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.

Wroxton & Nether Worton :: 31 January 2021

After rain and sleet on the Saturday we decided to make the most of our exercise walk. We opted to try for a kingfisher in a pool by Wroxton College - the grounds still being closed to visitors. We waited by the pool but we had a no show - even the regular goldcrest by the gate were absent. It was cold but the dampness made it feel even colder - feet were feeling like blocks of ice and so we walked back up the hill, through a flock of sheep. I suggested taking a path back out across the field to our right but Charlotte asked that we keep heading back and have a walk around the village instead. Just as well she did as we soon came across two distant jay, and then a nuthatch just before the gate to Dark Lane.

We continued up the hill along Dark Lane adding goldcrest and coal tit, eventually reaching the school. We continued away from the college and spotted a small flock of what appeared to be goldfinches in the trees to our left. On inspection they turned out to be lesser redpoll - Charlotte had played a blinder!

After lunch I decided that I hadn't had much of a walk and so went to try a section of a route that I'd set up on OS Maps, around Nether and Over Worton. I set out and spotted a group of c.4 buzzard in a field ahead - it was beyond my turn up to Over Worton but I thought I'd have a look. Having crossed the brook I peered round the hedge and counted 24 buzzard and 2 red kite in a single field. There was also 74 starling and 12 lesser black-backed gulls. On the bridge back over the brook a female sparrowhawk passed over, in hot pursuit - it lost the bird and circled round and away.

Heading back to my route I heard a goldcrest call. I watched it feed on flies, showing well. 63 fieldfare in broken flocks passed over.

On the climb up the slope another red kite cruised by. On reaching the church I watched as two raven called loudly from the treetops. I waited until they moved on, making my way through the churchyard and down the hill.

In a field on my left and over a ridge, a small flock of 16 redwing fed on the ground. Over a couple of stiles and onto a very wet field - each step picked up more sticky mud on my boots. The route I'd picked up didn't match the path and so I'll have to update my routing map. A grassy field to finish helped remove some of the mud. Shortly after arriving home the rain started again.

Aynho - Souldern Wharf :: 22 January 2021

I'd taken the morning off as it was my birthday and sun was forecast - I hoped to make the most of the day, as going out for a meal isn't an option these days.

I headed for Aynho Wharf and parked up outside the Great Western Arms, making my way onto the canal towpath and towards Souldern Wharf. A single yellowhammer flew overhead.

House sparrow, blue and great tits all fed from feeders along the path, placed by the canal-boat residents. A few black-headed gulls made merry in the floodwater and a pair of wigeon could be seen from here, one atop a post and presumably taking a rest from the freezing cold water.

A few redwing heard me coming and took to the wing, and a flock of rook spun around and into distant trees. I eventually reached an area where the canal was higher than the footpath and the water spilled across an into the ditch beyond. I was considering what to do when I heard a couple of calls from the field to my right - I wasn't sure what it was and decided to go have a look - climbing a fence and jumping the stream. While there another birder came in the opposite direction - it turned out to be Mike Pollard. He relayed that he'd seen c450 wigeon, gardwall and some pintail - the latter were distant and probably out of camera range. He swiftly crossed the water spilling from the canal and shouted that he'd chosen the wrong route and it was quite deep.

I made my way back onto the footpath and decided to have a go at crossing, using the hawthorn on the right to balance - this was mostly successful but I have the scars on my wrists and hands to remind me of that! While my boots were wet, my feet weren't.

I plodded along and the footpath stayed clear of further water ingress. I came across the wigeon, gadwall and started to locate pintail - eventually I could separate 11 individuals.

I'm amazed that these pintail turn up in the floodwater each winter - I saw them at the same time last year.

On the return journey I came across a single overwintering chiffchaff, my first of the year, and a flyover jay. I crossed the ford and added to the scars - my boots are still damp from the experience. To add to an earlier great spotted woodpecker I heard (perhaps the same bird) I heard one drumming in the distance.

At the car I spotted a grey wagtail above the front door of the Great Western Arms. It hopped onto the wing-mirror and then roof-bar of a parked car then out over the canal.

Sightings included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, buzzard, carrion crow, chiffchaff, cormorant, gadwall, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, grey wagtail, house sparrow, jay, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, pied wagtail, pintail, redwing, robin, rook, starling, wigeon, woodpigeon, wren and yellowhammer.

BOS Balscote Quarry :: 16/17 January 2021

We didin't want to join the parade of "walkers" around our estate and park so elected to walk the paths and lanes around the Balscote / Alkerton area. We parked up at the BOS Balscote Quarry and popped in to see if the brambling was showing - no such luck. We walked down the road, around Balscote and back up to the reserve.

In the field opposite the entance, we had 52 fieldfare and 16 redwing. Accompanying them we had a flock of finches feeding in the scrub. I picked out a few goldfinches but the majority of what I saw were linnet - the flock must have been 100+ strong but I couldn't say precisely what proportion the linnet were, but estimate almost double the number I have seen coming to roost - so closer to 80 than 40.

We did the same the following day and found that 'Mark Ribbons and Son' were undertaking some reserve maintenance. They had previously removed buddleja from the stone cliff at the road end, hoping that this may entice sand martins back into the area by making it more "cliff"-like. They had returned to clear the cuttings and do some maintenance on the nest boxes.

We decided to walk the other way and alongside the active quarry works on the Alkerton Road (onto the public right-of-way, not seeing many species but had both fieldfare and redwing over. A buzzard landed ahead of us at various points and made hard work of looking elegant.

We circled round and back to the reserve. I popped in again and was lucky enough to spot a brambling in the scrub below the hedgeline. It didn't venture out and eventually Mark and his son, plus Dylan Parry-Davies appeared, at which point the birds scattered. I chatted briefly (socially distanced of course) and the jumped in the car to head home.

Balscote Quarry :: 09 January 2021

With Lockdown 3.0 in progress it was a day to stay local. I decided to integrate a drop-in to Balscote Quarry into my daily exercise and on arrival found Iain Brown already in residence. We socially distanced and he let me know that he'd already had jay before I arrived but not much was about - to be fair there wasn't much to see as the water below was completely shrouded in fog.

Before he left he picked out red-legged partridge beyond the feeder area and shortly after they decided the coast was clear to break cover; there turned out to be three.

At the same time we noticed that a female brambling had joined the chaffinches and so I tried to get a photo with both r-l partridge and brambling in. I did the best I could in the murk. A pair of collared dove dropped in and Iain mentioned they are not common on the site. A couple of yellowhammer and a single reed bunting fed with the chaffinches.

The r-l partridge became even bolder, venturing out as far as the rear feeder and allowing a slightly better shot. A single great spotted woodpecker flew by, almost following the road. Despite waiting for a short while the brambling had disappeared and the male with darkening head colour never showed.

I left to continue my morning exercise.