Gredenton Hill and Balscote Quarry

This afternoon  I decided to try and find some birds myself instead of chasing after other people's finds.

My first stop was Burton Dassett Hills, where I parked the car and swiftly walked out of the country park and away from screaming children and their families flying kites.  I found solitude at Gredenton Hill just up the road, which has attracted migrants like Ring Ouzel in the past.  Unfortunately, this afternoon, despite an extensive search, all I could find was one Yellowhammer, 4 Linnets, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk.

I then made my way over to Balscote Quarry just over the border in Oxfordshire.  This is an excellent little reserve run by Banbury Ornithological Society and has attracted Dotterell, Whimbrel, Whinchat and Greenshank in the past (and those are just the ones I know about).  Today, things were quite slow, with just a flock of Linnets buzzing around, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 4 Coots and 4 Lapwings flying through.  A kind couple put me onto a Clouded Yellow, which is a rarity for the area and my first.