More Yellow-browed Action on New Year's Day! January 1 2023

What better to do on the first day of the New Year than go back to Donnington Bridge in Oxford for a second helping of the fabulous Yellow-browed Warbler that we'd seen a couple of days before. The weather looked set fair too, much better than the wet conditions when we visited previously. A quick survey of the garden birds didn't reveal the male Blackcap that had graced the feeders on New Year's Eve so I guessed that it had moved on. So our first birds of the year were the more familiar and expected Robins, Dunnocks and House Sparrows, We left the house with a burgeoning list of six species, such is the wealth of birdlife in the Bicester area.

The first person we saw to wish a Happy New Year to as we walked towards Donnington Bridge along a quiet road this time was Steve, the original finder of the Yellow-browed Warbler (YBW). He had already seen it that morning too so we knew it was still present. It didn't take long for us to connect when we spotted it feeding in the overhanging branches of a roadside tree. I was able to get some improved images in the pleasant sunny conditions after my efforts in the rain two days before.

The YBW favoured the outer branches of the trees that actually overhung the footpath, perhaps the sunshine encouraged insects to congregate there, so it was fairly easy to track and photograph. Of course the Warbler still flitted about like a clockwork toy gone mad but at least there was no thick foliage for it to hide in. Last year I made a point of getting as many of our scarce overwintering species as quickly as possible so that I wouldn't have to go looking for them later in the year when the pressure was on to secure the "Big Year" target. This time around we'd be much more relaxed but it was still good to add a bird like the Yellow-browed so early.

My main aim this year is to get better views and photos of species that I've struggled with before. With my new camera, if I managed the former then the latter should come as a matter of course. The Yellow-browed Warbler that was working its way through the branches just feet above our heads was certainly offering me the opportunity to improve my portfolio although my beginners luck set taken at Earls Barton a few days before would take some beating.

The Earls Barton bird though had mainly showed well close to the ground in brambles so this bird offered a different setting since it chose to feed in the trees above our heads and was rarely at eye level. It was fun to see the bird pull some interesting shapes and positions as it snared the minuscule insect prey that make up its diet.

Steve's brother Pete arrived and we enjoyed some chat as we watched the YBW do its thing. The bird suddenly flew across the road to the edge of the Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve which Steve has the good fortune to have as his local patch. He regaled us with stories of the birds he's found there, including Nightingale and Grasshopper Warblers. Now he could add the YBW to his Iffley Meadows list. I ran across the road, no traffic to avoid this morning, and found the Warbler lower down this time. For a while it actually stayed still for a few seconds allowing me to get some different images with a darker backdrop.

We lost the YBW for a while when it flew towards the weir stream so we returned to the original spot and enjoyed the social in the sunshine. There were other birds on offer and we added a few other birds to our New Year list. A Chiffchaff, one of three seen, was behaving in much the same way as the YBW but because of its bigger size it was noticeably slower although it sprang out of the branches and hovered at the edges of the trees more frequently. Capturing a small Warbler as it hovers in its search for food is very tricky to say the least and a large amount of luck is required to get a decent image. My luck was out so its just bird in branches shots here.

Up to six Goldcrests shared the trees with the Chiffchaffs. Goldcrests are smaller even than the Yellow-browed Warbler but are not as erratic when they feed and are consequently slightly easier to follow and to photograph. Instead of jumping from one branch to another, Goldcrests tend to move along a branch, checking its whole length for hiding insects before moving to another. One of them posed beautifully in the sunlight.

A Treecreeper was also good to see. Treecreepers are birds that do exactly "what it says on the tin", that is, they creep along trees. They will begin low down on the trunk or a thick limb and then creep upwards or sideways along. They use there curved tweezer like bill to extract the smallest of morsels from fissures in the bark. Because they explore the tree at such close quarters they tend to always have their backs to the observer and more often than not disappear on the other side of the tree trunk if you watch them. With patience though they will offer good close up views.

There was time to grab a few more photos of the Yellow-browed Warbler when it was once again found back in the roadside trees. The Yellow-browed will forever be one of my favourite Warbler species and I can never get enough of them but it was time to head home for some lunch. A lovely start to the year!

Year List additions;

1) Robin, 2) Blackbird, 3) Dunnock, 4) Wood Pigeon, 5) Starling, 6) House Sparrow, 7) Collared Dove, 8) Wren, 9) Herring Gull, 10) Goldcrest, 11) Yellow-browed Warbler, 12) Chiffchaff, 13) Treecreeper, 14) Great Tit, 15) Blue Tit, 16) Long-tailed Tit, 17) Magpie, 18) Red Kite, 19) Cormorant, 20) Mallard, 21) Black-headed Gull, 22) Buzzard, 23) Goldfinch

A prime male Brambling had been seen at Balscote Quarry Reserve (BQR) near Banbury over the Christmas week so after lunch we headed out there to have a look for ourselves. Bramblings appear to be thin on the ground this winter, completely opposite to last winter when they seemed to be everywhere so I felt it would be good to get one in early. The feeders at Balscote Quarry are maintained by the wardens of the site which is managed by the Banbury Ornithological Society. They are right next to the parking area so offer superb opportunities to photograph some our more common species and in my case would give me a chance to practice a bit more with the R7. 

BQR is a very cold spot though and despite the fine weather the icy wind ripped into us as we stood at the screen overlooking the feeding station. It wasn't long before Mrs Caley retreated to the comfort of the car. The feeders used to attract Tree Sparrows in good numbers but sadly they are almost gone from the area now and have generally become difficult to locate in Oxfordshire. However, there is a good number of other birds using the feeders for sustenance, in particular a healthy population of Greenfinches. 

In the hour I stayed there was no sign of the Brambling but I did add quite a few to my new year list. Even though I have no intention whatsoever of repeating my Big Year attempt of 2022, I will still keep a list of the birds that we see this year.

Year List additions;

24) Kestrel, 25) Chaffinch, 26) Greenfinch, 27) Coal Tit, 28) Yellowhammer, 29) Fieldfare, 30) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 31) Rook, 32) Carrion Crow