Birdwatching is invariably something to be enjoyed as much for its scenic and wild habitats as for the birds.

From seashore to mountain top via marsh, meadow, and wood it seems to complete the picture of nature at its very best whether the bird is to be expected, or a wandering rarity.

But, as we draw towards shorter days, let’s look closer to home where we may be able to leave the car in the garage yet still enjoy plenty of birds, both common and, sometimes, uncommon.

Four local sites spring to mind — Witney Lake, the Oxford Canal, Port Meadow and Stratfield Brake in Kidlington.

All are semi-urban in their setting, easily accessible and will provide a good half day’s birding. Witney Lake, on the edge of an industrial estate, is bounded by streams and rough meadow. Less than a mile from my home, it’s a birding haven on the edge of town and produces more than 70 species a year, with regular watching.

Within the last couple of years it has hosted Slavonian grebe, redstart, wheatear and raven, among others.

In Oxford, the recent wet summer has benefited Port Meadow where a remarkable variety of waders have stopped by on passage, including wood sandpiper, turnstone, and black tailed godwit.

With Burgess Field alongside (good for jack snipe in the winter), the meadow also borders the Oxford Canal.

Although even more urbanised, the canal nonetheless turns up good numbers of siskin, redpoll and one or two brambling on the feeders in the gardens backing on to the canal and easily viewable from the towpath.

Kingfisher will often be seen even closer to the city centre.

Finally, Stratfield Brake on the very edge of Kidlington, is a small, largely wooded site that attracts a good variety of tits plus treecreeper and goldcrests with the possibility of something rarer to set the pulses racing.

So do not sit at home through the late autumn and winter months, get some exercise, save the petrol money and check out your local edge-of-town patch.

Oh, and please make sure our county recorder Ian Lewington (01235 819792) gets to know about what you have seen. This information can be vital if the site is threatened with ‘development’.