Chiltern Birder

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.

On Bank Holiday Monday, driving between Ducklington and Aston in Oxfordshire I had my most westerly sighting of a red kite so far. I have seen buzzards often enough west of Oxford but never a kite. There was a deer carcass beside the road about a mile further on. I don't know if it was intentionally heading for it but it was flying steadily in one direction not circling as they usually do. I had a better look at the carcass driving back that evening and it had been well picked over with the ribs showing. A few miles down the road in Bampton the swifts were very noisy but it seemed to be the same small party of about eight chasing each others tails around the village.