Cleeve Hill Common & RSPB Otmoor :: 27/28 November 2021

Travelling for work has been a part of life over the last three decades but the last 18 months have been a great break from it all. It had to come to an end, and so I spent the last week working in Spain, with extra hurdles to the usual ones; Spanish Health Certificate, Covid Vaccination Certificate, a medical to enter the factory, passenger locator form for the return flight and a Day 2 Covid test (clear). I keep testing but am glad I can now get outside and do a bit of birding.

Saturday started cold, windy and snowy. I decided to stay in and read while the rest of the family were still in bed. They passed through one by one, but all made for the warmth of the duvet once more. By lunchtime my phone pinged to say that the snow bunting, seen by my birding mate Kevin Heath the previous day, was still there (Cleeve Hill Common). I packed away my lunch plate, pulled on a fleece and set out.

The snow wasn't bad around Banbury but became increasingly dense as I passed Stow-on-the Wold. The route to Cleeve Hill is well known to me as I used it so many times when commuting back and forwards to the Alcan Rogerstone site just outside Newport, until it closed in 2008. I pulled off, made my way through Whittington and along the lanes - there were continuous explosions of redwing and fieldfare from the berry trees lining the lane. I met a few cars coming the other way and used a number of passing places to negotiate up to the car park. Pulling in and leaving the car it felt like a barren wilderness - snow lay all around, the wind speed was circa 40 mph and it felt Baltic (Artic if not from Scotland!). Bizarrely the car park was full and people appeared to have chosen to come here to walk their dogs and families – absolute madness. I pulled on my walking boots, coat and gloves and set off to the Dew Pool where the snow bunting had been reported. The ground was covered in snow and the wind blowing across me - a rather friendly dog danced around me and seemed to be content in leaving it's walker behind - eventually another call and I was left alone to close the distance.

I arrived to find a chap photographing and as I joined him, he commented how well the bird was showing - I hadn't seen it yet and scanned the fence and area ahead only to find it was already really close and I'd been looking way too far in front. I snapped off a couple of photos just in case it left and then I settled on a spot as the other chap left. I was buffeted by the wind but did get spells when standing up wasn’t my focus. It wasn't long before I had a few shots that I thought might turn out well and I stopped and stood to enjoy the bird as it fed. Another birder joined me, but I soon decided to retire to the car as I'd lost the feeling in my fingers. I sent a WhatsApp message to Kevin with a photo off the back of the camera and commented that although he'd seen it first, I had a photo of a snow bunting in the snow.

I warmed up and set off back home, happy that I'd been successful. The explosions of redwing and fieldfare from the berry bushes repeated plus I spotted a few flocks of red-legged partridge and finches; one of the finches could be identified as a female brambling, even from the car.

That evening I chatted with Kevin and we tried to decide between a trip to RSPB Otmoor to see the two red-breasted geese or Milton Keynes to see the black redstart (f). Kev was really keen on the redstart and so we met at the Esso petrol station at 7.45am and made our way there. We were parked up by 8.30am and started working our way around the sites specified on Birdguides and on the Bucks Birding WhatsApp group. After a couple of hours we'd not had a sniff of the bird (although rather a nice view of a male sparrowhawk) and we returned to the cars for a coffee. Kev noticed that there was water pooling under his car and it seemed to be a leak - he decided to make the sensible choice and make his way home so as not to get stuck a distance from home. The question was what I was going to do for the remainder of the morning. I thought about Pitsford Water, Summer Leyes and Boddington Reservoir but decided on Otmoor - It would take an extra 10 minutes to drive to but would then be closer to home for the return.

I arrived and soon met Dan and Trish Miller who informed me that the red-breasted geese were very far from the Wetland Hide across Ashgrave and that I'd need a scope to have any chance of seeing them. I accompanied them back to the car park and collected my scope - they also lent me £10 and I purchased a "The Birds of Otmoor" book from the author Peter Barker. We said our goodbyes and I set off again.

