Wildlife in South Hinksey

Mammals

Two species of deer are commonly encountered within the Parish and these comprise the small Chinese Muntjac and the larger Roe. They can often be seen feeding in the pasture areas closer to the by pass during the day and at night they regularly roam around the area including entering many private gardens on Hinksey Hill.  They mainly inhabit the extensive Bagley Wood where breeding is recorded and are known to regularly attempt to traverse across the Hinksey Hill Interchange roundabout to reach the lower flood plains. The A34 has therefore had an adverse effect on deer movement and kills on the slip roads are periodically encountered

Foxes are fairly common although rarely seen during the day and Badgers are also present. There is a well-established badger sett in the woodland adjoining the west side of the golf course and they are also regularly seen in the vicinity of Bagley Wood. No provision has been made for badgers to reach the lower flood plain under the A34 during the road construction.

Rabbit and hare both occur throughout the parish and established rabbit warrens can be seen on the golf course between fairways 3 and 7. Moles also occur both on the golf course and in larger gardens of houses on Hinksey Hill.

 Birds

A good number of resident, migratory and summer visitor birds have been identified in the parish..

The water environment attract certain water species such as Canada Goose, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard who all breed in the vicinity and these areas are regularly visited by Heron, Mute Swan, and Rails. Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting breed in the reeds of Harcourt Wood and Chilswell Valley and the Cuckoo predates on such warblers and is always present in the golf course area during the summer months. A pair of Buzzards are regularly seen over Harcourt Wood and Kestrel hovers over the A34, Sparrowhawk is a frequent resident and in the vicinity of Bagley Wood such woodland birds as Jay, Marsh Tit, Long tailed tit, Nuthatch, and Great-spotted Woodpecker are common.

Garden birds such as Starling, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin are much in evidence. In the hedges dividing the arable fields Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Dunnock nest and flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing visit during the winter to feed on the berries. Pheasant, Grey and French Partridge are resident ground nesters and Swallow and House Swift nest in the farm buildings.