On The Blink.

 In fact the Mega sighting has been giving amazing views, often keeping one eye open and one eye closed. This American Common Nighthawk located in Wantage is such a rare visitor that a great deal of birding excitement has been generated in our County and Twitchers will be drawn from far and wide to experience  a marvellous bird that is almost posing rather than proving the usual difficult sighting that is often the case. Good to see the Oxford Ornithological Society stalwarts have the situation in hand and my thanks go out to you all.

Man oh Mann !!

 Andrew Mann and I have enjoyed talking to local twitchers along with many previously non or casual Birders when we 'Manned' the exhibition table last weekend to dispense all things relating to the natural history of Bampton concentrating mainly on our feathered friends . We had a very busy time as we collected names from all those wishing to hear a talk and join us for a local walk at later dates (please let me know if you would like to be with us for these events) , this was partly to promote my book 'Birding in the Bush' and I'm delighted to say that not only is it selling well but the feed back has been most up-lifting. All these celebrations are by way of the opening of the upstairs of the library that due to safety issues had been closed for many years. The huge cost of some £400,000 was met with a good deal of help from the television series "Downton Abbey" Bampton was a major location for much of the series.

It's that time of year when I get interested in wild flowering plants, Dragonflies and Moths until the birds start their seasonal movements.

The ground is terribly dry as all living things cry out for water although at the present time there is no sign of any life giving rain on the horizon.

Birding in the Bush.

 Recently published by the Bampton Library and Archives Society Hub.

My book Birding in the Bush is in the series of A4 sized publications celebrating the Oxfordshire Village of Bampton. You are warmly invited to visit the Library and upstairs to learn and appreciate the birdlife of Bampton and its surrounding farmland. 

A better understanding of the local birdlife can be enjoyed through the book Birding in the Bush a light hearted ramble through the Bampton gardens and environs at the small cost of £10.

Whin Win Situation.

 Up to my eyes in it !  and also birds thank goodness at my favourite dung heap yesterday (Friday) near to Sutton where good views of Wheatear, Linnet, Whinchat , Skylark and Yellow Wagtail were a joy to behold in this seriously dry Spring, that is giving the Farmers a real reason to have a moan about as the desperate lack of rain that all plant life is now in great need of shows no likelihood of happening in the near future.