At the hide I scanned the distant geese but couldn't find the target birds. After a while I decided to walk along the bridleway and see if there was any vantage point I might get a better view from but couldn’t find one. In the ditch between the bridleway and Ashgrave I came across a skulking water rail, but it reached cover before I managed to get the camera prepared. I returned to the hide to give it another go.

After about 20 minutes I locked onto the birds and watched than as the came in and out of view, hundreds of meters away. I took a few record shots and hoped than one would allow the bird to be identified. A great opportunity to see such a rare visitor - possibly an escapee but as the great Lee Evans said in a recent Tweet: "Part of an arrival, all with Barnacle Geese, with this or another at Port Meadow (Oxford) and two together at Otmoor RSPB. Not necessarily escapees, as Red-breasted Geese are known to mingle with Barnacles, but most likely from Holland.". Good enough for me.

Hinton Airfield :: 13 November 2021

The Banbury Ornithological Society monitors bird life in the twelve 10km squares surrounding Banbury which includes parts of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. As well as Banbury, the area cover Bicester, Brackley, Byfield, Chipping Norton, Kineton, Hook Norton, Bartons, Tysoes and locations in between. One of the regular birders John Friendship-Taylor had reported merlin from the Hinton Airfield site, likely two different individuals. I met up with Kevin Heath for a wander round.

Despite the weather forecast of heavy cloud cover, it was due to stay dry; although it didn't rain, there were periods when we were sure you could feel moisture in the air. We set off along the perimeter hedgerow, picking out the usual tits and finches, meadow pipit and skylark over, but also lots of fieldfare and redwing. We reached a field beyond a barn and were watching fieldfare, redwing, yellowhammer and chaffinch on the ground when a flock of c75 golden plover were spooked into the air; at the same time a hare was flushed and it exited stage right. The golden plover dropped behind and to the right of the main mixed flock.

We watched the mixed flock as they fed, trying to pick out something unusual but could only add reed bunting. On a couple of occasions, they were flushed by an unseen adversary and made for the trees. On one of these occasions Kev pointed out two birds on a side branch that looked more interesting - we decided that they were likely brambling and on reviewing some photos it was confirmed - there were probably more but we couldn't pick them out easily at this distance.

A flock of 250+ linnet took to the air and relocated on a few occasions, a small number also landing in the distant trees as they passed. In the hedgerow, running away from the back of the barn, a couple of roe deer watched us watching them.

We continued on seeing buzzard and kestrel but no merlin. There were still plenty of fieldfare, redwing, and finches as we went. We turned to head back towards the runway and were unfortunately joined by two dog walkers - that put paid to any hope of spotting birds on the ground - another group of dog walkers came from the opposite direction too. At the runway we looped back towards the barn and picked out mistle thrush and meadow pipits in trees on the next hedgerow but another dog walker passed us in the field we had hoped to scan.

Reaching the barn we had a look but couldn't add to our earlier species count and decided to make for the cars and a coffee, encountering another dog walker as we did so. We sat on a log and watched distant magpie, buzzard, sparrowhawk and kestrel - the kestrel giving a rather attractive if distant display, swooping to and fro. Skylarks displayed in front and behind, a handful at a time. An array of light aircraft took off over our heads, the first containing some mad people looking to jump out, a private small aircraft and then a plane towing a glider.

Finished with no merlin but had a nice morning out.

New Hampden, Bucks :: 06 November 2021

We headed down to Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire with up to five hawfinch being reported there from the middle of the week - there had been a suggestion four had flown off, and only one was seen on Friday - perhaps coincidentally four were recorded down the road at Steps Hill ...

We parked by St Mary Magdalene Church and set out to where a pin had been dropped on a map by an observer the previous day. The wind was fortunately not cold, and the jays and pheasant kept us company. We had limited views of birds in the hedge and trees beyond and tried to leave space - we were a bit confused by the information of the birds being in hornbeam - although there were two trees, they both seemed unlikely spots - we watched and waited regardless. After a while we circled round and came across red kites, kestrel, a large flock of chaffinches, and of course more jays.

