08th Nov 2015: Golden Plovers

I made an effort to record all bird species seen or heard whilst out today. Over two visits I managed to record 52 species, which I think is pretty good. Although, I know there have been a few more around recently that I just couldn't find today. Despite the obvious good variety of species recorded through the various habitats of this area, there was nothing particularly rare to the region. The highlight for me was a flock of thirteen Golden Plovers flying south over the Upper Cherwell Valley. No major rarity but a hard bird to record here. There was also two Stonechats in the valley, but these were the only notable species.

A few other nice bits for here were Lesser Redpoll, Common Gull, Little Grebe and Herring Gull. The latter was one of four Herring or Yellow-legged Gulls loafing with Lesser Black-backs in the fields up the valley but the only one I could see clearly enough to identify was a Herring Gull. A great big brute of a bird it was too. There was also fresh signs of Otter along the canal again.

Steve Holliday was out this afternoon and reports 600+ Black-headed Gulls, 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and at least five Common Gulls (4 ads and 1 2nd winter) prior to 4pm, but they wouldn't settle and most left. Steve also had two Siskins over south amongst some of the more regular inhabitants.

I was back again for the gull roost a bit later, but had a similar situation to Steve with no gulls settling. They would gather up in the sky above the reservoir but would then just drift off north. One group did eventually stay but by that time it was too dark to go through them properly. Of note there were no large gulls at all by this point.

07th Nov 2015

John, Mike and I were all out this evening. The main interest was to check the gull roost but John and I did have a wander up the valley just in case there was any owls around. The roost was really unsettled this evening and it was only quite late on when the birds seemed to stay still for any period of time. To start with it was only Black-headed Gulls. Then there was a Common Gull. John somehow managed to pick out a smart 2cy Mediterranean Gull and shortly after a Yellow-legged Gull dropped in. There were not many Lesser Black-backed Gulls tonight and the Yellow-legged left before we did.

06th Nov 2015

John visited at lunch time today. There was a lot of birds around but apparently there was little of note. A Chiffchaff was the highlight, in with a tit flock along the river. The Great Crested Grebes are back up to eight again too.

05th Nov 2015: More ringed gulls

Quite an interesting morning today. There was nothing outstanding to be seen but a few bits and bobs made it worth while. The first thing of note was a ringed Black-headed Gull. It had a red or orange ring, but unfortunately it was too far away to read any details and I didn't find it again.

The next stop was scanning through the loafing Lesser Black-backed Gulls where there was an adult Common Gull. A Yellow-legged Gull also dropped in for a short while.

Through into the woods I didn't see many birds to start with, there was a couple of fresh Otter spraints under the bridge though. I did eventually find some birds with a small tit flock foraging away. There was Blue, Great and Coal Tits with Goldcrests and Treecreepers.

Walking up the canal tow path to the the Upper Cherwell Valley a few Bullfinches flushed from the path ahead of me and there was another tit flock, this time mostly Long-tailed Tits. A Stonechat was still around the scrub and thick vegetation by the river. I assume there is still two, but couldn't find the second bird. There was quite a lot of birds at the Borrow Pit pool but annoyingly they were flushed by a dog walker before I could get there. Amongst the ducks flying away there was a smaller one I think was a Teal and amongst the gulls was a Herring or Yellow-legged Gull.

Back at the reservoir looking for the ringed Black-headed Gull from earlier, I found another two ringed birds. They both had white Davric rings. One was VK40 which was ringed in Denmark and the other was AF400 ringed in Germany. I find it fascinating to see where they travel to a from.

04th Nov 2015

I managed a quick visit late afternoon today, between rain showers. There was not a lot around other than gulls, of which there was around 1500 Black-headed and c.50 Lesser Black-backs. Scanning through I found two Yellow-legged Gulls, one adult and one third winter.

02nd Nov 2015

John visited at lunch time today and had a Yellow-legged Gull in with a group of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. These birds must be feeding on the fields nearby I assume.

01st Nov 2015

There were several people around this morning hoping to see the Black Redstart, but unfortunately it didn't decide stick around like last years bird. After the fog the day cleared, was sunny and actually became rather hot (for the time of year!). There was a bit of a Meadow Pipit movement earlier on but Skylarks continued moving all morning. I didn't count them but birds were heard calling overhead quite regularly and at one point a group of seven went over.

There was no redstart but other highlights were the Willow Tit in the trees along the river and then moved into the wood and then a Peregrine could be seen circling  northern end of town.

31st Oct 2015: Black Redstart

Well, today went from being a rather disappointing to something rather different. I had been all around the patch with barely anything of note to speak of. This was the last chance of October to try and find something new. There were some small flocks of Redwings blogging around, a Kingfisher flew through from the river and I'd heard a Fieldfare. Fieldfare was not new for the year but the first one I had recorded here this Autumn/Winter. There were seven Great Crested Grebes present and eight Cormorants moving between the reservoir and the valley.

In the wood it was a stunning autumn scene, but the birds were quiet and a small tit flock by the canal didn't have any unusual guests tagging along.

In the Upper Cherwell Valley some more Redwings were foraging in the scrub and a flock of c.30 Fieldfares went over west. A few Meadow Pipits were feeding in the grass and I assume these birds will now be settled here for a while. There was a few bits at the Borrow Pit pool but it was the gulls that drew my attention, nothing uncommon but there is obviously a lot around in the area again. Walking back to the reservoir I found a few Otter spraints along the canal.

