By the By: Birding in Box
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Size: 
(micro)
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The birdlife along the By Brook in Box inspired the theme of this multicache. We are not birders ourselves, but really enjoy the wildlife here, and glimpsing the blue flash of a darting kingfisher is a real possibility. There are a number of micro-style clues set along the walk to keep you entertained. You will need some very basic bird-identification skills, but don't worry - nothing too serious! The walk is circular (under 2 miles) and not too hilly, but can be quite muddy.
Welcome to a special interactive edition of Springwatch: Boxwatch. The programme editor (yours truly) has arranged a walk for you around and about the By Brook in Box. Hopefully you will enjoy the route, see some wildlife, and, of course, be entertained!
Each of the Boxwatch presenters has hidden a bird-related clue along the route. Your challenge is to find each clue and then use the Birding In Box Ornithological Translation Table (BIBOTT) below. Find the bird in the BIBOTT, then lookup up its corresponding digit. To make things more varied, each digit is associated with two birds - it just means we have a few more birds to choose from. The BIBOTT contains a mixture of birds that we have seen, heard, or read about in the By Brook area, with maybe the odd red herring (or should that be pink flamingo).
0 (a) Dipper, (b) Cuckoo.
1 (a) Treecreeper, (b) Grey Wagtail.
2 (a) Kingfisher, (b) Buzzard.
3 (a) Reed Bunting, (b) Owl.
4 (a) Nuthatch, (b) Woodpecker.
5 (a) Blackcap, (b) Mallard.
6 (a) Wren, (b) Robin.
7 (a) Blue Tit, (b) Heron.
8 (a) Wood Pigeon, (b) Moorhen.
9 (a) Cormorant, (b) Kestrel.
When you have spotted all the bird clues, you should have enough information to find the final hide.
If you haven't already discovered it, there is an additional bonus episode associated with "By the By". You might want to read through GC22CE0 "Bird Bath" before you set out for "By the By", to see if you want to tackle them both together. As you progress through "By the By", you will come across yellow Bonus Puzzles; the solutions of these will help you build up the clues for "Bird Bath", but they are not necessary to complete "By the By".
Please come prepared for this cache. Bring along: pencil, paper (please don't mark the original clue cards), ROT13 tool, camera (please upload photos of any wildlife), a reasonably clear head, and all your senses (including humour). Certain areas of this walk are often wetter than expected, so make sure you have sound footwear. There are also a few stiles to climb. And, oh yes, an extra bit of agility might be required halfway through!
The Boxwatch Props and Special Effects Department worked long and hard on parts of this episode! Hopefully everything is sufficiently robust, but if you could please not be too rough with your twitching, that would be most appreciated. Please do report any problems to the Production Team.
There is limited lay-by parking at the waypoint below. This gives the shortest walk to the starting point, but a waypoint for the large Box car park is also given below.
The posted coordinates for this cache give a starting point for your walk, at the head of a public footpath. NOTE: do not get distracted by the public footpath sign just past the lay-by/bus stop, since it marks a different footpath! Instead, trust the posted coordinates and follow the unmarked lane (towards "5-16-11"). Very soon, you will reach the coordinates and pick up the required footpath.
There is NO PHYSICAL CACHE at the starting coordinates, nor any other clue to find; instead, just pick up the public footpath signs there and carefully follow them through and past various properties until you come out into more open land, then head for the first physical stage at Packham's Place (he's the new bloke on Springwatch - yes, I had to look his name up too). From there, just keep following the clues that you find, and you will progress through all the presenters' hides.
Whilst planning this cache, we learnt some fascinating local history about the By Brook from our local parish magazine. Apparently in the 1920s and 30s, there was a Box Swimming Club that regularly met to swim in the By Brook, just upstream from Box Mill (now the recording studio). They used a wooden shed as a changing room, and even had a diving platform! Many children from the village at that time learnt to swim there, and there was an annual swimming gala. Try to imagine the scene as you wander beside this lovely stream!
Right, let's run the title sequence and start the show ... lights, camera, action!
[The original placement of the final stage was compromised mid-April 2010. The final has been relocated a short distance away. The need for limited agility midway round, mentioned above, may have to be recalled for the updated final! Also, the need for some stealth is emphasised. Dog muggles apparate at a moment’s notice around the site of the final. You might wish to think about your cover story in case of being caught mid-extraction; or better still, post a sentry or two!]
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Packham's Place - micro] Fgbar gur pebjf; gung jnfa'g fb uneq!
[June 2015: a field clue update] Jura lbh unir ernq gur Zhttyr Cbrz lbh arrq gb nzraq vgf pyhr: vafgrnq bs purfg vg vf abj urnq (be creuncf n yvggyr uvture); n irel zvabe gerr pyvzo vf erdhverq; vg vf fgenvtug nurnq bs lbh sebz gur abezny natyr bs nccebnpu.