After an hour and a half we thought we'd expand our search and went for a look along a footpath through the woods. Almost immediately we had a goldcrest above and could hear nuthatches to our right. Other than a few tits and a wren we found little bird life in the wood.

We reached the opposite side of the wood and looked down the slope seeing two flocks of doves, red kites, buzzards, three black-headed gulls and a few pheasants; in a very distant hedge there was also a roe deer. Being a ‘fun guy’, I like seeing fungi when I am out walking at this time of year - I was pleased to come across some very large bracket fungus on a tree on this side of the wood - I climbed onto a fallen moss-covered trunk and took a photo out into the valley.

We returned through the woods and back to look at the hornbeam once more - no joy. We turned back to the cars to grab a coffee but just short of the gate to the cars we stopped to watch redwing feeding in the yew and had three nuthatches (and three jays) pass through. A couple of horse riders talked to us as the made their way down the path and, as they opened the gate to Hampden House, a couple of birders came through the other way. It took just a few tens of seconds to find out we'd probably been looking in the wrong place - we followed them along the footpath, across a field, and through a copse. On the other side we stopped and viewed another copse which is apparently favoured by the hawfinches (crucially containing a hornbeam) - we spent about half an hour around here before the other birders moved on and left us to our vigil.

Another ten minutes passed and there was sight of any birds arriving or leaving the copse and so we decided to make tracks. Kevin Heath got the edge of the trees when I noticed a bird high in the branches above … very high above. A quick look through my bins and I called him back- it was our bird! We took a few photos and were joined by a young lad that said he had taken up birding recently and had come to see the hawfinch - but didn't have any bins himself. The bird was silhouetted against the sky and so we popped to the other side of the trees and took a few from there for good measure. Another couple of birders (we presume husband and wife) appeared to join the views. A further ten minutes passed, and the bird eventually dropped down into the hornbeam at the end of our copse and out of view.

We said our goodbyes and eventually got back to the cars for our long overdue coffee break - we watched redwing, fieldfare, jays again, and finches as we chatted and walked around the church. It was getting towards lunchtime and so made our way back to Banbury happy with our mornings work.

RSPB Otmoor :: 31 October 2021

This Sunday afternoon turned out to be clear and Kevin Heath suggested we pop down to RSPB Otmoor to watch the murmuration and hopefully see some raptor action. A short-eared owl has been seen intermittently around the site and would be a Brucie Bonus.

After the heavy rain of the last few days we were pleasantly surprised that the paths were relatively clear of puddles and the work done by the volunteers on the paths meant we weren’t marching through mud - a great job. From the bridleway we could see marsh harrier hunting on the far side of Greenaways, but not much else. We pressed on to get to the First Screen.

We were the only people at First Screen and so took up residence looking across the reedbed. There were regular passes from marsh harrier albeit as distance and a couple of kestrels were moving around the area, stopping to hover and very occasionally dive to catch their prey - it didn't appear they'd been successful as the simply reset and tried again.

Two snipe were in view on the island uncovered since the water level dropped but throughout our visit, they moved no more than a foot - one not at all.

Gradually a few starlings passed through, and we wondered if we would be in the right spot for tonight’s event. By around 4.30pm some of the small flocks started to combine and numbers grew. A sparrowhawk and peregrine could be seen working around the edge of the visible reedbed but didn't appear to be directly chasing the flock. Once the flock had reached a size that started to show waves as they turned, we had a couple of close passes and they started to pile into the reeds to our right. Another flock started to form from newly arrived birds and the pattern started again. We went outside to the hard standing next to the screen - a small number of people did the same. Out in front a hen harrier appeared and started cruising across the back of the reedbed and then out to our left. Never in a hurry it cruised around, in front, behind and within the starling murmuration - the peregrine could again be seen but neither the harrier nor the peregrine seemed to be actively attacking the swarm.

Flocks of starling came and went, dropping into the reeds to our right but also into the hedgerows to our left and far out ahead. They must make a picture with a thermal imaging camera - I took a photo through a dip in the reeds of the starling density.

