Sunny, 1º, no wind and stayed frosty all day.
A very fortuitous walk today as we decided to go out and I
said to Loren that she should decide the route. I assumed we were only going around the
village but as we left she suggested we turn left and head towards Wallingford via
Winterbrook along the bunk line.
As we walked over the bunk bridge I heard a call that I knew
was the Firecrest and immediately got
my bins on it and confirmed what it was, it then flew across the road and into the
small school nature reserve (unfortunately
no access), saw and heard it again briefly and it then disappeared further in.
At that point I decided to zip back home to get my other camera
and my 10x42 bins as I only had my little Fuji and my small 10x20 bins with me (was not expecting to be birding).
However when I got back there was still no sign of the bird so
after about 10 minutes we decided to continue our walk after alerting TW and JL.
A Chiffchaff also
heard calling there and the area will be checked again tomorrow.
The walk to Wallingford was interesting with a flock of 100+ Black-headed Gull several small flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing and small groups of Meadow Pipit.
The walk to Wallingford was interesting with a flock of 100+ Black-headed Gull several small flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing and small groups of Meadow Pipit.
Near to the SF about 10 Blackbird
flew from the hedge giving constant alarm calls and about 10 seconds later a ♀ Sparrowhawk swooped through and headed off over the fields.
Several Grey Partridge
seen, a couple of Red Kite and a Red Fox noted nearer to Wallingford.
Once in Wallingford we decided to go to the Boathouse (a pub on the river) for a coffee and a plate
of chips and see what was on the river there.
3 Cormorant flew upriver
and there were 5 Mute Swan (2ad, 3 juv), several Black-headed Gull and a pick’n’mix group
of Mallard on the river by the bridge.
Whilst sat there my daughter and her partner arrived so they
joined us for a drink until it was time to leave. Walking back we saw a small skein of Canada Geese fly over and a few Mallard in the air and we eventually arrived home just
after dark after a great afternoon out!
♂
Blackcap still around the garden and
another or the same in a nearby garden and a Chiffchaff at the SF (per RB).
2 Stonechat still out by the Lees. (Per TW & JL).
2 Stonechat still out by the Lees. (Per TW & JL).
Black-headed Gulls (Loren)
Red Fox (Loren)
Thames at Wallingford (Loren)
Blackcap
Grey Partridge
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