Not Totally Great.

After enjoying the company of Badger at Baulking Pit along with other Oxon birding stalwarts, when true to form I arrived several minutes too late to view the Great Grey Shrike that was a really good find the previous evening but unfortunately has not been seen since. I have  been daily visiting the pit and surrounding environs in the hope of again locating the GGS with a complete lack of success, although, as this is a bird with a very large winter territory i remain hopeful that it is still in the area. This evening 1st December once again no Shrike but a rather elegant Great White Egret was showing well and I guess this is probably the bird that has been recorded at both Dix Pit and Pit 60.
Other birds noted were Wigeon, one Snipe, Fieldfare , Redwing, five Kestrel. A large dog Fox approached me but turned tail (brush) and scampered away before I was able to get a photo. Out beating the other day over Hanney fields I saw three Woodcock and three Jays. Roe Deer have been relatively numerous with a count of fifteen seen recently and also eight Buzzard who have looked forlorn on post and tree sitting hungrily waiting for the frost to lift and get airborne using thermal uplift.
The Feather.

 A few Starlings were in with the Winter Thrushes.

 Distant Buzzard worming.

Strange Looking Creature

This most interesting but strange looking creature going by the name of Hawthorn Shield Bug dropped on my head as I caught up with a bit of gardening it looks like a creation from Dr. Who or something from out of the deep.
The Oxon Feather.

Pip PIP Hooray.

Yesterday the 6th October visited a large field of Oilseed Rape planted this Autumn and found in excess of 100 Meadow Pipits and this was one small section of the field leading me to believe there were probably many hundreds over the whole field, this site is close to dix pit and I also noted five late House Martins in the air.The Oxon Feather.

Red Underwing.

Spoonless.

Not sure if my glass is half full or half empty but I do know my spoon was empty today after visiting pit 60 hoping to catch the four Spoonbills that TE had reported. Apparently they moved on quite soon after he had found them but all was not lost with the long staying Great White Egret showing well but quite distant in the rather murky weather conditions making photographs mediocre. Other compensations were Green and Common Sandpiper and a rather guttural Raven heard as I walked down to the hide. Some ten minutes before I left JH entered the hide and his company also added to a most pleasant two and a half hours spent looking for the "Spoons".
The Feather.

Darting Around.

A trip just to the east of White Horse Hill and later to Baulking Fullers Earth Pit gave me sightings of two Grey Partridge about half a mile from the ridgeway and later a nice covey of eight near the pit where a Common Darter gave me photos in spite of a very strong wind as it had found a sheltered spot protected by a strip of woodland.
The Feather.

Some you Whin and some you lose.

Walked from Kingston Lisle to Wescot looking for a flock of some twenty fledged Mistle Thrushes  that had been reported recently, they were not around so that was a bit of a loss as they would have been the focus of my next Oxford Times article that is due to be published soon nevertheless I felt a winner as the Whinchat that appeared on a fence post is a good bird for me , in that my usual haunts tend to be not the recognised birding hotspots also seen were one Wheatear, forty Swallows , a few House Martin, two Kestrels and in excess of one hundred and twenty Lapwing.
The Feather.

Painted Lady

The main interest birdy - wise is the seventy plus House Sparrows coming daily to my garden feeders including of course many youngsters , I have no doubt that the visiting Sparrowhawk and other natural dangers will make sure that numbers through the year will steadily reduce. With things a bit quiet on the birding front its good that with the year now becoming sunnier the butterflies are flying well. Have enjoyed several Painted Ladies in the garden recently. (not the human variety).
The Oxon Feather.

Probing Proboscis!

A pleasant stroll through the sunny rides at the Gainfield Warren gave me marvellous views of my first Silver-Washed Fritllaries of the year.
The Feather.

A couple of Moths for you to have a guess at identifying

Red Admiral

Large Skipper

It's rude to poke your tongue out