Despite a rather broken murmuration it was a very enjoyable sceptical and we were very pleased that the hen harrier had turned up and given us at least distant views. While there was any remaining light, we made for Greenaways to see if we could connect with the short-eared owl but had no luck. An unexpected afternoon out and a great way to end my holiday week.

Earls Barton & Balscote Quarry :: 30 October 2021

A juvenile osprey had been photographed on Friday and so a visit to Earls Barton was a must on Saturday morning. The rain was an inconvenience. We walked up and down the Nene Way but couldn't find any sign of the osprey. Calling Cetti's warbler, stonechat, redwing and a barn owl that had perished gave the walk interest, but we left disappointed. At least the weather had improved through the morning.

It was crushing to see photos and hear of the bird showing again, fishing in the same spot the following day.

The weather had improved substantially and so when Charlotte said she had a tennis match in the afternoon I resolved to visit Balscote Quarry to see how the water level had changed. Arriving I could see Mark Ribbons’ car at the site entrance, but there was no sign of Mark. I looked out across the reserve and could see four snipe down at the sand martin tower, but little other species than pied wagtail on the basin below.

I decided to focus on the feeder area and soon there was something to photograph - two female brambling. Enjoying them for a short while they were then spooked by the arrival of six pheasants, one a beautiful white specimen.

Mark appeared with his son on the opposite side of the basin making their way across to the sand martin towers. Posting on WhatsApp they said that they'd also seen the snipe but also a grey partridge. The maintenance work he posted later was fantastic to see - we will all benefit from it over the winter months. As he and his son worked on clearing bushes from the quarry wall a lone hare dashed across the basin, briefly pausing to look back at the workers.

I was treated by a great spotted woodpecker as it dropped out of a tree onto the nut feeder. It fed happily and spent a few minutes with me despite the sound of saws beyond.

Before leaving I was startled by a sparrowhawk tearing through the feeder area and out across the basin. It all happened so fast that I didn't bother with a photo as I'd just have a picture from behind. A very nice hour in the sun and a contrast to earlier in the morning.

Rutland Water, Frampton Marsh and Snettisham :: 26-28 October 2021

We set off from home mid-morning, aiming to arrive at Rutland Water for midday and an early lunch; we'd taken a packed lunch and so didn't get to the Egleton Reserve Visitor's Centre until we'd eaten. Looking through the screen we saw a jay departing the feeder area - the only bird we saw at the feeders then and when we passed at the end of the day.

We headed for the lagoons to the north and saw no species of note as we went. Arriving at the Redshank Hide we noted there were very few birds showing but did pick out a distant curlew. A few teal and mallard flew in and out and a few black-headed gulls darted around in the wind.

There was little more of interest on Lagoon 2 and so we moved onto Lagoon 4, stopping in both Sandpiper and Dunlin Hides. There were wigeon on the water but the noteable species were two Egyptian geese and a flock of golden plover resting amongst lapwing. Occasionally the lapwing and goldies would take to the wing but there was never any sign of a raptor that may have spooked them.

We hung around for a while, moved to the Plover Hide, but failed to add anything extra. We crossed to Bittern Hide and thankfully picked up three black-tailed godwits sleeping out in the bay. A distant great-white egret disappeared into the reeds and a dozen or so pochard fished in a tight group. Moving down to the Shoveler Hide didn't raise anything special but gave a different view of the blackwits. Down passed Buzzard Hide we met a group of three birders coming the other way who suggested we continue on as there were a number of great white egrets showing. We reached the Crake Hide and found there were indeed nine great whites fishing together.

One or two of the great white egrets were mobile and often there were fewer fishing together, still a spectacle. We watched a comical little egret beside a small waterfall – it appeared to be hoping for its lunch to be delivered over the falls.

We searched around the remainder of the reserve but couldn't add to the 39 species recorded. We set off to Oakham to pick up some food for the following days lunch and then made for the restaurant we'd booked for dinner; it was on the way to Holbeach where we would stay for the next couple of nights. Charlotte chose a main course of chicken and leek pie and we were astonished by the size of the pastry portion. Arriving at the hotel we arranged for an early breakfast to allow us to set out for RSPB Frampton Marsh to arrive by sunrise.

