Otmoor Birding

Sunrise over Otmoor near the first screen @ Adam Hartley

This is a blog of sightings and matters of interest at Otmoor RSPB and in the greater Otmoor basin in Oxfordshire.

Overview
For information on access instructions and species that one might expect go to Background Info section.

Photos
All photo's are copyrighted. Contact details for the photographer can be found by clicking on the photo album link on the right-hand side and then selecting the appropriate album where the contact details will appear at the top of the page. We always welcome photos from contributors which will be full attributed.

Lists
PLEASE NOTE: We have now updated the Otmoor systematic bird list. The mammal list and insect list to follow in due course.

Contact Details
In all cases replace the "at" with @
For birding issues: Peter Barker -  peter"at"otmoorbirding.com
For web-site issues: Adam Hartley - adam"at"otmoorbirding.com

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover is the latest wader to take advantage of the new scrape on Greenaways.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover © Mike Shurmer

This sequence shows an interaction between a Grey heron and a Little Egret over choice fishing spots. All photographs were taken by Pete Styles.

 

 

 

All above photographs © Pete Styles

On Tuesday Steve Roby reported: Hi   After weeks of trying I finally caught up with Wood Sandpiper at Otmoor last night, a very smart juvenile close in, front left of the hide, wading about in wet grass. There was an equally smart Greenshank in exactly the same area on Friday evening.   I was able to watch the Wood Sand for about five minutes before something, possibly a Kestrel, spooked it and it flew off towards the reed bed calling loudly. Three Green Sands were seen on both evenings, yesterday they flew noisily on to Ashgrave and stayed, snapping up many of the numerous insects that could be seen flitting around in the low evening sunlight.   On arrival a chap advised me to keep an eye on the cattle as he had seen up to seven Yellow Wagtails keeping them company. I had noted a single from the second screen on Friday evening and although I didn't see any with the cattle last night, I did spot two overhead, flying west over Big Otmoor on two occasions.   Any other sightings such as Whinchat, Common Sand etc were covered in Pete's Otmoor blog.

Hi All,

Yet another weekend with mixed and unseasonal weather. Saturday being
brighter and warmer and Sunday cold grey and very windy.
There were still a a number of waders around with more on show on Saturday
than Sunday. Two Ruff were seen on Saturday, the massive difference in size
between the two genders being particularly marked. Greenshank appeared on
Ashgrave briefly and Green Sandpiper was seen several times flying between
feeding areas. Common Sandpipers were seen in front of both screens.
All the common warblers could be found in the mixed feeding flocks, that are
such a feature of this time of year. Some of the birds looking very fresh
and crisp, particularly the Lesser Whitethroats. Several Whinchats are on
the reserve proper as are at least two Wheatears.
On Saturday the Hobbies got going along with the larger dragonflies at about
eleven o'clock. By the time I left there were at least nine putting on
spectacular displays over Greenaways and Ashgrave.
There were three Roe Deer seen from the second screen on the far side of the
river Ray.
Sadly no Honey Buzzards or Avocets and the Wryneck seen in Horton Cum
Studley didn't make it down the hill to the moor, or if it did nobody saw
it. But at this time of year there is always the chance of something new,
interesting and exciting.

Cheers Peter
Whinchat

Roe Deer © Peter Barker

 

"I watched a tufty with a brood of eleven all diving and feeding furiously and then bobbing up like corks while mum kept watch" Terry Jones, taken at the start of the month

