Stonehill House is in the neighbouring parish of Drayton, but with a fence that runs along the south of Abingdon. There was an open day today, with a chance to view the extensive grounds and hear how the current owner would like to see them developed.

One of the guides taking us round said it was an excellent place to watch badgers, bats and deer, and there is a fine wild flower meadow. The sites of the badger sets were very clear to see.

The field separating the grounds of Stonehill House from Abingdon is the one that a developer is currently looking to build 160 houses. That would effectively mean that there would no longer be fields between houses in Abingdon and Drayton.

The owners have plans to create a community garden, and area of wildlife conservation on this site.  A representative from the Bridewell Organic Gardens charity near Witney spoke about how they would like to develop a therapeutic gardening project at Stonehill House – for people who have experienced mental ill-health difficulties.

There will be another Open Day, about May next year, to allow more local people to find out more about all the plans for the grounds of Stonehill House.

During the summer I could not walk to the field beyond Overmead in South Abingdon because of tangled vegetation.

Today I could and a deer stood there gazing at us before bounding away into the cover.

People living on Overmead probably see deer all the time but it made my day.

I was asked to judge the best picture on The Friends of Radley Lakes Facebook page – during September.

Before doing so I went for walk round the lake taking pictures. Most of the wildlife seemed shy and stayed at some distance apart from one swan who seemed very obliging –

following us round and hissing at Harry – once or twice.

Some geese came into land but the picture could have been better if I’d waited for the splash.

I got a grainy long range shot of a cormorant and a gull sat out on old tree trunks near the middle. The leaves along the bridleway had not yet reached their full autumnal glory. The day was overcast. So the three above are probably the best.

Take a look, if you can, and see what you like best from the Radley Lakes Facebook pictures dated September. There was an excellent couple of sunsets, and a number of close up pictures of wild life that must have required great patience and a good camera.

In the end I chose the baby long tailed tit. It was so cute. What do you think?

I am told that the Grebe’s nest on the Abbey Millstream was washed away last year, but this year two of the brood have survived.

There is a striking difference between the two parents. The hunter parent has stayed slim enough to dive deep after fish, and the other parent seems to have put on extra buoyancy to keep the nest afloat.

The Grebe young, with their zebra markings, also have very good appetites.