Balscote Quarry :: 27 & 28 February 2021

An early update on the Banbury Birders WhatsApp group announced the reappearance of a dark-hooded male brambling at Balscote Quarry. It was just what I needed - another excuse to take some more brambling photos!

I rocked up and found that there were many more gulls than I've been used to on the water - they appeared to be moving in from the floods on Ironstone Lane and I counted 125 black-headed and 18 common. On the remainder of the water little had changed from my previous visit.

I set about watching for brambling and soon had a female and a male, but not the dark hooded individual. It wasn't long though and there he was in all his glory.

Before heading off for a walk I had a look at my phone to see if there was anything else worth following up on. I heard close calls from a pair of jays and they appeared in the back of the bushes beside the road. To my surprise one hopped down and onto the ground ahead of me. What a treat!

A further visit from two red-legged partridge and three roe deer completed the day.

The following morning there were reports of a curlew and significant numbers of snipe at breakfast time. Unsure of whether we would be going for a walk I didn't get out straight away - by the time I got there the curlew was gone and most of the snipe had retreated back into cover. I did manage to see four, three of which were distant but visible.

Gull numbers continued to increase, even further than the previous day and I counted c325 black-headed gulls and c24 common gulls. At one point a green woodpecker attempted to land on "Steve's perch" but caught sight of me and diverted awy to my left - so close. It shows that a post positioned further down the slope would be attractive to the woodpeckers, and potentially other species, giving photographers a clear view. Steve Holliday has this in hand and it may be a job for when the work-party can get back on site after Covid restrictions are relaxed.

I was quite excited to see that there were now three female brambling showing at the same time, as well as two dark hooded and one paler hooded males. Knowing that there were at least one other paler hooded male would suggest that there are at least seven brambling visit at the moment. In fact, later in the day four females showed, as did three paler hooded males and so it is actually likely there are in fact nine!

I was just packing up to move on when a bird caught my attention. It was bright but smaller than the greenfinch in the same area in the bushes. When I focussed on it I found it was a male siskin - the first spotted on the reserve this year. With the sun beaming down it was another day promising spring is not far away.

Another afternoon off so I thought I'd take my exercise by Balscote again and see if I could connect with the redpoll, or even better the male merlin. Neither would come to pass. On arrival two pairs of older ladies were there, fully kitted out - two had walked up from Balscote and the other two were in a car. They all stayed for a while and so I generally kept my distance only pointing out the brambling to a couple as the four showed in the low sun.

There appear to be three moorhen now and the two little grebe are hanging on in there. There is still no sight of the stonechat that was on site at the weekend.

Under the feeders, a couple of red-legged partridge strutted while a third flew across onto the bank beside the Stratford Road. Later a mutjac deer appeared there briefly, as did a pheasant.

There is always one photo that makes you look a bit odd, even if you are a looker!

As the light faded, the number of linnet wasn't as high as it had been the day before and the Canada geese had made other arrangements - as I write it appears that 59 were counted at daybreak on the floods at Ironstone Lane. Kevin Heath appeared and while getting excited by a bird that tuned out (through his scope) not to be what he'd thought he picked out 4 lovely bullfinches (2m2f). Another two muntjac grazed on the opposite bank as we packed up and left.

Balscote Quarry :: 24 February 2021

It is into the last couple of months of our holiday year at work and so I took the afternoon off - I won't bore you with details. For today's exercise I made for Balscote Quarry and again dropped in on the Banbury Ornithological Society Reserve. Of particular interest was to see if I could connect with any lesser redpoll that had been seen over the last few days - a sighting of the merlin that has been passing through semi regularly would go amiss either.

Soon after arrival a single redpoll appeared on the ground and shortly after that a second turned up.

In addition there were first the two female brambling but these were joined by a male. Not much longer and two male brambling could be seen feeding, so four in all. This with 17 chaffinch, a handful of both great and blue tits, greenfinches, dunnock, robin, a coal tit and yellowhammer made for quite a sight.

From the viewing area we had c180 golden plover, about the same in jackdaw in the distance, 3 buzzard, 3 red kite, now up to 3 coot and 2 little grebe. Not to be outdone an increasing flock of linnet gathered and of those I could count at once I had a total of 54, but there would have been more. They way they adorn the trees and bushes looks like someone has decorated with imaginative leaves!

As it approached time to head home for dinner, an increasing number of Canada geese dropped in, eventually getting to 29. Despite best efforts no merlin though.

