During July, there have been a couple of stories on this blog about the River Ock. Both were about fallen trees.

I went for a walk along the River Ock yesterday morning and saw a variety of wildlife. I disturbed a heron that was fishing in the weir, and it flew out with a small fish in its mouth.

Another bird I disturbed was a moorhen. It had been on the bank, and clambered down into the water and paddled off with some berries in his mouth.

Mallard ducks are common, being very adaptable, but this duck looks different from a standard Mallard. It could be a hybrid or something else.

There were lots of blue tits in one hawthorn, flitting about, after the haws.

I saw ripe blackberries along the riverbank. They are more accessible now the field next to the Ock Meadow has been cut back.

Cutting the field has not disturbed the invasive Himalayan Balsam that is so plentiful along that stretch. Each plant can produce hundreds of seeds. The ripe seedpods explode when touched and send the seeds a long way. They spread easily. A lot will float down the river and seed downstream. Bees do like them.

Bees also like the Teasel which grows by the river. The seeds will be a useful food for birds.

A notice had been placed near the River Ock to say that The Carbon Cutters had permission to plant ten Alder trees alongside the River. They were put there as part of church twinning.

Seven of the ten trees were thriving in May (when the picture above was taken) and a few days ago when I last walked that way. A lot of the field had been cut for hay, but a wide border had been left near the River.

Returning that way this morning, I saw that the field had been cut much closer to the bank, an area used by wildlife, and all the alders had been cut down.

These trees were planted to help the environment and provide a habitat for wildlife. But instead, they have been cut along with a strip of wildlife habitat.

The landowner is the Vale of White Horse District Council. They need to make sure that whoever leases their fields protect wildlife.

Two swans and four cygnets enjoyed a lazy afternoon on the slipway at St Helen’s Wharf in Abingdon. Someone had done some crochet swans on the railings nearby. The swans seemed to enjoy preening themselves.

At about 4:30pm, two small boats met the swans who had gone for a paddle. The swans were enticed with treats to Abingdon Sailing Club, where they were given more treats.

At about 4:45pm, the swan uppers arrived. They circled the swans and once surrounded, moved in so that the swans had nowhere to go.

The swans and cygnets were then lifted out of the water. The cygnets were ringed to say who they belonged to: King Charles, the Vintners, or the Dyers. After a health check, the swans were released.

The swan uppers rowed through Abingdon to Abingdon Bridge, where a crowd gathered.

They brought all of the rowing boats together and passed around the rum.

The swan uppers then raised their glasses to toast King Charles.

The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. It began on Monday July 17 from Sunbury Lock in Middlesex, and finished today, Friday July 21, at Abingdon Bridge in Oxfordshire. This is the first time that the Swan Uupping has been carried out on behalf of King Charles. As you can see, the oars have the King’s CR cypher.

The Royal Swan Marker, David Barber, also has the CR cypher on his jacket. He is responsible for overseeing the Swan Upping ceremony and ensuring that the swans are healthy and well-cared for.

Swan Upping has been taking place for centuries. It is a chance to study swans up close, and help their conservation by detecting the impact of factors such as avian flu.