Pie in the Sky.

A couple of days ago I received a call from a mate that he had briefly seen a Pied Flycatcher in his Faringdon garden, although he guessed that it was just passing through and didn't expect to see it again I nevertheless asked him to give me a shout if it showed up again. Surprise! surprise! I took another call from him later on telling me it was back again. I hurried over sat in his garden and also viewed the Cherry Trees of his neighbours garden from his bedroom window where he had also seen it, in fact it appeared to be doing the rounds of several gardens in the area.
I managed to get several poor quality photos but it proved very difficult to photograph as it kept on the move. The bird has not been seen again after my fleeting sights of it and the mate in question was insistent that I kept the whereabouts secret preventing me from letting you all know , so sorry for that but my hands were tied.
My PC has decided to update my photo programme with the result that when I wiped clean my camera it also wiped clean the photos I intended to post - perhaps you'll now understand why I have a love hate relationship with my PC with the balance overwhelmingly on the hate side.
The Feather.

OK due to a total cock up attempting to download my now deleted Pied Flycatcher photos I am posting a recent Yellowhammer photo.

The Feather.

Couple of Pics.

Interesting creepie crawlie in the garden conifers yesterday called a Cinnamon Bug (Horizus Hyosciamy) also Willow Warbler one of many in the county at the present time.
The Feather.

Whereat this Wheatear ?

This Wheatear was joyfully spotted as I walked from Denchworth to West Hanney along the bridle track that connects the two villages, and running to some one and a half miles between the two . A rather somewhat expired Buzzard was caught up in the hedgerow that bordered a small copse and one can only speculate as to the cause of death although my own guess is an accumulation of poisons from the prey it has fed on as I do know the shooting folk on this ground are keen on their raptors and do not persecute them. About twenty Skylark were noted and I have also posted photos of a fleeting visit to Lynch Hill Wednesday where I encountered Snow Geese and Red Crested Pochard.
The Feather.

Recent Days - Best Bird Curlew.

The sunny weather has worked its magic and the winter blues seem far behind us now. Several recent local walks have thrown up mostly common birds although a steady saunter through the river Ock meadows Thursday turned up a breeding pair of Curlew in a field alongside the park road. Their rather liquid song is just about one of the most easily recognised in the avian world. Although I saw my first Swallows in Wales ten days ago I had both Swallow and House Martin Wednesday.
The Feather.

Don't Ring Me I'll Ring You.

The county birding place to be today was pit sixty where four Ring Necked Duck had been found by local birder Dave D , so after being informed of their whereabouts I celebrated Easter by taking a few poor photos. The picture quality didn't bother me too much as it was thrilling to clock this rather rare bird in the number {four) that made the occasion somewhat unique.
The Oxon Feather.

 This was the usual view as they repeatedly dived leaving just a ring of bright water

Chuffed but didn't get to sit on the bog.

A recent trip to Wales staying in my sisters holiday home at Goodwick close to Strumble Head and the  Pembroke Coastal Path, turned up breeding Choughs and Rock Pipit among other lesser lights such as several Stonechats. I usually also visit that marvellous place for wildlife Tregarron Bog but a lack of time did not allow me that pleasure this time

Cultivating an Interest.

Parking up at the spot at the halfway point along the Hatford to Carswell road known as the 'Hideway' I walked along the track stretching between fields of greening - up wheat. Reaching the Golf Course and heading into the thickly wooded area of the Warren, the only obvious birds noticed were several Green Woodpeckers, strangely enough none of them had Weasel jockeys riding on their backs. Having reached the far side of the Warren it became apparent that due to a tractor cultivating and turning up ground exposing invertebrates I had found an oasis of birdlife. I guess in total there were Five Buzzards and six Red Kites and in excess of three hundred Fieldfare. Smaller bird numbers were some sixty Pied Wagtail and a similar number of Starling. Other birds there were Finches and Tits. I reckon around one hundred Corvids and the same number of Black Headed Gulls were taking the opportunity to join in this providential feast.
The Oxon Feather.