On Monday I went over to Bampton in Oxfordshire. Normally when I go there at this time of year the swifts are very noisy but this year I didn't hear one. The local crows, however, were taking offence at the presence of a red kite and swallows and house martins were visible.
Yesterday I encountered a red legged partridge sitting on a gate beside the road. I was able to stop the car and have a good look at his very handsome markings.
Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"
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