May Bank Holiday Weekend

Whitethroat (c) Bark

Singing (c) Bark

Collecting nest material (c) Bark

Always a beauty (c) Bark

One of four drummers (c) Bark

Coot (c) Bark

Dawn Saturday (c) Peter Coombes

Darth Vader goes birding (c) Bark

All over the reserve birds are trying to make up for lost time and making the most of the warm settled, and atypical Bank Holiday weekend weather. Birds were singing, feeding and gathering nesting material almost everywhere that one looked.
Thirty hardy souls turned up on Otmoor for a dawn chorus walk on Saturday morning. It was amazing to hear just how noisy it was when I arrived at 4.30 am. Three different Grasshopper Warblers were reeling in the carpark field and were even calling through the night, interestingly they tended to be quieter during the middle of the day. All the other common warblers were heard and seen, with Garden Warbler the most difficult to both see and hear. Cetti’s is still absent and should anyone be lucky enough to catch up with one on the moor we would be very pleased to hear about it. Snipe continue to drum and Curlew can be heard calling frequently.
The two Whimbrel on Ashgrave were still present over the weekend, they have now been here for over a week, which suggests that this is a significant refuelling stop for them on their northward migration. There were differing numbers of Dunlin passing through and using the scrapes on both Greenaways and on Big Otmoor. There were also a couple of Ringed plovers seen. Two Shelduck are also present on the Western edge of Ashgrave.
Most unusual sighting was a Short- eared Owl hunting in the Carpark Field on Sunday morning seen by Clackers and J.T. both of whom said that it was one of the very best sightings that they had ever had of this species. Barn Owls were seen on both the Beckley and the Oddington sides of the moor.
I carried out my first BTO breeding bird survey yesterday and it was a bit disappointing. I recorded fewer species than in previous years and probably fewer birds in total. Hirundines were completely absent and seem to be still on the move and not out feeding in large numbers. I have yet to see a Swift on the moor although they have been reported. Up to seven Hobbies have been recorded and two or three Turtle Doves although they have not yet been heard purring from their regular songposts.
A very low pass by the Oxford Balloon Company at probably no more than one hundred and twenty feet over Ashgrave, Big Otmoor and the reedbed caused all the birds to flush and panic. It’s bad enough at any time of year, but it is sad that the low flying restrictions are not always adhered to and that sensitive breeding colonies such as our Lapwings, Redshank and some of our other breeders species should be so casually and carelessly disturbed.
I had hoped that the two Common Cranes seen yesterday over Farmoor might be headed our way as they have often been seen at this time of year, but I have not heard where they touched down, they could of course be feeding happily out on the MOD land protected by the rifle range red flags.

Monday 29th Evening and odd notes.

Turtle dove last August (c) Bark

Stop Press: Stoneshank has just phoned me to say that he has just had a Turtle Dove fly past him along the bridle way. Female Marsh Harrier and the two Whimbrel still present.



I received the following E-Mail from Steve Roby entitled "Otmoor Serengeti" who had a brilliant encounter on Monday evening:

"Sorry to have missed the weekend, I half froze to death walking around Iffley Fields early Saturday morning and then had family commitments both days. Anyway I got to Otmoor yesterday evening and was lucky enough to witness a dramatic predator vs prey encounter.

In order to have the sun behind me I went in at Noke and soon found a Peregrine sitting in the farmers field, right next to a fence post, almost looking as if it was trying to conceal itself from unwary birds on the nearby pool. Down at the second screen the Barn Owl left it's daytime roost and set-off over the reed bed. Some time later as I took cover near the reeds, serenaded by numerous warblers and Water Rails, it flew right over my head, not noticing me until it passed by. 

Back at the first screen the Peregrine flew over carrying a dead bird, perhaps its tactics had paid off. A male Sparrowhawk surveyed the reeds from a fence post before startling a pair of Mallard and a Hare by flying off strongly just over their heads, for a moment I even thought it was going to have a go at one of the ducks. Red Kites flew lazily over the reeds in the setting sun.

The main drama was to take place as I walked back towards Lower Farm. I had managed to make a very close approach to a fox intent on digging up something in the grass. Although staring directly at me it didn't seem to see me as I remained still. It went back to digging, then noticed an approaching Hare and dropped into the classic ambush predator position, hidden by the tussocky grass. The Hare came within a few metres of loping right past before seeming to become aware of the danger and changing course. However it stopped again and apparently intent on following it's original course bounded back and then disastrously turned once again, this time directly onto a collision course. I was holding my breath as it headed straight for the jaws of the motionless fox, only pulling up at the very last second.

