I cycled along the Sustrans Route 5  to Radley Lakes mid afternoon. In this view St David’s Meadow can be seen on the left with Thrupp Lake beyond.

There seemed to be a lot of birds about round Thrupp Lake.

They included ducks, coots, moorhen, gulls,

swans,

grebes,

cormorants, and others.

On some smaller areas of water, and on some shallow ponds and lakes, ice had not melted all day.

This view is across one of the lakes that was filled with ash from Didcot Power Station where trees have grown. There is a path all the way round and there is still wetland and shallow lakes or ponds at the far side near the railway and River Thames.

After the sun went down, at 4:20, there were trails of birds in the sky heading north.

This was my final monthly visit to the Abbey Fish Ponds Nature Reserve.  On entering somebody saw me taking a picture and asked what I’d seen.

It was a Wood Pigeon so nothing to boast about. But he told me how he had seen foxes and three sorts of deer. I said ‘wow’ and looked for deer but saw none.

A lot of reeds and branches have been cut back and leaves have fallen and as a result there were more birds to be seen and heard.

An Egret flew out from the stream and landed in a tree.

Although common it is still good to see a Robin.

Starlings were gathering in one of the trees at around 3pm. They took off and will probably be joining up with even bigger groups of starlings for their cloak turning murmurations.

A lot of the reeds and sedge have been cut down but there were still places with reeds.

Most of the reed is under the ground, as roots and rhizomes. Green spears are poking up even in December.

P.S. I got a call from Newcomer asking to be shown round the Abbey Fish Ponds. So there could be a bonus visit early next year. I might even do a recording as we explore with David Attenborough voices.

A Blackbird near Caldecott Rec.

A Robin in the Albert Park.

A Magpie near Abingdon Lock.

The monthly walk round the Abbey Fishponds Nature Reserve shows a lot of leaves on the ground and far fewer in the trees.

Greens are giving way to duller greens, browns, and golds.

A lot of the reeds and sedges have been cut. The area is much wetter than I ever realised. Many more ponds than could be seen in other months. There is not just the stream running through the centre but there must be lots of irrigating springs.

The walkway across the centre of the reserve is not a green but a gold archway.

The Oak Tree still has some green.

I could only get the blurriest pictures of birds this month. Not a blackbird or crow to show on today’s walk.