Species today (32) included: blackbird, blue tit, brambling, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, coal tit, coot, dunnock, fieldfare, golden plover, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, green woodpecker, greenfinch, jackdaw, jay, lesser redpoll, linnet, little grebe, magpie, mallard, pheasant, red kite, red-legged partridge, redwing, robin, teal, woodpigeon and yellowhammer.

Temple Pool :: 21 February 2021

After yesterday's earier start I didn't rush to get out as we'd decided to watch the Mens Singles Final at the Australian Open - unfortunately the wrong man won, but the correct result on the day.

It has been a whime since I ventured down to Temple Pool and as I set off I was pleased to find that, unlike most places I go, the ground wasn't a pool of mud. Walking down the slope I heard a jay ahead and to my right. I scanned the trees but instead of a jay I saw a sparrowhawk rise, fly along the treetops then across the field behing me. Looking against the sky it was difficult to see anything but a silhouette through the bins or the camera.

No sooner than it had crossed the trees on the other side, a jay followed it's path. Then another followed that. I stood watching the jays high in the trees when yet more calling jays came from the original source and I picked out two more. Multiple jays makes any day a good day.

Before I'd gone a further fifty steps a raven called to my right, from almost exactly the same location as the jays had started. I had to walk down the hill a bit further before I could see it atop a fir tree. I took a couple of photos and then it too passed overhead, followed by a second.

I crossed the horse training track and into the pool, taking up a position between the pillars of "The Temple". Two cormorants perched in a tree to the far left and a number of mallard cruised around two Canada geese floating on the water. A single moorhen crossed in front of me. I could hear nuthatches calling back out into the field and trees beyond but never caught sight of them.

The mallard appeared to get agitated and the majority took to the wing and departed. About 5 minutes later a small flock of ducks started circling and I presumed these were the returning mallard so didn't take too much notice. After five circuits they dropped into the pool and I could see they were in fact 7 mandarin ducks! I've had these here before but mostly when the trees provide more cover. After about 15 minutes they were spooked by an unseen adversary and they too departed, north west.

I started to walk back and my phone picked up some messages - the phone signal at the Temple appears to be 'intermittant'. I saw that a couple of redpoll had been seen at Balscote Quarry and so hurried up the hill, into the car and along to the viewing area. All too late to see the birds. I did see some nice shots from Iain Brown later and four were then see the day after. Perhaps I'll get the opportunity later in the week.

Balscote Quarry :: 20 February 2021

Six ruff had been reported in floodwater in the field on the corner of the A422 and Ironstone Lane, near Wroxton - this was as the light had receded last night. Just after sunrise I went looking for them only to find they had already departed. It took a little while to confirm this at there were c140 golden plover and c90 lapwing to work my way through - at least a couple of the pover had partial summer plumage. The flocks were nervous and took to the wing on a couple of ocassions, but for no observable reason - it gave me an opportunity to check for the odd man out, especially with the lapwing. In addition, there were black-headed gulls (6) and Canada geese (18).

A little disappointed, but not surprised, I decided to pop into Balscote Quarry to check that they hadn't relocated there. It was a nice thought but they hadn't. I stopped to see if the brambling would show and had views first of a male and then the paler of the two females I've seen.

The Banbury Ornithological Society Working Party have done good work on the reserve and a few months ago and have tried to make it easier for those wanting to take photographs. One initiative was to position a branch in the ground for birds to perch on but up until now I've never seen anything land on it. When I saw a robin there I couldn't resist taking a record to share with the team, if even slightly tongue in cheek.

At this point Steve Holliday arrived and set up his scope, almost immediately picking out the reserve's first moorhen and stonechat (m) of the year. He also mentioned a calling mistle thrush but this was never visible. There were numbers of linnet (14) in the bushes ahead, a flypast from c48 fieldfare and two raven. A great spotted woodpecker landed in the trees beyond the feeder area.

The finder of the ruff from the night before (Mike Prentice) turned up and Steve left to check the floodwaters again, later reporting c200 golden plover. The only other birds of note were three stock doves that landed in the trees beside the owl box.

Watching the bramblings we could pick out two males then two females, with all four present together at one point. A very pleasant morning - home for breakfast!

Farnborough CP :: 17 February 2021

A visit to the lakes by Farnborough Hall for a short exercise walk with her indoors. As was the case on Sunday, rain was forecast and so we couldn't hang around. We set out clockwise from the car park and onto the main lake, taking the left hand turn at the t-junction. As we turned, a mute swan hissed catching our attention - beyond a pair of goosander cruised over the water where only days before the surface was thick with ice.

