The College today still plays host to a diversity of wild animals that make the parklands and rivers their home. Pigeons, ducks, rats, squirrels, and numerous songbirds can be seen and heard throughout the College grounds. A few rarer and larger beasts can also occasionally be glimpsed.
“Roe buck” by Steven Lavington, 2017
The College Fallow deer are not the only deer grazing our meadows. Wild roe deer, like this roe buck can occasionally be spotted on Addison’s walk. On occasion, roe deer will leap the fences to the water meadow and spend a few weeks in College.
“Heron” by Martin Cornish, 2019
The College’s waterways are home to numerous fish. This heron stands ready to make a quick meal of them, much like the early Fellows who captured fish on the Cherwell for their Lenten stews. The heron is a seemingly permanent resident, and can typically be seen waiting on the banks behind the New Buildings, or standing watch over Angel and Greyhound Meadow.
“Mallards in the meadow,” photograph by Steven Lavington, 2017
Besides pigeons, mallard ducks are probably the most frequently glimpsed birds on the College grounds. They are the most populous species of duck, and ancestor of most modern farmyard breeds. Here, two wild mallards rest amid the College’s famous fritillaries.
“Goosander, Fellow’s garden” by Steven Lavington, 2017
The goosander (or merganser) is a large, crested duck sporting a hooked bill for catching slippery fish. Here, two males and a female ply the Cherwell.
Muntjac deer
Oxfordshire is home to herds of muntjac deer, many of which are seen in the Water Meadow and Bat Willow Meadow. Originally from China, muntjac are considered an invasive species which can be traced to escapees from Woburn Safari Park over 100 years ago.
“Peregrine’s breakfast” by Steven Lavington, 2017
Magdalen is the occasional home to a mating pair of Peregrine falcons, a welcome addition to our menagerie which helps keep the pigeon population down!
“Otter in the Cherwell” by Martin Cornish, 2019
When the waters of the Cherwell are high enough, and if you have a quick enough eye, you can catch a glimpse of an otter gliding along in search of food. Most common to Oxfordshire are the Eurasian otter which were thought to be extinct in the UK in the 1950s.
“Kingfisher” by Steven Lavington, 2017
Kingfishers can be seen skimming the River Cherwell around Addison’s Walk and Magdalen Bridge. The slow moving and shallow waters make an ideal hunting ground for young hatchling fish in the spring and summer months.
“Swan” by Martin Cornish, 2019
Badgers are regularly seen by our College porters on the night cameras in Magdalen’s Grove and further afield in Addison’s Walk and Bat Willow Meadow; evidence of their nightly work sometimes frustrates our gardeners the morning after!
Magdalen’s ground are full of life throughout all four seasons. We regularly post videos and photos taken by staff, students and visitors to our social media accounts. Follow #magdalenmenagerie #deerdiary #followtheherd on Magdalen’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds.