Dear all
I'm the Great Coxwell-born person who house-sat Chapel House for a few weeks last year...
Today's article (link below) about very vocal nightingales in Kent reminded me of my one and only almost-nightingale experience at Badbury Clump, c1967-ish. Courtesy of postmistress Margaret Nias, wearing one of her many community hats as Brown Owl (?) in the village scouting/guiding group - and with several parents as back-ups - took a bunch of us village kids for an 'over-nightingale' excursion up to BC, where they were common at the time. I have no memory of actually hearing the birds but remember, in no particular order, sleeping bags and baked beans cooked in cans over a fire and the wonder of being out overnight. Set me up for a life of birding and camping and the wonder of being outside.
You might like to check out the recorded song below and, if you head up there, listen while you walk. Fingers crossed!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/30/rspb-cautiously-welcomes-slight-increase-in-uk-nightingale-population
All good wishes and hope to be back later in the year.
Virginia Jealous (born in Manor Cottage in 1960)
I'm the Great Coxwell-born person who house-sat Chapel House for a few weeks last year...
Today's article (link below) about very vocal nightingales in Kent reminded me of my one and only almost-nightingale experience at Badbury Clump, c1967-ish. Courtesy of postmistress Margaret Nias, wearing one of her many community hats as Brown Owl (?) in the village scouting/guiding group - and with several parents as back-ups - took a bunch of us village kids for an 'over-nightingale' excursion up to BC, where they were common at the time. I have no memory of actually hearing the birds but remember, in no particular order, sleeping bags and baked beans cooked in cans over a fire and the wonder of being out overnight. Set me up for a life of birding and camping and the wonder of being outside.
You might like to check out the recorded song below and, if you head up there, listen while you walk. Fingers crossed!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/30/rspb-cautiously-welcomes-slight-increase-in-uk-nightingale-population
All good wishes and hope to be back later in the year.
Virginia Jealous (born in Manor Cottage in 1960)
RSS Feed