No not no.73 !

An early start in the rain and once in Chipping Norton i was surprised to only see 6 people stood outside no.41 The Leys, including the generally all round nice chap Martin Garner. I parked up and walked back up the road to be told Steve (no.41 resident) was going to open his dining room for viewing, excellent stuff. Sure enough after 10 minutes of hanging around in the cold we were invited in, to the warmth. A great selection around the feeders including Brambling, Siskin, Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Then as if right on cue the Rufus Turtle Dove appeared, first coming to rest on the trellis and then on the lawn showing some 10 feet away. Crippling views were obtained just a shame i had to photograph through rain smeared glass on 2000 ISO. Massive thanks to Steve for being a real gem of a bloke.

With the Dove done we set off for Rainham and the Slaty-backed Gull via the American Wigeon on Rushy Common. Distant views were had as it swam on the open water with its cousins. Unfortunately Rainham wasn't as successful as the morning in Oxon though a good number of Yellow-legged Gulls were counted. Nice to see Rebecca Nason and her partner Phil, though maybe not over the noses of 3 rats scrounging along the bank of the Thames.