There was a moment of stillness but the Hare was now clearly within striking distance and all of a sudden the fox lunged out and made its move. There was a sound of teeth or claws raking the hide but the Hare had also reacted and after a brief flurry and chase made it's escape. By now I had moved to follow the action and the fox stared at me again before turning tail and retreating. The Hare continued running around, apparently none-the-worse for its close encounter. 

Another one of those great wildlife moments."

Anyone wishing to hear more about Otmoor may be interested in a talk that I am giving in Witney at the Methodist Church, upper hall to the Witney Natural history Society entitled "An Otmoor Year" on Friday 3rd at 7.15 for 7.30.

For even more intrepid souls Joe Harris, the recently appointed reserve warden, and myself are leading a Dawn Chorus walk from the car park at 5 am this Saturday morning.

Finally if you were the person who reported a summer plumage Spotted Redshank last Thursday and wrote it up on the whiteboard in the hide, would you please drop myself or the RSPB office an e-mail so that we can formally enter it into our records.

Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th April

Sedge in song (c) Bark

Whitethoat in carpark field (c) Bark

Coot Family (c) Bark

LTT Roman Road (c) Bark

Cuckoo flypast (c) Mark Chivers

"Grey Arrows" over Ashgrave (c) Mark Chivers

Greenaways Blackwit (c) Wayne Bull

Common Buzzard (c) Pat Galka

 After the all the harsh weather and flooding of recent months, this weekend the reserve was awash with birdsong and it really lifted the spirits. Vociferous Sedge Warblers and more rhythmic Reed Warblers called from the ditches and the reedbeds. The hedgerows were full of song as the other warbler species sought to make up for lost time taking up territory and pairing up. Over it all and almost continuously one or another Skylark cascaded its notes over the fields. At least three singing male Grasshopper Warblers reeled monotonously in the car park and sometimes could be picked out from amidst the froth of blackthorn flowers. At least two Cuckoos were calling on both days and could be seen flying fast between their songposts with their deceptively raptor like flight.
Lapwings are now flying up to challenge Crows, Kites and a Raven that are invading their airspace. A Black Tailed Godwit showed well in the second scrape on Greenaways and the birds of the weekend for me, were a pair of Whimbrel stalking around the sedges out on Ashgrave and easily viewable from the hide. Wheatears and Whinchats are still passing through and could be seen up at Noke and along the visitor trail to the first screen. On Sunday morning a drake Garganey was dozing at the back of the southern lagoon and two Barnacle Geese were feeding out on Ashgrave, the Whitefronted Geese have now finally departed. During the week several Hobbies have been seen and we regularly get a real influx during the first week of May with anything up to twenty birds perched on gates and fences of Greenaways and flying up to feed on the slow moving dangly legged St Marks flies.
The only other summer visitors that have yet to arrive arrive are Turtle Doves. They are our most threatened breeding bird and without their soft purring call, summer on the moor would just not be the same. I hope that over the next couple of weeks I will be able to report their safe arrival.

Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st April

Gropper on the way to the second screen

Sedge Warbler

Blackcap

Dawn Willow Warbler

Sand Martin over second screen

wheatear

Wheatear at Noke

Curious Whitethroat

Massive clump of Primroses at the side of Ashgrave

Wood Anemone  All pictures this week (c) Bark

From a scattering of migrant arrivals last weekend this weekend there was a flood. Unlike normal years when warblers and passage migrants arrive in a regular, steady sequence, this year everything seems to arrived at once.
All of the regular warblers are now present with the exception of Garden Warbler. Also notable by its absence is Cetti’s, just one singing bird present for about a week last spring and this year no sound at all. Our Cetti’s have not yet recovered from the freezing winter of 2011/12 and it would be wonderful to have them back adding their strident calls to the chorus that is now pouring from the hedges and reedbeds. Grasshopper Warblers were calling in the carpark field and a couple were also seen very close and out in the open along the path to the second screen. Sedge Warblers still outnumber Reed in the ditches but that will change over the next couple of weeks.
Whinchats were found in the carpark field on Friday and along the visitor trail on Sunday. There were six Wheatears at Noke on Saturday and Sunday with several others on Ashgrave and Big Otmoor. Cuckoo was both heard and seen on both days and will be regular now until it leaves at the end of July.
Both Marsh Harrier and a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier were seen over the weekend and Peregrine could be seen flying over and sitting on the ground on Ashgrave. A Raven was also mobbed by the breeding Lapwings on Big Otmoor.
Two Little Stints were reported last week on the scrapes on Greenaways and there were thirteen Black Tailed Godwits on Ashgrave on Sunday morning.
Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells were in evidence and Toads are making merry in the ditches. Several Grass Snakes could be found warming up in the sunshine and Brown Hares are performing their mad March behaviours in April! There is now so much to see and hear on the moor that it is difficult to know where to go but if time is limited the car park field and the Roman Road are full of interest. Perhaps our first Hobby to look forward to next week.