Round the western side of the reservoir there was a noticeable increase in thrushes around, so I had a good look through them. A few of the Blackbirds were first winter birds with black bills and I was wondering if they were continental birds and how far they had travelled. As I got to the water treatment works I noticed a bird flutter around the roof, but it was gone before I saw it properly. A Grey Wagtail called so I assumed that was my bird. I was checking through some more thrushes when a bird flew over the roof of the buidings again and perched on the girder that sticks out the side. A Black Redstart! Almost in exactly the same place as last years bird. Very nice! It stayed distant but showed well through the day. This is species number 123 for the year and another step closer to that target of 130.

Early afternoon there was a gathering of around 80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Lapwings flew over south. 

Courtesy and copyright of Jason Coppock

Courtesy and copyright of Kyle Smith

Courtesy and copyright of Jason Coppock. Please view at 720p HD 

30th Oct 2015

I managed to call in and check the gull roost after work and before it got dark. There was actually a good gathering this evening with c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and c.1800 Black-headed Gulls. Scanning through I spotted a Yellow-legged Gull, then another and eventually got to a count of six.

There was not a lot else around and in near darkness I left. As I got to the car park a bird flew over that I think was a Woodcock, but it was far too dark to be sure.

Off patch...

Before I went to bed last night I could hear a Little Owl calling from my flat. It was impossible to tell where it was but I guess it was in the Southam Road cemetery. I only mention it as it could well end up around Grimsbury somewhere.

28th Oct 2015: Little Grebe

John visited at lunch time again today and there wasn't much of note, but there was a Little Grebe. Normally people wouldn't be too concerned about a Little Grebe, but even though they are now relatively common at the Borrow Pit pool they are rather scarce at the reservoir itself. It was only John's second one at the reservoir. I thought there had been one earlier this year but I can't find it in my records. Basically it's just about an annual bird.

27th Oct 2015

John visited at lunch time today. there was not a lot around but there was a couple of Common Gulls with several Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls.

Courtesy and copyright of John Friendship-Taylor

Courtesy and copyright of John Friendship-Taylor

26th Oct 2015

I had a nice gentle amble round this morning. Mainly as I just needed to be out for a walk but I'm still hoping for something interesting to appear before the end of the month. A Brambling would be nice, some more ducks or even a Golden Plover flying over. Just something different!

Well today it wasn't to be, but it was a pleasant walk in the morning sun. Siskins were foraging along the river and as I scanned across the reservoir four Lapwing flew over. There were seven Great Crested Grebes today and a Common Gull was hanging around. During the walk around several Skylarks were heard flying over but most were too high to see. In the wood there was a small flock of Redwings and more Siskins. I had a good scan through the tit flocks but didn't find anything unexpected. There was two Coal Tits and at least ten Goldcrests around. A few Bullfinches were feeding in the hawthorn trees too.

25th Oct 2015

I have to say, it is rather slow going at the moment. John and I visited late on today and other than the gulls there was very little around. We had a look around the wood, but it was in vain as the birds were so quiet you would be forgiven for thinking there is nothing in there. 

Courtesy and Copyright of Mark Ribbons

There were some gulls gathering and looking through to start with there was only Black-headed Gulls. Then a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. The second large gull to come in was a Yellow-legged, which we assume is the same adult as recent nights. We were slightly amazed that there was only two large gulls and one was a Yellow-legged. It didn't stay long and flew off east and later flew back over and headed off north west. A single Common Gull came in and then a steady trickle of Lesser Black-backs. However, there were not that many tonight.

22nd Oct 2015

I was able to make the most of a free day today and had a good walk around this morning and this afternoon. This morning there was far more activity with Redwings feeding in the trees along the river and Siskins in the wood. There were two Grey Wagtails along the river and a a Mink scat and Otter spraint were both under the railway bridge. A fairly decent sized tit flock was in the wood with at least one Chiffchaff with them also Goldcrests and Treecreepers. The Willow Tit was in the middle of the wood, in it's now usual area. As I exited a Pheasant ran out of the scrub and over towards the river, not headline news but also not a common bird here. Back at the reservoir a Lapwing flew over and circled for a while before landing on the pontoon. It didn't stay long and left to the north. There was also four Common Gulls around.

In the afternoon, I had a more extensive walk around and went up the valley too. However, there was not much around. There was far less activity around the reservoir and wood with very little of note. In the Upper Cherwell Valley there were four Common Gulls at the Borrow Pit pool but not a lot else.

Mark Ribbons got these photos of a gull that looked familiar, and I think I'd seen it earlier in the day. The general consensus is that it is most likely a 2cy Lesser Black-backed Gull but it is very similar to some birds we saw earlier in the year and had mistakenly identified as juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. I had told Mark that this is probably a Yellow-legged until I was corrected (sorry Mark), it is worth scrutinising these birds a bit more closely!

Courtesy and copyright of Mark Ribbons

Courtesy and copyright of Mark Ribbons

21st Oct 2015

John managed to visit at lunchtime and in the evening today. At lunch time there was not a lot a round but the gull pictured below was present with the loafing Lesser Black-backs. We are not completely sure, but general consensus is that it is a second calender year Yellow-legged Gull. It may be a third year though. It is very similar to the bird I saw come into the roost late on the evening of the 9th.

Courtesy and copyright of John Friendship-Taylor

Courtesy and copyright of John Friendship-Taylor

In the evening there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull, presumably the same one as recent nights and at least five Common Gulls.