Chiltern Birder

Still not much action on the feeders but there are some hints of winter around. There are thrushes flocking however, I saw some crossing Botley Road today, too far and high to identify the species unfortunately. Its time to keep a good look out for fieldfare and redwing. There wasn'n a lot of damage from the recent gale but everything in Cowcroft Wood seems to be covered in a layer of fallen leaves and small branches. In places the surface of the ponds looks no different to solid ground, as I found to my cost today.  

For the first time in quite a few years I was able to find time for a trip to Leigh on Sea. I hadn't checked the tide tables and took my good bins but not the scope so I didn't see a lot but there were some old favorites taht I hadn't seen for a long time. On arrival we parked in the car park on the marshes. This was free last time I was there but the princely sum of one pound wasn't going to break the bank. An old boat, partially sunk in the mud was totally covered in redshank while another, afloat this time, seemed to be home to most of the resident turnstones. There were some changes around the cockle sheds but in the old town itself Osbornes were still providing traditional sea food and the wonderfully old fashioned Strand Cafe seemed unchanged with soft roes on toast on the menu just like my last visit. Its always a hard choice between the two. As the tide went out the turnstones swarmed along the shore while the brent geese just seemed to put their feet down...