Update: A Hobby was seen over the reed bed and the carpark field on Sunday morning (per S.T.)

Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th April

Willow Warbler (c) Bark

Chiffy (c) Bark

Carpark Barn Owl (c) Bark

Courting Gadwall (c) Bark

Sitting Grey Heron (c) Badger

Galloping Hare (c) Bark

Buzzard on Ashgrave Both pics (c) T.S.

Despite the strong winds and occasional showers spring has finally arrived. Warm weather and the wind from the south brought a fall of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs to otmoor this weekend with even more of them on Sunday than Saturday. Only some were singing, most were flycatching among the still bare twigs and branches of the hedgerows, seldom staying still. After such a long and difficult passage there must be a powerful urge to feed up and get into breeding condition.
Duck numbers are falling off now with smaller and fewer parties of Wigeon scattered over the fields. Teal are fewer and much dispersed. There are still two pairs of Pintail out on Big Otmoor and good numbers of Shoveller and Gadwall the latter often performing noisy courtship flights over the reedbeds. Garganey were both seen from the first screen and heard from the second, their call being very distinctive.
The Barn Owl in the carpark field put on a superb display as it hunted for at least half and hour in the Car park field on Saturday morning, sometimes coming very close. The other regular bird was again seen hunting around the reedbed. Peregrines and Buzzards were seen over Ashgrave and the Ring-tailed Hen Harrier is still being seen regularly. Kites and Lapwings have have begun to contest the airspace again over Big Otmoor. Snipe numbers are high and there were drumming birds seen and heard on both days. There are still at least one hundred and fifty Golden Plover dividing their time between Greenaways and Big Otmoor. They are now almost all moulted into full summer plumage and in the sunshine look particularly stunning.
On Sunday there were at least thirteen Little Egrets mostly concentrated on the Closes, it must offer them excellent feeding opportunities to be supporting such good numbers. Grey Herons were also present with at least eight on Ashgrave. Best of all was the sight of a bird sitting on a nest in the oak trees that that stick out into Ashgrave. Herons have not used this site for several years and were the heronry to become properly established it might encourage the Little Egrets to join them, as has happened at other sites.
All three common hirundine species have now been seen and on Sunday Swallows were especially noticeable. Wheatears were out on Ashgrave and big Otmoor and we were very pleased to find a female Ring Ousel
on the edge of the road down to the rifle range. A flyover Yellow Wagtail was the other new migrant for the year. Hares are behaving characteristically, indulging in wild chases, boxing matches and mad scrums.
Over the next couple of weeks I expect the migrant warblers to flood in and with them other waders and birds that will only visit on passage such as Whinchat and Redstart. It is a really exciting time and feels even better after such a miserable and prolonged wait.





  PS Subsequent to writing this Sedge Warblers have been seen and heard this morning and a Bar tailed godwit seen on the Barn Field

Brown Hare on Greenaways 14th April

Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th April

One of many Snipe (c) TS

Drummers (c) Bark

Amorous Pochard (c) Bark

Fudge Duck still (c) Andy Last

Little Ringed Plover (c) Andy Last

Marsh Harrier (c) TS

Singing Wren (c) TS

Singing Dunnock (c) Bark

Garganey (c) Andy Last

This weekend we took a few more baby steps towards spring but still failed to achieve anything like seasonal weather.
On the reserve more migrants have appeared with the first hirundines being seen on Sunday. A Sand Martin was reported in the afternoon and a lone Swallow was seen by the Robys over the reedbed in the evening. On Saturday the first little ringed plovers were on the Big Otmoor scrapes and two different drake Garganey were seen on both days.
Snipe were very much in evidence this weekend. The male Hen Harrier flushed at least fifty from Big Otmoor on Saturday and the group of volunteers who are training for survey work found more than twenty on the Closes. They also found one Jack Snipe. On Sunday morning there were at least four drumming over the path to the first screen and several “chipping” from the sedge.
Lapwings and Redshank were noisily evident everywhere and the first lapwing nests have now been found by the RSPB staff. A Chiffchaff called in the carpark field on Sunday morning. Peregrine , Barn Owl, Marsh and Hen Harriers were all reported over the weekend.
There are still Redpolls around the feeders and the cattle pens and some of our resident birds were singing steadily despite the chill. Perhaps next weekend will bring in the first real wave of summer visitors.