As is pretty standard for these parts, it was a slow birding start to the year, however starting yearlists again always breathes life and a bit of excitement into the local birding once again!
Having repeatedly failed to find my own or catch-up with several others in the area, it was actually quite a relief to join in with the first, half decent Waxwing invasion for several years. Patience paid off as I was treated to lovely, if brief views of the 5 sporadically visiting pink sorbus trees in Bodicote, Banbury on 18/02.
A juvenile Great Northern Diver was a very good bird locally, staying for a number of days at Calvert Jubilee Lake. I saw it a couple of times during it's stay including on 20/01, when a lovely adult Caspian Gull and 2cy Yellow-Legged Gull were also present.
Bicester Wetlands has been productive, in addition to the usual Teal, Gadwall and the odd Green Sand. A self-found Cattle Egret on 08/03 was nice, my third there. A cream crown Marsh Harrier on 26/03 was a welcome surprise, actually lingering for a few days, allowing me to catch up with it.
Elsewhere, Grimsbury didn't miss out completely, producing a Rock Pipit on 13/03 found by Gareth. Most of our patch records are from the autumn so nice to a get a spring bird for a change!
Hinton Airfield held my first Bramblings of the year, as well as an impressive count of 10 Stonechat on 18/02 - presumably birds on the move!
Finally, a real highlight for me was the incredibly prolounged encounter with an Otter on 25/02 along the canal near Aynho in the middle of the day. Seemingly blind in one eye and appearing to be unphased by my presence, it went about it's business, swimming, resting and fishing as I walked along the tow path. Just brilliant!
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