Hi All

Two very different days on the moor this weekend with Saturday morning grey
and dark and Sunday fresh and bright with clear rainwashed skies and the
scent of Autumn in the air.
There are increasing numbers of waders present and of more species. On
Thursday and Friday a juvenile Ruff had been seen as had two juvenile Little
Stints. There had also been a juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and at least two
Greenshank, several Common Sandpipers and at least half a dozen Green
Sandpipers.
We had not found anything more than Green Sands and Common Sands when the
Ruff and Little Stints flew into the main pool in front of the hide. They
were very nervous and flighty, even ducking down when a woodpigeon flew
over. They only stayed for five minutes or so before flying further down
Ashgrave and out of sight. On Sunday the Ruff was seen to fly over towards
the flood field as did a Greenshank, possibly another bird was seen to fly
onto the Pill. There were Common Sands and Green Sands on both parts of the
reedbed and occasionally on Ashgrave. In addition to the other waders,Jon
Uren also found a Wood Sandpiper on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday mid-day Jason Coppock went out to the Pill where he found eight
Whinchat and a Wheatear in the hedge by the small bridge on the edge of the
100 acre. On Sunday morning several of us went out there again, braving
galloping horses, fierce cows and an alleged bull! We had already seen two
Whinchats from the second screen along the Northern edge of the reedbed and
found at least six more and probably two Wheatears still out by the pill
bridge.
In the bright clear air at least five Hobbies were hunting dragonflies low
over Greenaways and the Pill ground, in the distance we saw the Red Arrows
flying in tight formation, but for sheer speed, agility, skill and beauty
the Hobbies won hands down.
There are still very many warblers feeding in mixed parties in all the
hedgerows and on Saturday there were still two Turtle Doves in the dead tree
in front of the Hide.
I am looking forward to seeing what effect the heavy rain last night has had
on water levels in the scrapes and on Ashgrave, and to what waders might
drop in during the next few weeks.

Cheers Peter

Record shot of Ruff and Little Stints on Ashgrave.

 Common Sandpiper from second screen. © Peter Barker

On oxonbirds today more waders reported. The Wood Sandpipers seen on Saturday evening were seen from the hide feeding around the edges of the pool.

At Otmoor this evening there was a juvenile ruff from the second screen, along with three green sandpipers and four snipe. Also a juvenile black-tailed godwit from the first screen still.
Mike Shurmer

Lapwings infront of second screen. 

Hi All

There was a very strong flavour of Autumn on the moor on Saturday morning,
whilst on Sunday summer reasserted itself.
The birds on Saturday reflected this with two Wheatears being found, one on
the southern edge of Ashgrave and the other out by the bridge on the Pill.
There were also the first autumn Whinchats with a pair in company with the
Pill Wheatear. Because of shooting on Sunday it was impossible to see if
they were still there. We saw only a few waders on Saturday morning, but in
the evening Mike Shurmer saw two Wood Sandpipers, two Greenshanks, Common
Sandpiper and a juvenile Black tailed Godwit. There were also a number of
Green Sandpipers which seem to be the most frequently seen wader at the
moment. He also reported around eighty Lapwings and these birds were still
present on Sunday morning.
In the sunshine on Sunday morning we found two Marsh Harriers hunting over
the reedbed, they both appeared to be females and seemed to interact
frequently. Later they were joined over the reedbed by at least four Hobbies
that were catching dragonflies.
The weather meant that there were fewer butterflies on the wing although
there are still Common Blues along the track to the second screen.
The most unusual sighting was of large Badger (not carrying a scope) that
crossed the path in front of us and seemed to go into the reedbed, it seemed
odd to see it out and about at nine in the morning and in a place which must
be some distance from the nearest sett.
Work has continued on the extensive new scrape and a second one is to be
started this week on the other side of the cattle stockade.

Cheers Peter

Wheatear at the Pill

Whinchats  Above pictures © Peter Barker

Hi All

A quiet weekend on the moor, with damp weather on Saturday and a cool start
to Sunday that gave way eventually to warm sunshine.
There are still a good variety of waders to be seen from the first screen
with seven or eight Green Sandpipers, four Black tailed Godwits, two Common
Sandpipers and at least one elusive Wood Sandpiper.
It is very noticeable how many juvenile tits and warblers are feeding in
large parties in the hedgerows along the paths and in the Carpark Field.
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were particularly prominent in fresh bright
plumage,as were the number of juvenile Whitethroats, some still being fed by
their parents. Our small passerines would seem to have had a very successful
season.
There was also a large flock of Goldfinches feeding on the seeding thistles
along the bridle way towards Noke.
There were at least twenty five Gadwall on the Northern reedbed along with
twenty plus Teal.
The Common Blue blizzard of the last two weeks has subsided but there are
still plenty of butterflies and dragonflies to be seen, amongst them was a
fine Magpie moth along the path to the first screen.
The work that is being undertaken on Greenaways, that should be completed in
about a week, will result in two large new scrapes being created. The spoil
from this work is being used to slightly raise the level of the bund on the
Northern Reedbed. We will soon have new feeding areas for waders and ducks
that can be viewed from the elevation of the bridle way.

