November Caspian

Been out pretty infrequently since I've been back from Hungary. When I have, it's been relatively uneventful. However, did enjoy a decent gulling session at the Borrow Pit, Banbury on 04/11, with a striking 1st-winter Caspian Gull lingering on arrival, as well as c4 Yellow-Legged Gulls. It really is becoming a bit of a trend, picking up Caspians in November annually. Though not quite as eventful as last year, where there were exceptionally large numbers of gulls in the Upper Cherwell Valley and we probably not far of double-figure Caspians, but it's good to see some gull numbers again about this year.

Elsewhere, Stonechats seem to be present at a few sites this winter having seen 3+ in Upper Cherwell Valley, a couple at Bicester Wetland and one at Hinton Airfield.

Hinton Airfield has been full of birds, with tonnes of Fieldfare in particular, as well as several groups of Golden Plover, a couple of Brambling and numbers of other Finches, Buntings and Skylarks.

We've had some unusually warm weather at times, in between all all the rain, drawing out a few butterflies including a couple of Red Admiral and a Brimstone. Not the best of signs from a climate change point of view though!