Five teal fed at the far end, amongst a group of mallard. Passing the waterfall a small bird flitted around a bush and eventually showed as a goldcrest. Very mobile, it made it impossible for me to get a good shot and soon I gave up - frustrating as I usually get one when it is that close. Great to see it feeding so vigerously.

At the gate into the field leading back to the car park a nuthatch called above us and showed briefly. Back down the path to the lake we turned right, passing the goosander once again, this time further out across on the opposite bank. We continued on and round onto the opposite side, choosing the high path due to the muddy paths - another nuthatch called above us but we didn't get a view. After a couple of hundred metres we found a treecreeper which didn't appear to have any fear of being near us - perhaps the same one from Sunday.

A great spotted woodpecker drummed in the canopy above, eventually flying away from us. On the return we came across another calling nuthatch but it was likely the same one we had heard on the outward leg. We spun round and back along a path to the village and back again, just for the extra steps.

In the car we set off home only for the rain to start almost immediately.

Balscote Quarry & Farnborough CP :: 13/14 February 2021

It had been a very cold week with flurries of snow. The temperature on Saturday morning wasn't any higher at -4°C and said to be -10°C, accounting for wind-chill factor. Regardless I set off after an early breakfast to see if I could connect with the brambling at Balscote Quarry - recently I've not been early enough, or had decent light.

After a wait of about 10-15mins two brambling showed, both female. Yellowhammer, reed bunting and a host of finches fed around the feeding stations. A little while later a male appeared and spent some time in the bushes and on the ground, ocassionally disappearting for 10mins at a time.

Looking out across the bowl from the viewing area I spotted a muntjac deer feeding and then a green woodpecker in a tree - an odd view as I'm used to them being on the ground, on a post ot on substantial branches - it was perched on rather insubstantial twigs.

I took a few more photos of the brambling as two snipe flew over, followed by redwing and fieldfare. A rather attractive female reed bunting paused on a branch allowing a clear view.

Just before I headed off for a walk three red-legged partridge appeared - amazing patterns on the neck and breast. My feet were blocks of ice and the walk wasn't as far as I'd planned!

Sunday arrived and as it was Valentine's Day I didn't head out so early. The weather was cold but above freezing - a bit more wind though. I opted to visit Farnborough CP for a bit of a walk and found much of the lake water frozen. Nothing much of interest around on my first circuit until I passed the car park - there were 12 siskin briefly feeding in the treetops, but not for long. A muntjac deer fed on the verge of the road.

On the opposite bank I came across a very showy treecreeper that didn't seem to worry about how close it got, at one point being within the focal range of my lens!

A nuthatch called in the canopy above and I just caught sight of it as it left - damn. A red kite and three buzzard were being constantly mobbed by crows.

It was getting towrds lunchtime and I was thinking that it might not be too long before the rain that was forecast would arrive. I jumped in the car but stopped briefly as I left the car park to snal a buzzard sitting on the low branches of a tree on my right. Before I made it back to the main road the rain started. As I entered and passed through Banbury it was clear it had been raining there for some time.

Balscote Quarry & Souldern Wharf :: 06/07 February 2021

The weekend at last. It seems to take a whole week for these to come around!

I had some housework to do and so we didn't get out until after lunch. We wanted a bit of a walk but decided to pop our head into the Balscote Quarry viewing area before setting off. The brambling were a no show again, but this often happens in the afternoon. The nest of the species were yellowhammer (4), linnet (8), reed bunting (1) and 69 fieldfare almost all of which were in a single flock. There was a surprise coot amongst the mallard (10).

On the far bank were two roe deer, feeding under the hedge. Eventually they lay down for a rest - they were in no hurry.

Another couple turned up and was our prompt to leave. We made our way down to the village and then up the bridleway to Manor Farm. We came across a grey wagtail at the farm itself and in the field beside there were redwing (24). Nothing else other than the usual finches and tits.

The following day started fine but cold. A blocked drain ouside gave me something to do early doors and so again it was afternoon before I headed out. I parked by Souldern Wharf and made my way along towards Somerton Deep Lock. I soon came across wigeon (c.480), gadwall (12) and pintail (18). Some of the wigeon reported earlier must have moved on - Iain Brown had counted c.750 in the morning.

Moving on I had pied wagtail (4) with a single grey wagtail, then three more pied wagtail over. Meadow pipit (3) showed with one landing reasonably close on a barbed-wire fence.

Stock dove flew overhead as I appraoched Somerton. I walked back from Deep Lock but didn't add anything new.