Fed and watered we arrived at Frampton Marsh just after sunrise as the traffic was heavier than we’d anticipated. We made our way directly to the sea wall and discovered quite how windy it was - we hoped this wouldn't affect our main mission of seeing the regular short-eared owls. In front of us we could see redshank, curlew, gulls, lapwing, marsh harrier and had skeins of brent geese over. After about 40 minutes our friends the Heath’s from Banbury appeared, having travelled up in the early hours. We all waited patiently for what we hoped would be the main event.

Behind us we could spot dunlin, redshank, black-tailed godwit and to our far right we had three avocet. At one point we hoped we'd seen a curlew sandpiper but couldn't be sure at distance. For a period, the geese passing over changed to pink-footed and 500+ were noted. Despite our best efforts and at high tide, there was no sign of any short-eared owls (or a hen harrier for that matter). Eventually we made our way back to the cars for an early lunch and to gain some respite from the wind. On our way we were chatting about possible raptors that may hunt in this area - I mentioned that I'd seen a peregrine here on my previous visit and almost as soon as the words left my lips, a peregrine appeared and flushed many of the birds into the air.

After lunch we decided to walk around the perimeter of the site. Hen harrier, stonechat and calling bearded tits enticed us to target viewpoints listed by the wardens. Needless to say, we didn't connect with any of these species but were glad that much of the route was out of the wind onto the coast. We approached the East Hide and came across a new viewpoint that had been created in the last few weeks, immediately spotting good numbers of waders. We added grey plover to our list and had better showings of ruff, dunlin, redshank, snipe and black-tailed godwit. One of the RSPB wardens appeared and asked if he could take a photo of us using the viewpoint for the day's Twitter update (photo courtesy of RSPB Frampton).

The new viewpoint was a hit and gave us some of our best views of the day. From the East Hide we had views of dunlin, the ruff we'd seen earlier, a kestrel resting in the shorter grass out front, and more brent geese - we didn't stay very long. Climbing the sea wall we searched for the hen harrier seen earlier in the day. The wind hadn't relented any and we soon turned back choosing to retrace our steps and make for the Reedbed Hide. We were pleased to connect with stonechat on the way.

From the Reedbed Hide we could see what appeared to be a greenshank and had clear views of dunlin and significant numbers of ruff (25+), one ruff sporting a completely white head. As we watched the assembled waders, four pintail appeared, with one trying to improve its looks by wearing a mud face mask.

We finished up at the hide and decided to call it a day. Getting close to the Visitor Centre a raptor shot passed and we prayed for the merlin that has been seen reasonably regularly - we had to make do with a sparrowhawk. We were surprised at the lack of concern from the birds around the reedbed.

We reached the cars, had a chat, and said our goodbyes to the Heaths. We made our way back to our hotel and prepared for our meal out before getting an early night - we'd be up and off in the morning to RSPB Snettisham.

We arrived and parked up in the RSPB car park at Snettisham acquiring a 'Member's" ticket to record our visit (as instructed on the ticket machine). We then followed a stream of people that had arrived at the same time as us, out onto the beach - the walk was much further than we had anticipated. Large numbers of shelduck were immediately visible (c150 in the group directly ahead). Golden plover regularly took to the air and curlew circled in ones and twos. A flock of oystercatchers with knot were off to our right but we decided to investigate later.

Working along the beach we spotted turnstone, dunlin and black-tailed godwits. At the hide we stopped to see if anything would happen as high tide arrived but, with such a low rise in height, nothing kicked off. At the end of the beach, we turned and saw our first grey plover and then as we made our way along, we saw more and more. There were also three little stints out amongst the dunlin.

Before heading back to the car we made for the oystercatcher flock and were happy to see knot and bar-tailed godwit amongst them.

It had been a great few days and such a change to be away home. Makes you want to do it again ...