Welcome to Minchinhampton Walking and Wildlife Group

 Minchinhampton Common north side

The group was formed to share knowledge about the unique wildlife habitats in the parish of Minchinhampton and to enjoy the local environment in the company of like-minded people. We also monitor and investigate local habitats in conjunction with conservation organisations. Knowledge that we gain is shared on this website and by creating documented walks around the parish.

Also find us on Facebook.

 

A poetic report from our very local patch
As eggs in hedgerows begin to hatch
Above us skylarks are singing away
A pleasant diversion from the pandemic fray
Near Tom Longs we stumble on a larks nest
Seeing three eggs fills us with zest
Alas days later we lost our elation
As disaster struck in the form of predation
On feeders pretty long tailed tits still gather
Unaware of  social distancing palavah.
In the garden there are Tortoiseshells and Peacocks
On the early flora they run amok
And then Orange Tips and a Holly Blue
Its bright shade of colour as good as Kew
And then a bright Comma flashes through
Making our garden feel so new
A walk to Rodborough yields  Skipper and Hairstreak
Spotting the tiny latter is not for the meek.
And early purple begin to bloom
But in this heat they will be over soon
Primroses in profusion adorn this year
As we meander around people living in fear
Wood anenomies flower where once there was bracken
Clearance of scrub is so amazing to make things happen
No hirundines Tony, but across sky Buzzards dart
A sight that gives us humans great heart.
By Amberley church a Jay speeds by
Its cutting call a familiar cry
Laughing Green Woodpeckers in the distance heard
And Great Spotteds drumming are yet another bird
And then Speckled Woods spiral into the sky
We watch them go ever more high
On verges native bluebells and  Ladys Smock are seen
And on the Common Cowslips flower where drab winter had been
On the 16th, a green-winged orchid is seen
In its spot not far from the 11th golfing green
In the garden a Mouse and Vole are about
As to the type of Vole the jury is out.
In branches many Chiff Chaffs now softly call
Lovely to hear but oh so small
Then melodious bursts from a pair of Blackcaps
Spring is now truly on the maps
Not yet the downward trill of the Willow Warbler
Rest assured they will be just round the corner
Indeed, just a day after our meeting
At Little London, us they, in profusion, were  greeting
Hairstreaks again but alas no Dukes
In such wind, sighting would be a fluke
Tawny Owls calling are heard at night
A diversion from our human fright
So much to observe and more vividly so at this strange time.
Unsurprising then that some of us escape to rhyme.
Finally two lines to end from a local bard
W H Davies with a poem aptly entitled "leisure" plays his card

"A poor life this if full of care
We have no time to stand or stare"

Robert South - Performed on a  "Zoom" meeting 20 April 2020.

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Category: Poetry

The second brood Adonis Blues are around at present, and we have had our first sightings of Autumn Ladies Tresses. Fungi are starting to appear, including horse mushrooms (Agaricus arvensis) plus puff balls.

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Category: Ecology

Just go and have a look! (See my distribution map here.)

 Green Winged Orchid

Green Winged Orchids

 

 

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Category: Flora

The cold weather seems today to have brought in to our garden (Pinfarthings just below Minchinhampton Common) birds that we don't see regularly.  A flock of Redwings and a female and male Blackcap have been busy gorging themselves on ivy berries.  Fields around Cherington are holding localised  flocks of Fieldfares as is usual at this time of year. All nice to see.

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Category: Fauna

 

Celia and I were tipped off by a golfer that sometimes wintering Golden Plovers come up to Minchinhampton Common from the Severn Estuary towards  dusk, particularly when a high tide there limits their feeding. So, as it was a crisp sunny evening we parked at the Old Lodge and within 30 minutes a flock of at least 15 flew in to feed on the short grass between the Lodge and the Reservoir. They didn't seem to mind too much dog walkers, or golfers or even us. Sorry very poor image as only had my phone with me, in addition to binoculars! But nice to see nonetheless.

 

 

Details
Category: Fauna
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