First Ducklings and Moorhen Chicks of the Year

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My first sighting of a duckling this year was just a single one, accompanied by two parent ducks. It’s unclear what happened to the rest of the brood. When I returned two days later, there were two parent ducks in the same location — but the duckling had disappeared.

Nearby, a pair of moorhens had built a nest not far from the cycle track. It did not look the safest location.

Returning two days later, I spotted the two moorhens again — this time with five or six chicks, tucked away among the relative safety of the reeds. They weren’t easy to see, blending into their surroundings.

P.S. I am busy on a project for a few days so probably won’t get to do the blog for a few days. But if anybody sends me a report with pictures then I could use that.

Easter Shop Windows in Abingdon

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Several Abingdon shop windows have bright Easter displays.

Helen and Douglas House is crammed with plush toys — rabbits, chicks, and ducks peeking out from every shelf — alongside “Happy Easter” signs and a few carrots and eggs.

Breckon & Breckon features entries to an Easter colouring competition. This is just a small sample of all the carefully coloured springtime scene with bunnies, eggs, and butterflies.

In the window of the Book Store, Peter Rabbit and his mother hold some eggs. There is also a nest with some speckled eggs.

The most featured decoration in Abingdon’s Easter shop windows in 2025 appears to be rabbits.

Good Friday in Abingdon

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In Abingdon today, congregations from the town’s different churches began Good Friday in their own buildings before coming together for a united walk of witness. The procession moved solemnly down Bury Street, led by a man carrying a cross.

The Market Place was already busy with a Farmers’ Market.

So instead of gathering in the Market Place, the crowd assembled in nearby Roysse Court, where the Salvation Army band played hymns.

There were prayers, hymns, and reflections shared by speakers from various churches.

The Salvation Army speaker emphasized that the cross represents a message of love and forgiveness, uniting the churches in their shared faith.

The Old Bridge over the Stert

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John sent in this fascinating photo of the old bridge over the River Stert — a hidden route that links Clifton Drive to Boxhill Park through a gap in the hedge. He tells me he used the bridge many times but has no idea of its history. Perhaps someone reading this does?

One particularly curious detail: the large tree you can see in the picture isn’t just next to the bridge — it’s actually growing out of it. John describes it as quite extraordinary. And I agree.

There’s been some tree work nearby recently, with a number of trees felled along the riverbank, but the bridge itself appears neglected. John wonders why there’s no visible effort to preserve it. It’s not just a practical footpath, but a part of Abingdon’s history being slowly reclaimed by nature.

I know the Town Council manages Boxhill Wood, but I’m not sure who’s responsible for the bridge or this stretch of the Stert. If anyone has more information — perhaps about the bridge’s age, who maintains it, or what its original purpose might have been — John and I would love to hear from you.