. They are far more visible now that most of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves.

The heron is a common sight along the stream, often hopping onto the bank when approached.

I was recently photographing a deer when I noticed a kingfisher perched on a branch on the opposite bank. Unfortunately, it was gone before I could focus my camera.

A piercing whistle above the Ock Valley Walk often signals a Red Kite, which can be spotted perched in the high branches and will take flight when startled.

Earlier in the year, ten alder tree saplings planted by Abingdon Carbon Cutters, beside the River Ock, were mowed down by the new lessee of the field. The Vale District Council, the landowner, obtained an apology and a commitment from the lessee to replace the trees, which has now happened.

The bushes and vegetation along the River Ock, although reduced, provides valuable habitat for wildlife.

The water churned after it came over the River Ock weir. It was the brown of tea and full of muddy particles. A stream of bubbles flowed down the other stream, caused by the turbulence from the other weir further up.

With fewer leaves on the trees, the birds are becoming easier to spot. A kingfisher flew upstream, and a diving bird torpedoed downstream, both moving too quickly for me to get a good look at. But I did manage to see a moorhen.

The paddling area (from yesterday’s raffle painting) is now too deep to paddle, and the rope swing is submerged. The river level was at its highest yesterday, but it’s still high today.

The footpath to Tesco has become a watery cul-de-sac, after the flooding.

The field between the River Ock and the A34 has been flooded.

Lots of gulls have come in to enjoy the new temporary flooded field.

The water has washed over many of the reeds, leaving the river looking more like its old self.

The Ock Valley Walk in Abingdon has become more crowded in June. There are more people walking, and the Kingfisher canoe club visited the weir this week. But I have not seen the Kingfisher during June, not even a blue flash.

A heron was seen earlier in the month, and people have been sharing pictures of it on social media. It is a good indicator of a healthy ecosystem, as it feeds on fish and other small animals.

Fish were visible earlier in the month, but are harder to see now.

The grey wagtail can also be seen near the water. It is a good swimmer and diver, and it feeds on insects and small fish.

The blossoms and fresh leaves of May have been followed by mature foliage. Horse chestnut leaves have already started showing signs of aging as the Horse chestnut leaf miner, the larvae of a small moth, tunnels through the leaves, turning them brown. Elderflowers were abundant earlier in June and many are starting to develop into berries.

The nettles have grown tall, and some were cut back near the paths. Small brown butterflies flutter about in the vicinity.

Ducks and moorhens are frequently seen, but I have not seen them with young on the Ock Valley Walk near town.

Yellow flags are visible along the walk, but further out from town, beyond the Ock Bridge, they look larger.

Extending from Tesco to Mill Lane, the River Ock is more overgrown and the channel looks reduced. There are probably lots of wildlife and their young hiding among the sedge and reeds, away from the crowds.