route followed the lanes through Aston then turned onto a footpath which climbed westwards out of 

 the village. The flint wall at the start of the path was covered in lichens. Views opened up across the 

 Thames and over to the Chilterns beyond. A female Kestrel perched on a wire, before flying off. 

 Yellowish clumps of Mistletoe Viscum album could be seen in some of the big trees on the other side 

 of the river. A few plants were still in flower, including Dandelion, Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea, 

 Groundsel Senecio vulgaris, Daisy Bellis perennis, Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris and 

 White Dead-nettle Lamium album. The walk continued across the fields, skirted the edge of 

 Remenham Wood and then dropped back down towards the river. A number of Cormorants 

 Phalacrocorax carbo were roosting on trees above the water, a Buzzard Buteo buteo was circling 

 above the far bank and a few Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus were seen. About 30 Ring- 

 necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri were roosting and feeding in an ivy-covered hedge. Back at 

 Hambleden Weir, a Common Gull Larus canus was standing on a mooring post, with its greenish- 

 yellow legs and bill distinguishing it from the Black-headed Gulls L ridibundus on the adjacent posts, 

 which had red legs and bills. The final sighting was a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, which flew 

 overhead. 



I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the members who have led walks in 2012. Renee 

 Grayer provided detailed species lists and Rob Stallard has taken many of the photographs which 

 have been used on the Excursions section of the Society's website. I would also like to thank Chris 

 Bucke, David Cliffe, Julia Cooper and Rod D'Ayala for their contributions to this report. 



MID-WEEK WALKS 2012 



Chris Bocke, Martin Sell, Ricki Bull, Chris Ash, Jan Haseler, Julia Cooper, Ian Duddie, 

 Fred Taylor, Sheelagh Hill, Gordon Crutchfield 



18 January ■ ■ . 



On the damp but mild morning of 18"^ January, Chris Bucke led a walk which started from Tyle Mill, 

 followed the lane south to Sulhampstead then turned right onto the footpath towards Ufton Green and 

 Padworth. The land to the left of the path sloped uphill, while there were signs of springs down to the 

 right. There was a flock of about 10 Skylarks. One of the arable fields had a number of Musk Thistles, 

 mostly covered by spiders' webs. Another field had a selection of different plants in flower, including 

 Pineappleweed, Field Pansy and Red Dead-nettle. Samples of the stout and hairy Common Mouse- 

 ear and the more delicate Common Chickweed were taken for closer study in the pub afterwards. 

 Snowdrops were in flower at Ufton Green. The gravel pits near Padworth did not have a great variety 

 of water fowl, but sightings included a few Greylag Geese, Shovelers, Pochards and Great Crested 

 Grebes. The exposed bank of the River Kennet had a dark layer, which Chris explained was peat 

 which had formed behind a beaver dam in the distant past. Guelder-rose berries on bushes at the side 

 of the path were bright red, but rather shrivelled. After crossing the river at Aldermaston Wharf, the 

 route followed the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal back to the start. Fieldfares and Redwings 

 were seen in the bankside trees and big clumps of Greater Tussock-sedge were identified. A Kingfisher 

 flew along the canal and then perched in a bankside Hawthorn, showing its chestnut breast. Most of 

 the party then went to the Fox and Hounds at Theale for lunch. 



15 February 



It was mild but windy when Martin Sell led a walk at Churn on the Berkshire Downs on 15"^ February. 

 As the 15-strong party walked up towards the Ridgeway, singing Skylarks and Corn Buntings were 

 heard and there were big flocks of Fieldfares, Lapwings and Chaffinches. A Brown Hare was sitting up 

 in the middle of a field of winter wheat. It waited long enough for everyone to get good views, before 

 running away across the field. Highlights of the walk were 3 Short-eared Owls which got up from rough 

 grass next to the track, then settled on posts on a nearby fence. A herd of 11 Roe Deer was seen in 

 the middle of another big field of wheat, with some feeding and some lying down. The railway 

 enthusiasts were able to reminisce about their last journeys on the former Didcot to Newbury line, 

 whose route was crossed twice on the walk back to the cars. Everyone then went to the Red Lion at 

 Blewbury, where there was rather a long wait for lunch. 



14 



