Down the Okavango

Had a quick walk around Foulden Common last week, much transformed by what one hopes is officially sanctioned management work in what was once the impenetrable swampy centre – now mown and with rides cut across it, which will hopefully restore botanical diversity and perhaps help former breeding birds like snipe to return. Saw a buzzard and a sparrowhawk, flushed a single woodcock and at least two snipe. Several hares enjoying the new rides, too.

 New-style Foulden Okavango - now possible to walk across the middle of the bog...

The clearance has opened up watercourses that were probably choked before by overgrown vegetation. Snipe were busy feeding alongside this stretch.