Cheers Peter

Blackwits

Young Whitethroat

Small Copper

Magpie Moth all above pictures © Peter Barker

Hi All

After a couple of weeks absence from the moor I was shocked to see how much
water levels have dropped, but not surprisingly considering the lack of
rain. Most interest has shifted from the pools in front of the hide to the
area in front of the first screen as water levels drop on the reedbed and
large muddy areas are exposed. This weekend on the reedbed there were at
least six Green Sandpipers, one Wood Sandpiper, one Common Sandpiper,one
juvenile Dunlin, two juvenile Redshank, several Snipe, a flyover Greenshank
and a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. These birds appeared and
disappeared behind the reeds and were difficult to see at times as much of
the mud is hidden.
A female Marsh Harrier appeared on Saturday and had been seen on Friday as
well, but it had not turned up on Sunday by the time I left at mid morning.
On Sunday a juvenile Cuckoo was seen on the cattle pen by the bridge, it was
hunting for itself and catching small beetles and caterpillars. It may well
be the same individual that featured in a set of pics by Terry Jones we put
on the blog last week, being fed at the time by a diminutive Reed Warbler.
One of the strangest records of the weekend was of a party of 27 Crossbills
that were seen in the carpark field by a group of four birders from Notts. I
had ignored a party of "finches" that flew up into the trees earlier that
morning, that were probably the same birds. They were last seen heading up
the hill towards Beckley.
The other unusual phenomenon this weekend was the unprecedented numbers of
Common Blue butterflies around the reedbed edge. We estimated at least a
thousand along the footpath to the second screen. They were basking and
nectaring on thistles. It gave an idea about how things used to be before
industrial farming and pesticides.

Cheers Peter

Female Marsh Harrier

 

Juvenile Cuckoo

 

Very common Common Blues!

Juvenile Redshanks and Dunlin.  All above pics © Peter Barker

The water level has really dropped in front of the 1st screen and apparently its looking good at present. Pete Roby found a couple of wood sandpipers there today. In the evening Jason Coppock, Steve Roby and Bob Burgess went to look and found 3+Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Garganey (m/f) in eclipse, 2 Hobby and at least 20 Little Egret.

Green sandpiper © Nigel Forrow

Little Egret © Nigel Forrow
Common Tern © Nigel Forrow

I thought that I would publish this fabulous set of photos from Terry Jones depicting a poor parent reed warbler struggling to feed a giant juvenile cuckoo.





All photos © Terry Jones

With Peter being away at present and no reports coming in from Otmoor I thought that I would post a pictoral report using some recent photos taken by Terry Jones.

Adam

Common terns at the first screen

Redshank from the new hide
A jay by the feeders
A family of great-crested grebes by the first screen

All photos © Terry Jones

The calm warm settled weather continues and right on cue our first returning Green Sandpiper turned up feeding and bathing with much splashing in one of the pools in front of the Hide. There were also three Little Ringed Plovers two of which were newly fledged juveniles, probably Otmoor bred. The Cuckoo continued to haunt the ditches waiting for a Reed Warbler to be away from home and the Turtle dove called from the dead elms along the bridle way. There are mixed parties of newly fledged tits and warblers in the hedgerows some still being fed by parents. Snipe were drumming on Saturday over Greenaways. Three terns were still fishing over the reedbed, plunge diving for small fry. A fox put in an appearance South of the hide and seemed unaware that it was so close to people. Our Butterfly count rose by two species with several Commas being seen and a Silver Washed Fritillary on the southern edge of Ashgrave. Butterfly of the weekend however was just a few miles away at Bernwood where we twitched a very relaxed and settled Purple Emperor (thanks for the call Wayne).......worth looking out along the bridle way where one was seen and photographed a couple of years ago.

