It had been a week since schools finished for the summer break and "her indoors" had gathered the energy to join me for a walk. I'd recently added a circular walk to the list, from Lower Heyford to Northbrook Lock and back along the canal - it was a bit overcast, but no heavy rain was forecast.
On the way and as my wife hadn't ever seen one, we made a detour to see the little owls I visited recently. Even as we approached their favoured perching spot, we could already see an individual - an adult bird. We paused just for ten minutes and added views of a single juvenile bird.
From Station Road at Lower Heyford we set off from the car and headed up the slope alongside a hedge where skylark, dunnock, yellowhammer and reed bunting all showed. I kept an eye out for any corn bunting that might appear as I've seen them around here previously - I believe they are reasonably regular down this stretch and towards Caulcott.
We didn't find any on the first stretch but followed another hedge, stopping to look at a singing skylark on top of the barley crop and a roe deer beyond. We started forward but soon stopped as we spotted a bird flying towards and passed us; from the size it could only be a corn bunting. We watched with fingers crossed in the hope that it landed in view - it did! I took a few photos from where I stood then shortened the distance a couple of times to as close as I dared so as not to disturb the bird.
Along this stretch we counted a total of four individuals and were pleased with the views they gave us, probably my best - another first for my wife too!
We made our way passed the barns adding red kite and then buzzard to our list. Watching the buzzard rise further above the hedge line it was joined by a hobby - I snapped a couple of photos just to check that it wasn't a peregrine - it wasn't. To our right various species popped in and around some trees; most were common, but we were able to add spotted flycatcher. A pair of song thrush also sang to us as we passed.
We dropped down onto Northbrook Lock and walked back along the towpath. For much of the time we didn't see or hear any warblers but halfway back we picked out a sedge in the foot of a bush on the far bank. We watched it pause with food for what is presumably a second brood, soon crossing the water and into a bush on our side of the canal.
Rain passed through as a heavy drizzle and we paused briefly under a bridge; it lasted only a few minutes and we were back on our way. There was an obvious reduction in flying insects since my last visit, but a male banded demoiselle landed close enough for a record shot.
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