An Interesting Morning at Work

Arriving at work this morning, I was pretty sure I heard a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' in the trees behind the reeds at the north end of the campus, but I've had no recent experience of them to go on.

On my way home through the city I decided to have a look for the Peregrine Falcon on the Newton Building and, sure enough, one was up there perched on a high ledge. I watched it for about twenty minutes hoping it would take flight in pursuit of a pigeon, but the best I got was a stretch of the wings and a little stroll along the ledge.

Distant Peregrine on the Newton Building

Tythe Barn and Arnocott, near Bicester, Oxfordshire

I spent most of the weekend in Oxfordshire, at my cousin's wedding. The drive down there produced a group of Common Buzzard circling a wood by the M1 south of Leicestershire, several Mallard in flight and a ploughed field of five or more possible Golden Plover. In the grounds of Tythe Barn, where the wedding was held, I had my first Mistle Thrush of the year. It was flying quite frequently between a large oak tree in the grounds and some nearby fields.

The following morning, in the grounds of the nearby hotel we were staying at, produced my first Barn Swallow of the year as two flew over to the north-west. Dad put me onto a Red Kite flying over a nearby field to the north, but by the time I got onto it, it was too far away for me to make out any distinguishing features - certainly not tickable (it would be a lifer for me!). Also of note, were several small groups of Pied Wagtail moving through.