Cheers Peter
Turtle dove in the morning sun.

Siver washed Fritillary

Purple Emperor with open wings.........

and with wings partially closed. All above pics © Peter Barker 

Saturday night on the moor was warm and breezy, blue skies slowly hazing over as the sun set. At first glance the long grasses of Greenaways appeared almost empty of bird life, until the presence of Carrion Crow brought out numbers of alarmed Redshank and Lapwing. The breeze carried Red Kite and Buzzard, and, later, a single Hobby raced over Long Meadow as dusk deepened.

For most of the evening two juvenile Cuckoo perched on the electric fence on the eastern edge of Big Otmoor, regularly dropping into the grass to feed, chat-like, before regaining their perch. Swift, Swallow, House and Sand Martin all passed over the reed beds and a Common Tern fished for ten minutes in the second lagoon, successful in four out of every five strikes.

Turtle Dove were audible above the sea-wash sound of the breeze in the reeds, until the Starling roost grew to several hundred birds and their chatter drowned out other sounds.

Ashgrave was quiet by 9pm as the wind died away but two quad bikes coming along the bridleway from Noke flushed nine Little Egret and three Grey Heron from their roost.

As night fell, the car park and Long Meadow were dominated by dusky Blackbird song, and the far off scolding of Wren and Blackbird.

Darrell

Fishing Common Tern © Peter Barker

Hi All.

The continuing hot weather has quietened down the bird activity considerably. There were still good birds to be seen but we are beginning to try to get to grips with some of the insect life on the reserve. Peregrine was seen both days as was Hobby and all the commoner raptors. Common Terns continue to haunt the reedbed and Cuckoos are still present one of them luking conspicuously on the anti predator fence round Big Otmoor, clearly waiting its chance to lay in a Reed Warbler nest. Three Snipe were seen displaying and drumming over the visitor trail to the first screen. There is a very confiding Lapwing attending a small chick right in front of the new hide and a Redshank also with a single chick in the same area. We managed to see at least nine species of dragonfly and damselfly including Black tailed Skimmer, Emperor, Brown Hawker and Red-eyed Damselfly. We think we managed to discriminate between Azure and Common Blue Damsel but we're not quite sure yet. We also found eight species of Butterfly but later on next month it is possible to see sixteen different species in a morning....at least thats our record.

 Cheers Peter

Cuckoo still here. © Peter Barker

Emerald Damselfly

Small Skipper (I think ,due to orange antennae)

Brown Hawker    All above pics© Peter Barker

Hi All

It's almost mid summers day and I did not expect to wish that I had taken a
woolly hat and gloves with me on Saturday morning. A bitterly cold wind cut
across the moor and kept many of the insects and birds deep in the
hedgerows.
The ground was wet and there were hundreds of toadlets and froglets
migrating from pond to pond. Grass snakes were also taking longer to warm up
in the ditch alongside the carpark field and so could be spotted easily.
There were three Common Terns quartering the lagoons on both days and on
Sunday at least fifty Swifts fed low and fast over the reedbed. Two
different Peregrines were seen on Saturday one feeding on the ground on Big
Otmoor and the other smaller bird, (probably a male) hunting over
Greenaways. A family group of at least six Stock Doves were seen feeding out
on Big Otmoor. Turtle doves, Hobbies and Cuckoos were present, but the
latter will not be here for much longer. In a few weeks time we can look
forward to the first returning waders, usually Green Sandpipers, that will
find the pools on Ashgrave very much to their liking.
The hide has now been formally opened and the interpretive materials inside
are sensitive and appropriate. The reserve staff have done a superb job in
bringing such a complex and high quality project to a conclusion. It was
good to hear the new C.E.O. of the R.S.P.B. saying so and endorsing Otmoor
so wholeheartedly at the opening. I am sure that many of us will spend a
great deal of time there in the coming years and as the habitat settles down
there will be many more exciting birds to be seen from it.

Cheers Peter

Common Tern © Peter Barker

Red Kite © Peter Barker

Basking Grass Snake © Peter Barker

Cuckoo flypast © P.Barker

Little Egret © P.Barker