Abbey Fishponds – February

Leave a reply

Abbey Fishponds
I returned to the Abbey Fishponds this morning for the monthly visit and it was below zero. Our garden thermometer showed -4 °C when I set out
Abbey Fishponds
The are plenty of birds and bird song despite the cold. They not only have the wild life area but there are also lots of surrounding gardens. I think this is a Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) but am happy to be corrected.
Abbey Fishponds
An area of sedge appeared to have been cleared and piled up since my last visit. Small streams crossed the area.
Abbey Fishponds
Crows were looking for food in the ground where it was not too hard.
Abbey Fishponds
Most of the ponds were frozen, and today the ice was solid enough to stand on.
Abbey Fishponds
The ice had embedded leaves and twigs.
Abbey Fishponds
There were quite a few blackbirds together on the ice near the bottom entrance and some of the males were squabbling. Why don’t they conserve their energy?

There were lots of chopped up trees and branches that could provide some cavities and shelter from the cold, possibly insects and food stores too.
Abbey Fishponds
Robins fluff up their feathers to keep themselves warm.

I was glad to get home with the modern convenience of central heating and warm up.

Icy Start

4 Replies

Icy Start
There was an icy start to the day with temperatures overnight of about -6. The river alongside Thames Street was frozen.
Icy Start
The remaining flood water on Hales Meadow (Abbey Vale Cricket ground) has also frozen over.
Icy Start
As has Rye Farm Meadow. Not enough to bear my weight.

Comments on facebook said that the cabin cruiser that had been attached to the long boat on Nags Head Island came adrift during the floods.

Footpath to Shippon

3 Replies

Wildmoor
Nowadays an old wooden style near the Wootton Road roundabout makes one end of an old right of way between garden fences. The footpath bypasses the obsolete style, and may have previously gone further.
Wildmoor
The path is behind the houses of Bourlon Wood, one of a number of roads in this area named after WWI battlefields. It also passes an area of green, half of which is surrounded by a fence with a notice saying ‘No Dogs’. There is no play equipment.
Wildmoor
The right of way comes out near a footbridge over the A34 that heads over to Shippon. Crossing the Copenhagen Drive can be difficult at this point as it is part of the Abingdon outer circular way.
Wildmoor
The footbridge also connects Abingdon to the Wildmoor Allotments, owned by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council.
Wildmoor
I believe the council lease the allotments from a local farmer.
Wildmoor
The footpath runs between fields
Wildmoor
and comes out on the drive of Stowford House Care Home in Shippon on the Faringdon Road.

The Faringdon Road connects Shippon and Abingdon by way of a bridge over the A34 and Copenhagen Drive.

Developments near Dunmore Road

15 Replies

work in North Abingdon
Stuart let me know that work is beginning on a second field in North Abingdon. The site entrance has been started at the field between the Dunmore Road and the Oxford Road. This field is part of a larger development for 900 dwellings and 50 retirement homes, together with a local centre.
work in North Abingdon
Work has also begun on widening entrances to the Dunmore Road / Wootton Road Roundabout.
work in North Abingdon
This is being done as part of the development of 200 houses between Dunmore Road and Wootton Road.