Bird ringing and nest box checks on the Windrush Path

In February 2020, the Lower Windrush Valley Project put up 12 small bird nest boxes along the Windrush Path near Standlake, 6 open fronted boxes and 6 with a 32mm hole. The boxes were purchased using funds raised through a nest box adoption scheme and supported by Linear Fisheries. A further 5 wooden nest boxes were already present along the path.

In May 2021, we invited our nest box sponsors to join us making nest box checks and ringing any birds using the boxes. We were thrilled with the success of the new boxes - 97 chicks and 3 adults ringed as part of the British Trust for Ornithology ringing scheme.

Great tit chick

Bird ringing generates information on the survival, productivity and movements of birds, helping us to understand why populations are changing. This data makes a major contribution to the study of population changes and to our understanding of species declines.

We made a short video with photos and footage of our visits including a demonstration of fitting a ring. It can be viewed on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/DxvIQhp2SAc

Lower Windrush Valley Reptile Survey Group launches

We have recently received a grant from the Nineveh Charitable Trust to expand volunteer recording across the Lower Windrush and have now launched the Lower Windrush Valley Reptile Survey Group. Initially, ten volunteers have been recruited to survey four sites across the valley between April and October. These include Rushy Common nature reserve and three allotment sites.

Allotments have a diversity of habitats which is ideal for reptiles. Bare earth and debris provide plenty of basking spots; long grass provides areas to forage; and compost heaps provide somewhere to hibernate and lay eggs. Reptiles are generally active between March to October. Areas that will be particularly attractive to reptiles are:

•      Embankments and mounds

•      Logs, brash piles

•      Stoney areas with crevices eg. dry stone walls

•      Paths or clearings in denser vegetation

•      Edge of bramble patches and grassy areas

•      Compost heaps, grass cuttings

An online training session with Oxfordshire Amphibian Reptile Group (OxARG) took place on at the beginning of April and during the last week we have been laying down reptile refugia and familiarising the volunteers with their sites.  

We’ll use the records collected this year to help us select sites for future years and identify locations for habitat creation.

Juvenile Common lizard

Biodiversity opportunities in the Lower Windrush Valley

The Lower Windrush Valley supports a wealth of biodiversity and is identified in the draft Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Network as a priority area for habitat creation and restoration or ‘recovery zone’. A substantial area of the valley is also identified as requiring the highest level of biodiversity protection, management and enhancement or ‘core zone’.

The LWVP have recently published a review of biodiversity opportunities in the Lower Windrush Valley which used aerial photography and data held by the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre to produce valley-wide habitat maps. These maps, along with species data and specialist knowledge of the area, were used to set out objectives for key habitats and identify opportunity areas where activities to create, connect, extend or enhance habitats would be most beneficial. 

Phase 1 Habitat Map of the Lower Windrush Valley

The review will be used to direct the biodiversity and nature conservation elements of the LWVP strategy but a collaborative approach between landowners, minerals operators, local authorities and other organisations will be required in order to meet the objectives set out. 

Click the link below to view the full document on our website.

Review of biodiversity opportunities in the Lower Windrush Valley