13th Oct 2015

Out in the morning again in search of something of interest and I'm glad to say there was a little more of note around than yesterday, but unfortunately I don't have many photos to share. Quite soon after I got out of the van I heard a Redwing call. Looking up I could only see a single bird flying around the water treatment works. A Common Gull dropped in briefly to join the Black-headed Gulls but there was not much more on the reservoir. Along the river a mixed group of finches had at least six Siskins with them and there was at least another three in the wood.

Along the canal a group of four Lesser Redpolls flew up out of the willowherb and a small tit flock in the hawthorns had some Goldcrests with them. In the Upper Cherwell Valley a pair of Stonechats were in the thick scrubby area on the other side of the river. Whilst watching them a couple of Roe deer skulked through the thick grass, almost completely hidden from sight. Another Redwing call was heard but went without being seen. There was not much around the pool but another two Redpolls flew over.

Back at the reservoir a Peregrine flew over fairly low heading up into the valley and a few Skylarks and and Meadow Pipits flew over. The gathering of loafing Black-headed Gulls had the ringed bird 'P559' from Lithuania with them again.