Black Redstart in Oxford 12th January 2025

On a dull Sunday with the temperature at last rising above freezing although remaining markedly cold I was at a loose end. It was too cold to do anything in the garden. The weather was dreary, a shroud of heavy grey cloud had sunk over the land, pressing downwards and feeling slighty claustrophobic 

I decided on a trip to Christchurch College in the heart of Oxford to try my luck with the male Black Redstart that has been reported virtually daily from there since before Christmas. Today was not exactly the ideal weather conditions to take any photos but I was desperate to get out of the house and feel busy.. 

The Black Redstart was a first winter male which rendered it more colourful than the more usual drab brown individuals that are either females or sometimes first winter males. Confusingly young males can often not adopt the attractive male plumage until their third year while others such as the one I went to see in Oxford do so much earlier.

The male's plumage is a pleasing mix of black and grey- the body and head blue grey, face and chin black, contrasting with rufous orange tail feathers that are only visible when the tail is spread - the striking colourful feature that gives rise to the second part of its name

A half hour drive to the outskirts of the city took me to the Peartree Park and Ride where I was able to leave the car and courtesy of my free bus pass take a bus into the heart of the city. Parking in Oxford these days is a nightmare and very expensive, even on a Sunday,Far better to use the bus which is frequent and quick and far less taxing on one's stress levels.

Getting off the bus in the city centre it was a fifteen minute walk through the crowded streets, past the Town Hall and thence to turn off into the Broad Walk with Christchurch Meadows on one side and the imposing Meadow Building, constructed in 1862, on the other side and frequented by the Black Redstart which has made this superlative structure of honey coloured stone and immense history, its winter home

The part of the Meadow Building favoured by the Black Redstart.
Note the vine clinging to the wall

As  usual there were tourists from many lands and visitors aplenty and I wondered if this would mean  the absence of the redstart. I need not have worried as the one other birder present told me that the redstart was showing quite well, unphased by all the passing human traffic and appearing on the 'Building' facing us  about every twenty minutes.It was apparently favouring one  of the stone balconies in particular or an ancient vine that clung to the walls.

A fifteen minute wait brought due reward when the Black Redstart appeared not on the 'Building' but on the railings on the other side of the Broad Walk.. It then flew up into a tree and from there back over to the 'Building' and fluttered around the vine, picking off berries.

This was fortuitous as it provided an opportunity to see the tail spread in all its russset glory as the bird clung somewhat precariously to the thin stems of the vine.

It then, in stages flew up the face of the Meadow Building to the very top of thc roof and was gone. 

We stood and waited for the next appearance. Standing in the open with many tourists passing or milling around made me feel  more than a little self conscious and some people obviously were curious as to what I was looking at but never actually felt able to enquire while others, I am sure thought I was simply admiring the building although taking a rather long time in doing so.

The Meadow Building has featured in the Harry Potter films and a young Japanese lady passed me humming the theme tune,. we smiled at each other in mutual recognition.  Other couples stood in front of the building and took photos of themselves  or of the ancient 'Building'. It was never ever quiet.

 

I stood my ground as time passed slowly and ever more visitors walked by.me

Then the faintest flick of movement caught the corner of my eye signifying the return of the redstart. Its tiny dark form was dwarfed into insignificance against the huge stone walls as it flew from perch to perch on the balconies and buttresses. 

It fed and behaved very much like a Robin, flicking tail and wings with nervous energy, perching and then flying to seize any prey it could discern. It seemed to be finding enough to eat, picking off unappetising shrivelled berries from the vine or chasing after spiders and insects on the windows and stonework.

It was gone again in five minutes and I resolved to wait for one more appearance and then leave. It took quite some time but eventually the redstart returned, not on the building but on the ground at the base of the building.So unexpected I nearly missed it. Hopping along it fed from the grass and pebbles and then flew up onto the vine and gradually progressed ever higher until it once more disappeared around the back of the 'Building'.

Up until now no one had asked or troubled me about what I was doing but then a beadle approached me complete with bowler hat (remember Porterhouse Blue by Tom Sharpe anyone?) and enquired what I was looking at and photographing.I told him about the redstart and he told me that the students were returning to the college today and could I ensure I did not point bins or camera at the windows. It was all perfectly amicable but it took the gloss off my enjoyment  and I felt uneasy and was glad to leave,

Birding in situations like this is always fraught with the potential for misunderstanding.