Home At 3.00 p.m

Thursday February 24

Well, we did leave at 4.55 a.m............

Not the easiest of routes, cross country, east to west but we only went the 'pretty way' (made an unnecessary detour) once each way. The only conurbations to be negotiated were Norwich and Banbury before arriving in Chipping Norton , doing a recce, finding The Leys and then a parking place. A good ten minute hold-up whilst a cement lorry tipped its load on a sloping front garden too. All by 10.00 a.m.

The Leys is on a 1 in 5 extensive and very steep hill, houses on both sides. The top road entry  was  narrow, made even more so by big mains water-works which blocked the road to traffic. We had to step over drills, hose, a pile of tarmac and negotiate metal trench covers. The workmen were solicitous... must be the white hair and sticks!

The Leys

About nine birders were ambling about looking for the bird which had been seen flying into distant trees shortly before our arrival. We walked down to No 41, where birders have been allowed into a heated conservatory to view the bird feeding in the garden and, on the bird table. Good photo opportunities so I carried my camera as well as my scope and tripod. A notice on the window stated that they were shut until Friday....... They deserve the two days off after a hectic couple of weeks - but not when we're there !

 I decided to stay and view a small part of the garden viewable from the road along the side entrance. Ten minutes later a lone birder appeared from the garden of No 33 calling that the bird was in view.  Jammy. We'd seen a plank across two crates in there, from which someone was scanning the back gardens but Pam does not do entering people's property uninvited.....
No 33 turned out to be a birder-welcoming place. The owner, Emma, had a collecting box out so that  contributions could be made for Daisy, a sick child.
The Rufous Turtle Dove (orientalis) was busy preening in the top of a medium  height  tree behind the garage, partly obscured by branches. We got excellent views through my scope, though my photo is truly a record shot - euphemism for poor - into the light.
Eventually the remaining birders arrived, no phone signal where they were so a friend had to fetch them. We admired the darker underparts, the grey as opposed to white tail tips and its hefty size compared with the European Turtle Dove - I've left a Wood Pigeon in for comparison. We stayed until it flew out of sight into the garden of 41 to feed.

Emma came out to chat as we were leaving and she couldn't have been more charming and grateful for birders' generosity. She called it a gift bird. Everyone else we met was pleasant and welcoming too, not what you'd expect after several weeks of birders peering into their gardens and wandering around.

It's the one on the left!!
Good pics on Surfbirds, taken in the garden of No 41

After the panting, leg aching,  walk back up the hill, we parked in the town centre and had a cuppa and a toasted teacake in a nearby cafe before setting off home. We were in as BBC2 announced the 3.00 o'clock news - despite the diversion and a 25 minute lunch stop in a garage forecourt.

Oh dear, no weather bulletin to-day..... Dull and drizzly early morning, warm and sunny late morning/afternoon.